Geology Option
The Geology Option is a degree program designed for students who are motivated to apply the principles of chemistry, physics and mathematics to the study of the Earth's surface and interior. There are outstanding opportunities for employment in the public and private sectors in fields such as petroleum geology, mining geology, seismology (including earthquake and volcanic risk assessment), hydrology (surface and ground water) natural-hazard geology, environmental clean-up and containment of environmental hazards, mitigation of future environmental problems related to development, preservation of water resources (both surface and ground water), and the study of the processes of climate change and global warming. The optimal degree for employment and advancement in the geological sciences in the private sector is the Master's Degree, and the undergraduate Geology Option is an excellent preparatory degree for graduate study. Some students interested in college teaching or advanced research may require a Ph.D. degree.In the Geology Option, students are given the opportunity to learn in the world-class natural laboratory that surrounds Bozeman. Course work progresses from core courses that all students must take (Earth System Science, Topics in Earth Science, Earth History and Evolution, Mineralogy, Sedimentation and Stratigraphy, Structural Geology, Global Tectonics, Sedimentary Petrology, two geographic information science (GIS) courses, Field Methods, and Field Geology (a summer capstone course). Also included are a variety of elective courses in geology, paleontology, hydrology, Weather and Climate, Geomorphology, and remote sensing. These courses prepare the student for a variety of jobs and/or graduate school.
| Freshman Year | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| CHMY 141 - College Chemistry I & CHMY 142 - College Chemistry I Lab | 4 | ||
| ERTH 101IN - Earth System Sciences | 4 | ||
| GPHY 284 - Intro to GIS Science & Cartog (Fall or Spring or Sophomore Year) | 3 | ||
| University Core and Electives Fall or Spring | 6 | ||
| M 161Q - Survey of Calculus or M 171Q - Calculus I | 4 | ||
| CHMY 143 - College Chemistry II & CHMY 144 - College Chemistry II Lab | 4 | ||
| GEO 211 - Earth History and Evolution | 3 | ||
| STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics or M 172 - Calculus II | 3 | ||
| Year Total: | 21 | 10 | |
| Sophomore Year | Credits | ||
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| GEO 302 - Mineralogy and Optical Mineral | 4 | ||
| GEO 309 - Sedimentation and Stratigraphy | 4 | ||
| PHSX 205 - College Physics I | 4 | ||
| University Core and Electives Fall or Spring (D, IA, IH) | 9 | ||
| GEO 305 - Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology or GEO 443 - Principles of Sedimentary Petrology | 4 | ||
| PHSX 207 - College Physics II | 4 | ||
| Year Total: | 21 | 8 | |
| Junior Year | Credits | ||
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| GPHY 384 - Adv GIS and Spatial Analysis (Fall or Spring ) | 3 | ||
| STAT 337 - Intermediate Statistics with Introduction to Statistical Computing (Fall or Spring ) or STAT 332 - Statistics for Scientists and Engineers | 3 | ||
| CORE IS; Fall or Spring | 3 | ||
| Electives or Minor | 8 | ||
| GEO 315 - Structural Geology | 4 | ||
| GEO 428 - Field Methods | 3 | ||
| Electives or Minor | 4 | ||
| GEO 429R - Field Geology | 3 | ||
| Year Total: | 17 | 11 | 3 |
| Senior Year | Credits | ||
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| Geology ElectivesSee Geology Block Electives List Below; Fall or Spring | 15 | ||
| Electives or Minor | 14 | ||
| Year Total: | 15 | 14 | |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 | ||
Geology Electives
| TAKE AT LEAST 5 OF: | ||
| ERTH 303 | Weather and Climate (Fall) | 3 |
| ERTH 307 | Principles of Geomorphology (Fall) | 4 |
| ERTH 450R | Snow Dynamics and Accumulation (Spring ) | 4 |
| ERTH 484 | Climates of the Past, Present and Future (Spring ) | 3 |
| ERTH 494 | Seminar (FAll or Spring ) | 1 |
| GEO 310 | Invertebrate Paleontology (Spring Even Years) | 3 |
| GEO 411 | Vertebrate Paleontology (Spring Odd Years) | 3 |
| GEO 417 | Taphonomy: Fossil Preservation (Fall Even Years) | 3 |
| GEO 433 | Tectonics (Fall) | 3 |
| GEO 439 | Geophysics (On demand) | 3 |
| GEO 440 | Volcanology (Fall Odd Years) | 3 |
| GEO 445 | Glacial Geology (Fall) | 3 |
| GEO 471 | Geochronology and Thermochronology (Spring Odd Years) | 3 |
| GEO 490R | Undergraduate Research (Fall or Spring ) | 1-6 |
| GEO 491 | Special Topics (Fall or Spring) | 1-4 |
| GEO 492 | Independent Study (Fall or Spring) | 1-3 |
| GEO 498 | Internship (Fall or Spring) | 2-12 |
| GPHY 426 | Remote Sensing | 3 |
| or GPHY 484R | Applied GIS & Spatial Analysis | |
Students may choose between the following two Math options:
- Math Option 1: M 161Q - STAT 216Q - STAT 337 (recommended for undergraduate students)
- Math Option 2: M 171 - M 172 - STAT 332 (recommended for graduate path)
A grade of C- is required in all courses in this curriculum to graduate by Regents' policy. This includes electives in this curriculum.
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.