2024-2025 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

Earth Science B.S.: Planetary Geology Specialization

The Planetary Geology Specialization is designed for students planning a career as a professional geologist with government agencies (e.g. NASA) or the remote sensing industry. In addition, students will be prepared for graduate-level studies in geology or related fields.

A minor is not required.

Major Requirements

44 credits in Astronomy/Earth Science courses and 24 credits of related requirements.

Earth Sciences Core (19 credits)

GSCI 121The Dynamic Earth

3

or

GSCI 131Environmental Geoscience

3

 

GSCI 125The Dynamic Earth Laboratory

1

or

GSCI 135Environmental Geoscience Laboratory

1

 

GSCI 141Earth and Life History

3

GSCI 145Earth and Life History Laboratory

1

GSCI 221Mineralogy

4

GSCI 223Stratigraphy and Sedimentology

4

GSCI 260Communicating the Geological Sciences

1

GSCI 290Field Methods in Geology

2

Planetary Geology Specialization (25 credits)

Required Courses (15 credits)

AST 208Planetary Astronomy

4

or

AST 209Stellar and Galactic Astronomy

4

AST 278The Night Sky

3

AST 378Comparative Planetology

3

GSCI 360Research Methods in the Geological Sciences

1

GSCI 424Geomorphology

4

Electives (6-8 credits)

selected from the following:

AST 418Stellar Astrophysics

3

AST 470Exoplanets and Astrobiology

3

AST 490Topics in Astronomy

1-3

AST 495Seminar in Astronomy

1

GSCI 321Structural Geology

4

GSCI 322Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

4

GSCI 350Computer Methods in the Geological Sciences

3

GSCI 490Topics in Geological Sciences

3-4

or additional courses as approved by the student's advisor.

Capstone (2-4 credits)

2-4 credits of AST or ESCI 460 (Senior Project) or an approved external geology field camp

AST 460Independent Research in Astronomy

1-3

or

GSCI 460Senior Project

1-3

Related Requirements (24 credits)

CHEM 161General Chemistry

3

CHEM 162General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 201Foundations of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 260Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

3

MATH 152Calculus I

4

MATH 221Calculus II

4

PHYS 125University Physics I

4

PHYS 126University Physics II

4

Total Credit Hours: 68