Geological Sciences, Bachelor of Science (5008)
Program Coordinator
Christopher G. Groves, chris.groves@wku.edu, (270) 745-5974
Geological science is often known as the science of the 21st century, as it is ground zero for tackling global challenges like managing land, water, ocean, space, mineral, and energy resources in a sustainable way. Society’s interest in the environment and climate change is growing fast. The time has never been better to become a geological scientist.
The B.S. degree in Geological Sciences can provide a wide variety of career options, including jobs in the corporate (oil & gas, mining, environmental, engineering), government (surveys, agencies, park service), and academic sectors. Our program takes a holistic approach, as the traditional geology has become increasingly interdisciplinary. With two concentrations (Geology, and Environmental Earth Science), the program has a common core, providing the knowledge base for students to pursue the Professional Geologist licensure. Each concentration has different other requirements, specializing in different subjects. Our classes feature interactive learning, both in the field exploring the earth and in the lab doing simulations and analytical works. Students also enjoy excellent opportunities to work with faculty and other students on a variety of research topics.
Concentrations
- Geology (GEOL)
- Environmental Earth Science (ENES)
Program Requirements (48 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
The major in Geological Sciences requires a minimum of 48 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. A minor program is NOT required. Other required courses (e.g., physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics) total an additional 11-17 semester hours. This major provides students with a versatile background in geological sciences for entry-level employment or graduate school.
Geological Sciences Major - Common Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 111 | The Earth | 3 |
| GEOL 112 | Earth's Past and Future | 3 |
| GEOL 113 | The Earth Laboratory | 1 |
| GEOL 114 | Earth's Past and Future Lab | 1 |
| GEOL 350 | Mineralogy and Petrology | 4 |
| GEOL 360 | Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | 4 |
| GEOL 408 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 499 | Professional Preparation in Geology | 2 |
| GISC 316 | Fundamentals of GIS | 4 |
| GEOG 300 | Writing in the Geosciences | 3 |
| Total Hours | 29 | |
Geology Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| In addition to the Common Core, take the following courses to fulfill the Geology concentration: | ||
| Required Course (3 hours) | ||
| GEOL 380 | Introductory Field Techniques | 3 |
| Elective Courses (16 hours) | ||
| Select 16 hours from any 200-level or above GEOL course or from GEOG 391 or GEOG 452 with advisor approval. | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 19 | |
Additional Required Courses Outside of the Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take the following required courses towards the Geology concentration: | ||
| MATH 136 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 137 | Calculus II | 4 |
| CHEM 120 & CHEM 121 | College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory | 5 |
| PHYS 231 & PHYS 232 | Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I | 4 |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Environmental Earth Science concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| In addition to the Common Core, take the following courses to fulfill the Environmental Earth Science concentration: | ||
| Required Course (18 hours) | ||
| GEOL 250 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| GEOL 310 | Global Hydrology | 3 |
| GEOL 415 | Applied Environmental Geology | 3 |
| GEOL 420 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| In addition, select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Geology and Climate: Past and Future | ||
| General Oceanography | ||
| Energy, Climate and Carbon | ||
| Hydrogeology | ||
| Aqueous Geochemistry | ||
| Geophysics | ||
| Elective Courses (1 hours) | ||
| Select 1 hour from any 300-400 level GEOL course or from any GEOG 400-level or GISC 300-400 level course with advisor approval. | 1 | |
| Total Hours | 19 | |
Additional Required Courses Outside of the Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take the following additional courses towards the Environmental Earth Science concentration: | ||
| MATH 183 | Introductory Statistics | 3 |
| CHEM 105 & CHEM 106 | Fundamentals of General Chemistry and Fundamentals of General Chemistry Laboratory (or higher) | 4 |
| BIOL 207 & BIOL 208 | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| Total Hours | 11 | |
Finish in Four Plans
Geological Sciences, Geology Concentration
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEOL 111 | 3 | GEOL 112 | 3 |
| GEOL 113 | 1 | GEOL 114 | 1 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | CHEM 120 & CHEM 121 | 5 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| COMM 145 | 3 | GEOL 250 | 3 |
| GEOG 175 | 2 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEOL 330 | 4 | GEOL 350 | 4 |
| GEOL 380 | 3 | GEOL 360 | 4 |
| MATH 136 | 4 | MATH 137 | 4 |
| Colonnade - Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade - Connections Social & Cultural | 3 |
| Colonnade - Social & Behavioral | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PHYS 231 & PHYS 232 | 4 | GEOL 408 | 4 |
| GISC 316 | 4 | GEOL Concentration Elective | 3 |
| GEOL Concentration Elective | 3 | GEOG 300 | 3 |
| Colonnade - Systems | 3 | Colonnade - Local to Global | 3 |
| GEOL Concentration Elective (GEOL 399) | 3 | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEOL 499 | 2 | GEOL Concentration Elective | 3 |
| GEOL Concentration Elective | 3 | General Elective or GEOL 399 | 2 |
| GEOL Concentration Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
Geological Sciences, Environmental Earth Science Concentration
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEOL 111 | 3 | GEOL 112 | 3 |
| GEOL 113 | 1 | GEOL 114 | 1 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| MATH 115 | 3 | CHEM 105 & CHEM 106 | 4 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | GEOL 250 | 3 |
| GEOG 175 | 2 | ||
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEOL 330 | 4 | GEOL 350 | 4 |
| GEOL 310 | 3 | GEOL 360 | 4 |
| Colonnade - Arts & Humanities | 3 | MATH 183 | 3 |
| BIOL 207 & BIOL 208 | 4 | Colonnade - Connections Social & Cultural | 3 |
| COMM 145 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEOL 420 | 3 | GEOL 408 | 4 |
| GISC 316 | 4 | GEOL 415 | 3 |
| GEOL Concentration Elective - GEOL 301 or 311 or 315 or 440 or 445 or 465 | 3 | GEOL Concentration Elective or GEOL 399 | 1 |
| Colonnade - Local to Global | 3 | GEOG 300 | 3 |
| Colonnade - Systems (GEOL 315 or GEOL 101) | 3 | Colonnade - Social & Cultural | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEOL 499 | 2 | General Elective or GEOL 399 | 3 |
| GEOL Concentration Elective - GEOL 301 or 311 or 315 or 440 or 445 or 465 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| GEOL Concentration Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective or GEOL 399 | 1 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||