Geological Sciences

The options available in the undergraduate program in geological sciences are geology, geophysics, and environmental geosciences. Each option leads to the BA degree. All of these options provide a strong basis for understanding the functioning of the Earth system and a firm foundation for graduate study and professional employment. Students who are uncertain as to which option best suits their needs should contact a departmental advisor or faculty member. In all options, the undergraduate program emphasizes course work in theoretical, laboratory, and field-oriented aspects of the geological sciences. The nearby Rocky Mountains provide a natural laboratory for many of these courses.   

Students interested in the geological sciences may also wish to consider the Baker Residential Academic Program. Students who do not wish to pursue a career in the geosciences, or who would like to combine a basic knowledge of geologic sciences with that of some other field, should consider using geological sciences as one subject in a distributed studies major or as a minor. Students who intend to pursue graduate study in the geological sciences are encouraged to consider developing an honor thesis as part of their undergraduate studies.  

The three options available in the undergraduate major offer different focus areas of instruction. All three options offer excellent preparation for students interested in pursuing professional careers, or graduate study, in the geological sciences.

Each option emphasizes knowledge in:

  •  the ways in which Earth responds to internal and external forces; the physical, chemical, and biological evolution of Earth; and the nature of the materials of which the Earth is made
  •  the role of physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology in understanding geological processes
  •  the history of discoveries and ideas that have contributed to our current knowledge of the Earth and the planetary system

The geology option is a traditional geology degree program that emphasizes the following:

  •  the mineralogy and petrology of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks
  •  the processes of sedimentation and the applications of stratigraphy and paleobiology in the reconstruction of Earth history
  •  the role of geophysics and geochemistry in understanding the nature of Earth and its history
  •  the study of faults, folds, and other rock structures and the tectonic processes that create those structures
  •  the methods used in the field to map and interpret the diverse variety of rock types and structures  

The environmental geoscience option emphasizes the following:

  •  the function of the integrated Earth system including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere
  •  the fundamental controls on surface Earth processes including energy balance, hydrology, geomorphology, geochemistry, and biogeochemistry
  •  the role of humans in the Earth system

The geophysics option emphasizes:

  •  applications of fundamental mathematical formulations and physical principles to an understanding of the Earth
  •  methods utilized to map and characterize those portions of the planet that lie below the surface, from just beneath our feet down to the core

Course code for this program is GEOL. 

Bachelor's Degree Program(s)

Bachelor's Degree in Geology

Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours

  • CHEM 1113 and 1133 General Chemistry 1 and 2 and CHEM 1114 and 1134 Laboratory in General Chemistry 1 and 2—10
  • GEOL 1030 Introduction to Geology Lab—1
  • MATH 1300 and 2300 Analytical Geometry and Calculus 1 and 2 or APPM 1350 and 1360 Calculus for Engineers 1 and 2—8-10
  • PHYS 1110, 1120, and 1140 General Physics 1 and 2 and Experimental Physics 1—9

Geology Option

Students electing the geology option are required to take the following additional courses:

  • GEOL 1010 Introduction to Geology 1—3
  • GEOL 1020 Introduction to Earth History or GEOL 1040 Geology of Colorado or GEOL 1060 Global Change—3
  • GEOL 2700 Introduction to Field Geology—2
  • GEOL 3010 Introduction to Mineralogy—3
  • GEOL 3020 Petrology—3
  • GEOL 3120 Structural Geology—4
  • GEOL 3320 Introduction to Geochemistry—3
  • GEOL 3430 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy—4
  • GEOL 4130 Principles of Geophysics—3

Geology option students must also take courses from the following lists:

  • One from the following hydrogeosciences-focused courses:
    GEOL 3030 Introduction to Hydrogeology—3
    GEOL 3820 The Fluid Earth—3
    GEOL 4060 Oceanography—4
  • Two from the following advanced-field modules:
    GEOL 4711 Igneous and Metamorphic Field Geology—2
    GEOL 4712 Structural Field Geology—2
    GEOL 4714 Field Geophysics—2
    GEOL 4715 Field Techniques in Hydrogeology—2
    GEOL 4716 Environmental Field Geochemistry—2
    GEOL 4717 Field Seminar in Geology and Tectonics—2
  • GEOL 4721 Field Methods and Active Techtonics—3
  • One upper-division elective, any 3000-4000 GEOL course, except the following:
    GEOL 3040 Global Change—3
    GEOL 3070 Introduction to Oceanography—3
    GEOL 3500 Earth Resources and the Environment—3
    GEOL 3520 Environmental Issues in Geosciences—3
    GEOL 3720 Evolution of Life: the Geological Records—3
    GEOL 3950 Natural Catastrophes and Geological Hazards—3
    GEOL 4080 Societal Problems and Earth Sciences—3
    GEOL 4500 Critical Thinking in Earth Sciences—3

Environmental Geoscience Option

Students electing the environmental geoscience option are required to take the following additional courses:

  • GEOL 1010 Introduction to Geology 1 or GEOL 2100 Environmental Geology or ENVS 1000 Introduction to Environmental Studies—3
  • GEOL 2001 Planet Earth—4
  • GEOL 3230 Earth Materials—3
  • GEOL 3320 Introduction to Geochemistry—3

Environmental geoscience option students must also take courses from the following lists:

  • Two from the following water-focused courses:
    GEOL 3030 Introduction to Hydrogeology—3
    GEOL 3820 The Fluid Earth—3
    GEOL 4060 Oceanography—3 
  • One from the following biogeochemistry-focused courses:
    GEOL 4160 Biogeochemistry—3
    GEOL 4270 Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry—3
  • One from the following climate-focused courses:
    GEOL 4040 Paleoclimatology—3
    ATOC 3600 Principles of Climate—3
  • One from the following advanced field courses:
    GEOL 4711 Igneous and Metamorphic Field Geology—2
    GEOL 4714 Field Geophysics—2
    GEOL 4715 Field Techniques in Hydrogeology—2
    GEOL 4716 Environmental Field Geochemistry—2
    EBIO 4630 Field Techniques in Environmental Science—2-6
    EVEN 4100 Environmental Sampling and Analysis—3
  • Four additional courses from the following upper-division electives (electives not already used to fulfill a different major requirement). Two of the four must be geology. Courses other than those listed below may be acceptable with advisor’s permission:
    GEOL 3023 Statistics for Earth Sciences—4
    GEOL 3030 Introduction to Hydrogeology—3
    GEOL 3050 GIS for Geologists—2
    GEOL 3410 Paleobiology—3
    GEOL 3820 The Fluid Earth—3
    GEOL 4040 Paleoclimatology—3
    GEOL 4060 Oceanography—4
    GEOL 4093 Remote Sensing for the Environment—4
    GEOL 4130 Principles of Geophysics—3
    GEOL 4160 Introduction to Biogeochemistry—3
    GEOL 4241 Principles of Geomorphology—4
    GEOL 4270 Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry—3
    GEOL 4670 Isotope Geology—3

Water Focus

  • CVEN 4404 Water Quality—4
  • CVEN 4718 Mechanics and Dynamics of Glaciers—3
  • EBIO 4030 Limnology—3
  • GEOG 4321 Snow Hydrology—3-4
  • GEOG 4251 Fluvial Geomorphology—4
  • GEOG 4260 Glaciers and Permafrost—3

Biogeochemistry Focus

  • EBIO 4060 Landscape Ecology—3
  • EBIO 4570 Advanced Plant Physiological—3
  • GEOG 4401 Soils Geography—3
  • MCDB 4350 Microbial Diversity and the Biosphere—3

Climate Focus

  • ATOC 4720 Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics—3
  • ENVS/GEOG 4201 Biometerology—3

Policy Focus 

  • ATOC 4800 Policy and Climate—3
  • ECON 3403 International Economics and Policy—3
  • ENVD 4023 Environmental Impact Assessment—3
  • PSCI 4183 International Law—3

Geophysics Option

Students electing the geophysics option are required to take the following additional courses:

  • GEOL 1010 Introduction to Geology 1—3
  • GEOL 1020 Introduction to Earth History or GEOL 1040 Geology of Colorado or GEOL 1060 Global Change—3
  • GEOL 2700 Introduction to Field Geology—2
  • GEOL 3010 Introduction to Mineralogy—3 
  • GEOL 3120 Structural Geology—4
  • GEOL 3320 Introduction to Geochemistry or GEOL 3020 Petrology—3
  • GEOL 4130 Principles of Geophysics—3
  • GEOL 4714 Field Geophysics—2
  • APPM 2360 Introduction to Linear Algebra with Differential Equations—4
  • MATH 2400 Analytical Geometry and Calculus 3 or APPM 2350 Calculus 3 for Engineers—4
  • PHYS 2130 Gen Physics III or PHYS 2170 Foundations of Modern Physics—3
  • PHYS 2210 Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods 1—3

Geophysics option students must also take courses from the following lists:

  • Two from the following:
    PHYS 3210 Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods 2—3
    PHYS 3310 Principles of Electricity and Magnetism—3
    MATH 4470 Partial Differential Equations or APPM 4350 Methods in Applied Mathematics—3

Additional information on required courses and other departmental requirements may be obtained from the departmental office. Students should contact the department for a list of current major requirements.

Transfer students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of advanced work (3000-level or above) in the Department of Geological Sciences in Boulder if they wish to obtain a degree in geology from CU-Boulder. Before registering for the first time, or within the first week of the semester, such students must see a geological sciences department undergraduate advisor to have previous course work in geology, math, and allied sciences evaluated.

Graduating in Four Years

Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of “adequate progress” as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress in geology, students should meet all college requirements plus specific departmental requirements. These departmental requirements vary slightly between the three major options. Detailed information is available from the department office, but in general these requirements include:

  • Declare a geology major and begin course work in the major during the first semester freshman year.
  • Meet with a departmental advisor prior to the second and fifth semesters and during the seventh semester.
  • Complete at least 33 credit hours (geology and environmental geoscience options; 44 credit hours for geophysics option) required for the major by the end of the fourth semester.
  • Complete at least 47 credit hours (geology and environmental geosciences options; 63 credit hours for geophysics option) required for the major by the end of the sixth semester.
  • Complete the remaining requirements for the major by the end of the eighth semester.

Geology Honors Program

Opportunity is provided for qualified geology majors to participate in the geology honors program and graduate with honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude) in geology. Students interested in the honors program should contact the departmental honors advisor during their junior year.

Minor Program

The minor program in geological sciences is meant for students who would like to acquire a basic knowledge of geology in addition to their major area of study. The arts and sciences requirements for a minor include a minimum of 18 credit hours in the minor area, including a minimum of 9 upper-division hours. The departmental requirements for the minor are listed below. The department strongly urges that students interested in pursuing a minor in geology consult a departmental advisor.

1. Any 1000-level introductory sequence:

  • 1010-3 Introduction to Geology 1 (physical geology) and 1020-3 Introduction to Geology 2 (earth history)
  • 1010-3 Introduction to Geology 1 and 1040-3 Geology of Colorado
  • 1010-3 Introduction to Geology 1 and 1060-3 Global Change: An Earth Science Perspective

    Plus an introductory laboratory course: 1030-1 Introduction to Geology Laboratory

2. At least one of the following laboratory or field-oriented courses:

  • 2001-4 Planet Earth
  • 2700-2 Introduction to Field Geology
  • 3010-3 Introduction to Mineralogy
  • 3023-3 Statistics for Earth Sciences
  • 3120-4 Structural Geology
  • 3410-3 Paleobiology
  • 3430-4 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
  • 4060-4 Oceanography
  • 4093-4 Remote Sensing of the Environment
  • 4130-3 Principles of Geophysics
  • 4241-4 Principles of Geomorphology

3. Any additional courses at the 3000-level to bring the total hours in geology to 18.

Graduate Degree Program(s)

Graduate Study in Geology

Students interested in graduate work in the geological sciences should carefully read the detailed information regarding admission, registration, and degree requirements that is available from the departmental office. A brief summary follows.

All students applying for admission must take the Graduate Record Examination. Results of this examination are used both for determining admittance and for initial academic counseling.

Entering students normally have completed at least 24 semester hours of basic courses in geological science and two semesters each of chemistry, physics, and calculus. In some cases, exceptional undergraduate preparation in other fields of science, mathematics, or engineering may substitute for part of the 24 hours in geological science.

Each student acquires a primary advisor and an advisory committee which provides guidance throughout the degree program.

Master’s Degree

Candidates for the master’s degree in geological sciences must complete at least 24 credit hours of graduate course work plus a thesis (Plan I), or 30 credit hours of graduate course work without a thesis (Plan II). The Plan II program requires at least 3 hours of GEOL 6960 (Plan II Master’s Research) under the supervision of the advisory committee. For both plans, at least 24 credit hours must be completed at the 5000 level or above. See Graduate School specifications for more information.

Doctoral Degree

Candidates for the doctoral degree must complete at least 30 credit hours in course work numbered 5000 or above, of which at least 20 must be taken at CU-Boulder. In addition to course work, candidates must take a total of at least 30 hours of GEOL 8990 doctoral dissertation hours, with not more than 10 of these in any one semester and not more than 10 before the comprehensive examination is passed.

The Department of Geological Sciences participates in the interdepartmental PhD program in geophysics and hydrology. For more information about this program, see the Graduate School section.