Geology
Major and minor offered
Visit the geology department webpage at https://www.stlawu.edu/offices/geology.
Major Requirements
Core Courses (9-10.5 units)
The Geology curriculum offers two tracks: (1) Geology, and (2) Environmental Geology. Students entering the geology major take the following nine to eleven courses to meet minimum department requirements for graduation with the Bachelor of Science degree in geology:
Geology Track
- 103. The Dynamic Earth or 110. Environmental Geology or 115. Oceanography.
- 104. Historical Geology.
- 206. Invertebrate Paleontology.
- 211. Geomorphology.
- 216. Sedimentology or 316. Carbonate Sedimentology and 320. Regional Field Studies: Geology of the Caribbean.
- 303*. Earth Materials.
- 350. Structural Geology.
- Geology Elective (2) at the 200 or 300 level
Environmental Geology Track
- 103. The Dynamic Earth or 110. Environmental Geology.
- 115. Oceanography.
- 211. Geomorphology.
- 216. Sedimentology or 316. Carbonate Sedimentology and 320. Regional Field Studies: Geology of the Caribbean.
- 303*. Earth Materials.
- 306. Conservation Paleobiology.
- 319. Hydrology.
- Geology Elective (1) at the 200 or 300 level
- Geology or Anthropology or Environmental Studies or Biology Elective (1) at 200 or 300 level
*Students graduating before 2027 may substitute GEOL 303 with GEOL 203 and 302. This also replaces one of their geology electives.
None of these required core courses will be accepted toward the major if taken pass/fail. Normally, 200-level courses are appropriate for sophomores, 300-level for juniors and 400-level for seniors.
Students should consult the course descriptions in this Catalog for information on prerequisites and sequencing of both required and advanced courses.
Required Cognates (3.5 units)
Majors are required to take at least one semester of the following courses:
Chemistry
103. General Chemistry.
Mathematics
135. Calculus.
Physics or Biology
151. University Physics. or 101. General Biology.
It is highly recommended that the two-semester sequence of each be completed by both geology and environmental studies–geology majors. Career and graduate school options may be limited otherwise.
Suggested Courses
No student is permitted to take more than 14 units in any one department.
Directed studies and senior honors thesis options are available to seniors on an arranged basis with geology faculty members. Directed studies and senior honors thesis are not counted toward the major but are counted for SYE credit.
It is strongly recommended that students who anticipate graduate study or a professional career in geology also take statistics and geographic information systems (GIS), and attend one of the many summer field camps.
Honors and Senior Thesis
Senior thesis study is undertaken voluntarily by students who wish to conduct original research in a close working relationship with one or more geology faculty members. (See also Honors in the Curriculum section of this Catalog). A 3.5 GPA upon completion of all courses in the major and the completed senior thesis chaired by a member of the geology faculty are both needed for the distinction of honors. The senior thesis course (GEOL 489, 490) may be taken regardless of a student’s average in the major if permission of a faculty member is obtained. Thesis work is expected to lead to a finished written product (thesis) for appropriate credit. The department encourages its students to consider a senior thesis as part of a capstone experience; this should be undertaken only after careful discussion with faculty advisors. Guidelines for the thesis are available from the department chair.
Minor Requirements
Students with a general interest and who wish to have a basic understanding of the Earth and its processes, or who have a strong interest in a particular aspect of geology or earth science teaching and want to learn more about the subject, may minor in geology. There are several areas of potential concentration, and students should consult with their advisor in designing a minor.
- 103. The Dynamic Earth or 110. Environmental Geology or 115. Oceanography.
- 104. Historical Geology.
- And four additional one-unit geology courses at the 200 level or above are required in all cases.
Updated 7/1/25