COURSEWORK
The following courses (13) are required for completion of the major program in the Department of Geology:
Fundamental Coursework:
Electives
Students must select an additional three courses from the list below:
| GEO 245 | Earth's Climate: Past and Future | 4 |
| GEO 255 | Spatial Analysis with Geographic Information Science | 4 |
| GEO 355 | Paleomagnetism | 4 |
| GEO 390 | Special Topics in Geology | 5 |
| | | |
| GEO 315 | Sedimentary Geology | 4 |
| | Or | |
| GEO 342 | Geomorphology | 4 |
Note: Students may not use one course to satisfy two requirements ("double-dip") within the major.
Mathematics Component:
Choose one option
Option 1-
Or department approved equivalent.
Option 2-
| MATH 110 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| | And | |
| | Department-approved statistics course | |
Environmental Science Concentration in Geology
Introduction to Geology:
Introduction to Biology:
Students must select one course from the list below:
Environmental Biology:
| BIO 260 | Biodiversity and Organization of Marine Ecosystems | 4 |
| | Or | |
| BIO 270 | Ecology | 4 |
Economics Component:
| ECON 101 | Principles of Economics I | 4 |
| | And | |
| ECON 301 | Environmental Economics and Policy | 4 |
Fundamental Geology:
| GEO 225 | Introduction to Field Methods | 4 |
| GEO 235 | Global Geophysics and Tectonics | 4 |
| GEO 245 | Earth's Climate: Past and Future | 4 |
| GEO 255 | Spatial Analysis with Geographic Information Science | 4 |
| GEO 305 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| GEO 324 | Advanced Field Mapping | 2 |
| GEO 325 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GEO 490 | Senior Seminar and Thesis Research | 4 |
| | And | |
| | | |
| GEO 315 | Sedimentary Geology | 4 |
| | Or | |
| GEO 342 | Geomorphology | 4 |
Mathematics Component:
Students must select one option from below:
Option 1-
Or department approved equivalent.
Option 2-
| MATH 110 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| | And | |
| | Department-approved statistics course | |
All graduate schools and professional careers in geology or environmental science require at least a basic understanding of chemistry and physics. Students considering graduate school or professional careers in these fields should also take the following courses: CHEM 120; PHYS 110 and PHYS 120 or PHYS 115 and PHYS 125.
WRITING REQUIREMENT
Students majoring in Geology will satisfy the final component of Occidental College's college-wide writing requirement by submitting a portfolio of at least two papers from any of the intermediate- or advanced-level writing-intensive Geology courses normally required for the major (or appropriate course work). Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. See the Writing Requirement and consult the department chair for additional information.
COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT
The comprehensive requirement in Geology is met by a passing grade on the senior comprehensive project. The senior comprehensive project is based on research conducted under the supervision of Department faculty or in an off-campus summer research program or field camp. This project can be started as early as the Junior year and typically involves field or laboratory work during the summer between Junior and Senior years. Seniors are expected to present their research orally and submit a written thesis by Spring Break. During the Fall semester of senior year, all Geology majors attend a senior seminar (GEO 490 or equivalent). A major goal of these meetings is to help students make timely progress on their comprehensive projects.
HONORS
Students with a GPA of at least 3.25 are eligible to graduate with honors in geology. For these students, a larger senior thesis is planned, and students start their research earlier than the fall of their senior year. For this extra work, the honors student receives additional course credit beyond credit for comprehensives. Refer also to the general College policies regarding the Honors Program.
GEOLOGY COURSE NUMBERING
GEO 105 is open to first-year and second-year students only; 200-level courses are open to any student who has completed GEO 105; 300-level courses are intended for junior and senior geology majors and minors; 400-level seminars are for senior majors.