Geological Sciences

College: Liberal Arts and Sciences

Degree: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science

Hours for the Degree: 120

Minor: Yes

Combined-Degree Program: Yes

Website: www.geology.ufl.edu

Students with interests in the history of the earth, the materials that compose the earth, the physical processes that shape the earth, the resources the earth provides for society, and the impact of society on the environment are encouraged to consider majoring in the Department of Geological Sciences.

The department offers two undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Bachelor of Arts in Geology.

General Education: Courses designated GE–P count toward the physical science requirement.

Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Geology
Bachelor of Science, Geology


This major is designed for students interested in the geologic processes (e.g., water flow, shoreline processes, groundwater contamination, etc.) that shape our natural environment and influence the sustainability of our environment. The major is designed for those who desire training in the geological sciences in preparation for advanced studies or careers in fields such as teaching earth science at the secondary school level, environmental law, business, or other socio-environmental areas. Refer to the geography course descriptions or contact the undergraduate coordinator for course information.

All students must complete the following courses:

• GLY 2030C
• Or GLY 1000, 1001, 1073; or OCE 1005 and GLY 1150L;
• Or GLY 2010C, 2080C or 2038C

• GLY 2100C or 3105C (4 hrs) Historical Geology or Evolution of Earth and Life
• GLY 3163 or 4155C (3 hrs) Geology of Florida or Geology of National Parks
• GLY 3074 (3 hrs) Oceans and Climate
• GLY 3882 (3 hrs) Hydrology and Human Affairs
• GLY 3603C (4 hrs) Paleontology
• GLY 4552 (4 hrs) Sedimentary Geology
• GLY 4750L (1 hr) Field Methods
• Six hours of additional GLY courses at the 3000 level or above
• ENC 3254 or 2210 (3 hrs) Writing in Discipline or Technical Writing
• Students should also complete appropriate courses in supporting sciences.

• MAC 1114 and 1140 (5 hrs), or MAC 1147 (4 hrs) and STA 2023 (3 hrs). Higher-level classes with prefixes MAA, MAC or STA may be substituted to meet the minimum five-credit hour requirement.
• CHM 1020 and 1021 (6 hrs) or higher level chemistry
• CGS 2531 (3 hrs) Computer Software
• Others selected from AST, BSC, CHM, EES, GEO, PHY and SOS

• 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5

• Complete 1 of 4 critical-tracking courses with at least a grade of C: Any GLY course; MAC 1114 and MAC 1140, or MAC 1147 and STA 2023; CHM 1020 and 1021 or higher; CGS 2531, AST 1002, PHY 2004 and 2004L, SOS 3022, EES 3000, BSC 2007, BSC 2008 or BSC 2010.

• Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course with a C and maintain a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA

• Complete GLY 2010C or GLY 2030C course or equivalent and maintain a 2.5 GPA on all critical tracking course work

• Complete 1 additional GLY course. Maintain 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking course work

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Semester 1	Credits
Composition (GE–C)	3
MAC 1147 (or MAC 1140) (GE–M)	3-4
GLY supporting science	3
Foreign language	3-5
Total	11-15
Semester 2	Credits
GLY 2030C (3); or GLY 1000 (3), GLY 1073 (3) or ESC 1000 (3); or OCE 1005 (3) and GLY 1150L (1); or GLY 2010C (4), GLY 2080C (4) or GLY 2038C (4)	3-4
Foreign language	3-5
MAC 1114 Trigonometry (2) or math elective (GE–M)	2-3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE–S)	3
Electives	3-0
Total	11-18
Semester 3	Credits
GLY 2100C Historical Geology or GLY 3105C Evolution of Earth and Life (both GE–P)	4
Biological Sciences (GE–B)	3
Humanities (GE–H, I)	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE–S)	3
Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option)	3
Total	16
Semester 4	Credits
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 or CGS 2531 Problem Solving Using Computer Software (both GE–M)	3
Humanities (GE–H, I)	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE–S)	3
GLY supporting science	3
GLY elective at 3000 level	3-4
Total	15-16
Semester 5	Credits
GLY 3603C Paleontology	4
GLY 3882C Hydrology and Human Affairs	3
Humanities (GE–H)	3
GLY supporting science	3
Elective (3000 level, not in major)	3
Total	16
Semester 6	Credits
GLY 3074 Oceans and Global Climate (GE–P)	3
GLY 4552C Sedimentary Geology	4
Biological Sciences (GE–B)	3
GLY supporting science	3
Elective (3000 level, not in major)	3
Total	16
Semester 7	Credits
3000-level GLY elective	3
ENC 3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline or ENC 2210 Technical Writing (both GE–C)	3
Electives (3000 level, not in major)	6
Electives	3-0
Total	15-12
Semester 8	Credits
GLY 4750L Geologic Field Methods	1
GLY 4155C Geology of Florida	3
GLY 4905 Individual Work (optional)	4
Electives (3000 level, not in major)	3-6
Electives (if no thesis)	5-0
Total	16-14

To meet the minimum requirements for a B.S. in geology, the student must satisfy all college and university graduation requirements as well as the following department course requirements. Students must earn a grade of C or better for course work to count toward the major. Refer to the geography course descriptions or contact the undergraduate coordinator for course information.

• Credit in the following core courses or their equivalents: GLY 2010C or 2030C, GLY 2100C or 3105C, and GLY 3200C, 3603C, 4310C, 4400C, 4552C, 4750L and 4790
• Two courses at the 4000 level or above and approved by the department (six hour minimum)
• One year of general chemistry: CHM 2045, 2045L, 2046 and 2046L –or– CHM 2050, 2045L, 2051 and 2046L
• One year of general physics: PHY 2048, 2049, 2048L and 2049L –or– PHY 2004, 2004L, 2005 and 2005L –or– PHY 2053, 2053L, 2054 and 2054L.
• Mathematics: MAC 2311 and 2312 (preferred) –or– MAC 2233 and 2234
• ENC 3254 or 2210 (3 hrs) Writing in Discipline or Technical Writing
• Specific courses selected will depend upon the student's primary geologic interest. Students should contact the undergraduate coordinator as early as possible.

• 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5 (CHM 1025 and MAC 1147 if needed)

• Complete 1 of 6 tracking courses CHM 2045 and CHM 2045L; MAC 2233 or MAC 2311; PHY 2004 and PHY 2004L; PHY 2005 and PHY 2005L; CHM 2046 and CHM 2046L; and either GLY 2010C or GLY 2030C

• Complete 2 additional tracking courses - one must be GLY 2010C or GLY 2030C

• Complete 2 additional tracking courses with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking course work

• Complete all 6 tracking courses (plus labs) with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking course work

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Semester 1	Credits
Composition (GE–C)	3
MAC 2233 Survey of Calculus 1 (3) or MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 ( both GE–M)	3-4
Humanities (GE–H, I)	3
Foreign language	3-5
Total	12-15
Semester 2	Credits
MAC 2234 Survey of Calculus 2 (3) or MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (both GE–M)	3-4
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 and Laboratory (GE–P)	4
Humanities (GE–H, I)	3
Foreign language	3-5
Electives	4-0
Total	17-16
Semester 3	Credits
CGS 2531 Problem Solving Using Computer Software or CGS 2420 Computer Programming Using FORTRAN (suggested) (both GE–M)	3
CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE–P)	4
GLY 2010C Physical Geology (4) or 2030C Environmental and Engineering Geology (3) (both GE–P)	3-4
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE–S)	3
Total	13-14
Semester 4	Credits
GLY 2100C Historical Geology or GLY 3105C Evolution of Earth and Life (both GE–P)	4
PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (both GE–P)	4
Biological Sciences (GE–B)	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE–S)	3
Total	14
Semester 5	Credits
PHY 2005 and 2005L Applied Physics 2 (3) and Laboratory (1) (both GE–P)	4
GLY 3200C Principles of Mineralogy (GE–P)	4
Biological Sciences (GE–B)	3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major)	3
Total	14
Semester 6	Credits
GLY 4310C Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (GE–P)	4
GLY 3603C Paleontology (GE–P)	4
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)	6
Total	14
Semester 7	Credits
GLY 4552C Sedimentary Geology (GE–P)	4
Humanities (GE–H)	3
ENC 3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline (preferred) or ENC 2210 Technical Writing (both GE–C)	3
GLY 4905 Individual Work (or other GLY, 4000 level or above)	3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major)	3
Total	16
Semester 8	Credits
GLY 4400C Structural Geology and Tectonics	4
GLY 4750L Geologic Field Methods	1
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE–S)	3
GLY 4905 Individual Work (or other GLY, 4000 level or above)	3
Elective (3000 level and above, not in major)	3
Total	14
Semester 9	Credits
GLY 4790 Geology Summer Field Camp	4
GLY 3784L Geology and National Parks SW (optional)	2
Total	6