Geology
A degree in geology provides an understanding of issues associated with the physical earth and skills which are in demand in today's job market. The geology graduate will have a detailed understanding of such critical issues as climate change, sustainability of Earth resources and the close interplay between human activity and the environment.
About This Major
- College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
- Hours for the Degree: 120
- Specializations: Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Geosciences B.A.,
Professional Geology B.S. - Minor: Yes
- Combined-Degree Program: Yes
- Website: web.geology.ufl.edu/undergrad.html
Overview
Techniques such as environmental assessment, geological hazard assessment, field-based techniques and geographic information systems (GIS) are used in evaluating the various impacts of humans on the physical earth and hydrologic environment. The practical and flexible curriculum, small class sizes, computer-based learning, strong faculty and coursework in several areas of general education make this major appealing to students who want skills linked to employment or preparation for entry to professional schools (e.g., law, medicine, business, etc.).
Geology majors learn about the Earth's physical environment including climate, non-renewable geological resources, renewable geological resources, geological hazards and remediation as well as basic skills required by geologists. These skills and the geological perspective also open doors to employment in government agencies and private firms that deal with water management, climate change, environmental firms and education.
Coursework for the Major
The geology major has three different specializations: the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Arts in environmental geosciences (a joint program with the Department of Geography) and the Bachelor of Science.
Coursework for the major will depend upon the program the student chooses. Coursework for each track within the major can be found below under Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan.
Concentrations/Specializations
Students in the geology major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) can specialize in one of three specializations. Students who are uncertain which program best suits them should consult the Department of Geology's undergraduate coordinator for information and guidance on curriculum planning.
- Bachelor of Arts: The Bachelor of Arts in geology is the most flexible degree, and best suited for students interested in careers in education or environmental policy making. The degree also allows students flexibility to pursue advanced degrees in environmental law or environmental medicine.
- Bachelor of Arts - Environmental Geosciences: This specialization is co-offered by the Department of Geography and is designed for students interested in land and water aspects of the environment. The specialization can be tailored to focus on geological resources such as water and mineral exploration and management, geological hazards, environmental planning, resource sustainability or earth science education.
- Bachelor of Science - Professional: This specialization is designed for students planning to take the professional geology (PG) licensure exam and/or continue on to graduate school in geology. This track emphasizes a core understanding of petrology, structural geology, field methodology and paleontology, and it requires significant introductory coursework and credits in calculus, general chemistry and physics.
Relevant Minors and/or Certificates
UFTeach Program: There is a severe shortage of qualified secondary science teachers in Florida and nationwide. Students interested in becoming part of this high-demand profession should see the undergraduate coordinator about the UFTeach program. UFTeach students can complete the UFTeach minor in science education along with their B.A. or B.S in geology and have the coursework and preparation for professional teacher certification in Florida when they graduate.
Research
Students in geology who wish to graduate with high or highest honors will be required to conduct an independent research project under the direction of a faculty member. Students are also afforded the opportunity to conduct research within the department's laboratories regardless of their honors status.
Bachelor of Arts - Geology Specialization
Bachelor of Arts - Environmental Geosciences Specialization
Bachelor of Science - Professional Geology Specialization
Bachelor of Arts - Geology
The Bachelor of Arts in geology requires a total of 32 hours of coursework. Students must complete 9 hours of introductory level courses (2000 level and below) and at least 23 hours of GLY-prefixed courses at the 3000 level or above. One course must be the capstone course GLY 4750L (2 credits). Students must earn a grade of C or better for coursework to count toward the major.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
Semester 2
- Maintain 2.0 UF GPA
Semester 3
- Complete MAC 1147 (or equivalent) or STA 2023
- Complete 1 of 4 critical-tracking courses with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA on all critical-tracking coursework. Choose one: ESC 1000, GLY 1000, GLY 1001, GLY 1073, GLY 1102, GLY 1150L, GLY 1801, GLY 2010C, GLY 2026C, GLY 2038C, GLY 2080C, GLY 2100C, GLY 3105C and OCE 1001. Students should take GLY 2010C, which is a prereq for many courses, in semester three or four.
Semester 4
- Complete one additional tracking course with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 5
- Complete two additional GLY courses with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements — Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Students are expected to complete the writing and math requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (4)or STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (3)(GE-M) | 3-4 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 4-5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 13-15 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| GLY 2010C Physical Geology (4) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 13-15 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| GLY 2100C Historical Geology or GLY 3105C Evolution of Earth and Life (both GE-P) | 4 |
| Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| GLY elective (3000 level or above) | 4 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) | 3-4 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16-17 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| ENC 2210 Technical Writing or ENC 3254 Professional Writing (both GE-C) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 |
| GLY elective (3000 level or above) | 4 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| Approved electives (3000 level or above) | 6 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 |
| Geology electives | 8 |
| Total | 17 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| Approved electives | 6 |
| Geology electives | 7-8 |
| Total | 13-14 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| GLY 4750L Geologic Field Methods | 2 |
| Approved electives (two, at 3000 level or above) | 6 |
| Electives | 4 |
| GLY elective | 4 |
| Total | 16 |
Bachelor of Arts - Environmental Geosciences
This program is well-suited for students interested in environmental science, environmental policy, Earth science teaching or environmental law and offers a unique interdisciplinary perspective between geology and geography. The major requires a total of 39-44 hours of coursework and is a joint offering between the Department of Geological Sciences and Department of Geography. Students must earn a grade of C or better for coursework to count toward the major.
Required Coursework
- GEO 2200 and 2200L
- GIS 3043
- GLY 2010C
- GLY 3105C or GLY 2100C
- GLY 3202C
- GLY 4750L
- Two courses from GLY 3074, GLY 3163, GLY 3603C, GLY 3882C, GLY 4155C, GLY 4310C, GLY 4400C, GLY 4552C, GLY 4571, GLY 4734
- Three courses from GEO 3162C, GEO 3250, GEO 3280, GEO 3341, GEO 3352, GEO 3372, GEO 4167, GEO 4221, GEO 4281, GEO 4285, GEO 4300;
GIS 4021C, GIS 4037; MET 3503, MET 4532 - STA 2023
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
Semester 2
- Complete one critical-tracking course with laboratory (GEO 2200 and GEO 2200L, or GLY 2010C or equivalent) with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 3
- Complete the other critical-tracking course with laboratpry (GEO 2200 and GEO 2200L, or GLY 2010C or equivalent) with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 4
- Complete STA 2023 and maintain a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 5
- Complete 2 additional GLY or GEO courses with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA on all critical-tracking coursework. Recommended GLY courses include GLY 2100C or GLY 3105C
Recommended semester plan
Students are expected to complete the writing and math requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 4-5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) | 3 |
| Total | 13-14 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| GLY 2010C Physical Geology (4) or GEO 2200 and GEO 2200L Physical Geography (3) and Physical Geography Laboratory (1) or equivalent (all GE-P) | 4 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 13-15 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| GEO 2200 and GEO 2200L Physical Geography (3) and Physical Geography Laboratory (1) or GLY 2010C Physical Geology (4) or equivalent (all GE-P) | 4 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) | 3 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GLY 2100C Historical Geology or GLY 3105C Evolution of Earth and Life (both GE-P) | 4 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| GLY 3202C Earth Materials | 3 |
| Geology electives, from list ** | |
| Electives | 9 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| GEO elective, from list ** | 3-4 |
| GLY elective, from list *** | 3-4 |
| Electives * | 9 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| GLY 4750L Geologic Field Methods (2) or GEO 4930 Senior Seminar (1) | 1-2 |
| GEO elective, from list ** | 3-4 |
| GLY elective, from list *** | 3-4 |
| Electives * | 6 |
| Total | 13-16 |
* Electives to reach the 120-hour total will vary depending on whether students select minimum or maximum credit course options.
** Geoscience Electives in Department of Geography (9-12 credits)
Take three courses. Credit will not be given twice for a cross-listed course or a graduate and undergraduate section of the same course.
GEO 3250 Climatology (3)
GEO 3280 Principles of Geographic Hydrology (3)
GEO 3315 Geography of Crop Plants (3)
GEO 3341 Extreme Floods (3)
GEO 3352 Human Footprint on the Landscape
GEO 3372 Conservation of Resources (3)
GEO 3930 Special Topics-Introduction to Climate Change
GEO 4167C Intermediate Quantitative Analysis (3)
GEO 4221 Coastal Morphology and Processes (3)
GEO 4281 Fluvial Morphology and Processes (3)
GEO 4285 Models in Geographic Hydrology (3)
GEO 4300 Environmental Biogeography (3)
GIS 4021C Air Photo Interpretation (3)
GIS 4037 Digital Image Processing (4)
MET 3503 Weather and Forecasting (3)
MET4532 Hurricanes
*** Geoscience Electives in Department of Geological Sciences (6-8 credits)
Take two courses. Credit will not be given twice for a cross-listed course or a graduate and undergraduate section of the same course.
GLY 3074 Oceans and Global Climate (3)
GLY 3163 Geology American National Parks (3)
GLY 3603C Paleontology (4)
GLY 3882C Hydrology and Human Affairs (3)
GLY 4155C Geology of Florida (3)
GLY 4310C Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (4)
GLY 4400C Structural Geology and Tectonics (4)
GLY 4552C Sedimentary Geology (4)
GLY 4571 Fluvial Morphology and Processes (3)
GLY 4734 Coastal Morphology and Processes (3
Bachelor of Science - Professional
The professional specialization is aimed at students who wish to pursue graduate and professional careers in geosciences and/or environmental science. The major is extremely flexible and allows you to specialize in any number of subdisciplines (geochemistry, geophysics, geobiology, hydrogeology).
The major requires a total of 39-40 hours of coursework in the Department of Geology. Students must earn grades of C or better for coursework to count toward the major.
Students must complete at least 31-32 hours of coursework in the Department of Geology at the 3000 level or above, including the capstone course GLY 4790 in their senior year. Students wishing to pursue graduate school or professional licensure in geology should take the courses listed below:
Required Coursework
- GLY 2100C, GLY 3105C, GLY 3200C, GLY 4310C, GLY 4400C, GLY 4552C, GLY 4750L, GLY 4790
- At least 15-16 credits chosen from the following courses:
- CHM 2045 and MAC 2311 and (PHY 2004 or PHY 2048 or PHY 2053) are required
- Remaining hours can be chosen from CGS 2531, CHM 2045L, CHM 2046, CHM 2046L; PHY 2004L, PHY 2005, PHY 2005L, PHY 2048L, PHY 2049, PHY 2049L PHY 2053L, PHY 2054, PHY 2054L; MAC 2312, MAC 2313 or STA 2023; additional science credits at the 2000 level and above, approved by the department. (Examples include AST 2008, BSC 2010, 2010L, BSC 2011, BSC 2011L, GIS 3043, MCB 2000, MCB 2000L, SWS 3022, SWS 3022L)
Specific courses selected from among the alternatives listed above will depend upon the student's primary geologic interest. Students should contact the adviser, Dr. Joseph Meert, in 274 Williamson as early as possible.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements — Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
Semester 2
- Maintain 2.0 UF GPA
Semester 3
- Complete 2 of 6 critical-tracking courses (CHM 2045, CHM 2046, ESC 1000, GLY 1000, GLY 1001, GLY 1073, GLY 1102, GLY 2010C, GLY 2038C, GLY 2080C, GLY 2100C, GLY 3105C, GLY 3200, MAC 2311, MAC 2312, OCE 1001, PHY 2004, PHY 2005) with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework. Students should take GLY 2010C, which is a prereq for many courses, in semester three or four.
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional tracking courses. Choose 1 from the following: GLY 2100C, GLY 3105C or GLY 3200C with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 5
- Complete 2 additional tracking courses with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Back to Top Recommended semester plan
Students are expected to complete the writing and math requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).
Semester 1 Credits MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) 4 Composition (GE-C, WR) 3 Foreign language 4-5 Humanities (GE-H, N) 3 Total 14-15 Semester 2 Credits CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) 4 MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (4) (GE-M) or
PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Applied Physics 1 Laboratory (1) (both GE-P)4 Foreign language 3-5 Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) 3 Total 14-16 Semester 3 Credits CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) (both GE-P) or
Approved science course (GE-P)4 GLY 2010C Physical Geology (4) or
Other introductory GLY course (both GE-P)3-4 PHY 2005 and 2005L Applied Physics 2 (3) and Applied Physics 2 Laboratory (1) (both GE-P) or
Approved science course (GE-P)4 Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) 3 Total 14-15 Semester 4 Credits GLY 2100C Historical Geology (GE-P) or
GLY 3105C Evolution of Earth and Life (GE-P)4 Biological Science (GE-B) 3 Humanities (GE-H) 3 Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) 3 Total 13 Semester 5 Credits ENC 2210 Technical Writing (GE-C) or
3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline (GE-C)3 GLY 3200C Principles of Mineralogy (GE-P) 4 Biological Science (GE-B) 3 Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) 3 Humanities (GE-H) 3 Total 16 Semester 6 Credits GLY 4310C Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (GE-P) 4 GLY 4400C Structural Geology and Tectonics 4 GLY 4750L Geologic Field Methods 2 Approved elective (3000 level or above) 3 Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) 3 Total 16 Summer Credits GLY 4790 Summer Field Camp 6 Total 6 Semester 7 Credits GLY 4552C Sedimentary Geology 3 GLY 4905 Individual Work or elective 3 Approved electives (two, at 3000 level or higher) 6 GLY elective (3000 level or higher) 3 Total 15 Semester 8 Credits GLY 3603C Paleontology (GE-P) 4 GLY 4905 Individual Work or elective 3 Approved electives 6 Total 13 Back to Top