Academic Requirements

The geoscience department offers courses in geology, geochemistry, oceanography, meteorology, environmental geology, and hydrology. In addition to taking formal courses, most geoscience students undertake undergraduate research during their junior and/or senior year. Our instruction and research are strongly augmented by field data, some of which are acquired on the Colleges' 65 foot research vessel, the HWS William F. Scandling (formerly known as the HWS Explorer). The department offers two disciplinary majors, a B.A. and B.S., and a disciplinary minor. Courses in other departments designed for non majors that do not count toward a major in that department cannot normally be counted toward a geoscience degree. Only those courses in which a student has obtained a grade of C or better will be credited toward a geoscience major or minor. Only two courses transferred from another institution may count toward the major unless the student has previously been matriculated at another institution.

Requirements for the MAJOR (B.A.)

disciplinary, 12 courses
GEO 170 and ENV 170; two courses from the “Fluid Earth” courses, two courses from the “Solid Earth” courses; two additional geoscience courses; CHEM 110; MATH 130; and two additional courses in geoscience, biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics or physics. Only two 100-level geoscience courses can count toward the B.A.

Requirements for the MAJOR (B.S.)

disciplinary, 15 courses
GEO 170 and ENV 170; two courses from the “Fluid Earth” courses, two courses from the “Solid Earth” courses; three additional geoscience courses; CHEM 110; CHEM 120; MATH 130; MATH 131; PHYS 140 or PHYS 150; and one additional course in geoscience, biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics or physics. Only two 100-level geoscience courses can count toward the B.S.

Requirements for the MINOR

disciplinary, 5 courses
Four geoscience courses where ENV 170 may substitute for a geoscience course; and one additional course in geoscience, biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics or physics. Only two 100- level geoscience courses can count toward the minor.