Undergraduate Program in Geology and Geophysics
Undergraduate Director:  Camelia Knapp Office Phone:  (803) 777-8491 E-mail: camelia@geol.sc.edu	Administrative Assistant: Jonathan  Brazzell Office Phone:  (803) 777-4535 E-mail:  jbrazzell@geol.sc.edu

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2008 - Magellan Scholars and Discovery Day Winners!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Geological Sciences undergrad major Beth Ann Bell has been selected as a 2007-2008 Goldwater Scholar. A well-deserved honor, Beth Ann!

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Undergraduate Curriculum in Geology and Geophysics

Undergraduate Bulletin
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Students seeking to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology may choose from one of five degree options:

The Intensive Majors are designed for students who plan to pursue graduate work, or those who wish to enhance their professional qualifications in specific areas. The concentrations in Marine Geology and Environmental Geoscience allow students with specific career goals to specialize in those areas. A minimum grade of C or better is required in all major courses.

All majors are required to fulfill core curriculum requirements in general education, general science, mathematics, and a cognate. General education requirements are set by the University and the College of Science and Mathematics. General science and mathematics requirements for a B.Sc. in Geology or Geophysics include two semesters each of Physics, Chemistry, and Calculus, and one semester of computer science. Cognate requirements specify 12 credit hours in related disciplines, chosen in consultation with your academic advisor.

IMPORTANT: The following requirements are not guaranteed to be completely accurate or up to date; in all cases the requirements spelled out in the published Undergraduate Bulletin of the University of South Carolina are the official requirements that must be satisfied, and those requirements cannot be superseded by errors or omissions in these web pages.

Core Curriculum in Geology: 
All majors in all degree tracks are required to fulfill core curriculum requirements in geology. The core curriculum in Geology involves 7 courses for a total of 29-30 credit hours, plus a pre-major requirement for Geology 201 and Geology 202 (4 credit hours each, with grade of “C” or better). The geology core curriculum is summarized in the following table. Required courses in the core curriculum are offered alternate years, in either the Fall or Spring semester, with the exceptions of Geol 201 and Geol 202. The core curriculum in Geophysics consists of GEOL 305, 315, 325, 345, 355, 5 credits of Senior Capstone Experience (GEOL 500, 561, 699), plus 12 additional credits of GEOL courses chosen from the following course sequences: GEOL 531, 536, 537, 546, 554, 555, 556, 570, 575. GEOL 399, 498, or 499 (up to three credits) may be taken with approval of undergraduate director. The Geophysics major is discussed in more detail below.

Intensive Majors: 
Students seeking intensive majors in Geology must pass GEOL 201 and 202 with a grade of “C” or better and are required to complete the core curriculum in Geology, and to take an additional 9 credit hours of advanced geology electives numbered Geol 399 or higher. For concentrations in Marine Geology and Environmental Geoscience, these  9 credit hours must be selected from a list of approved courses which address topics in those areas of specialization. In addition, students seeking concentrations in Marine Geology and Environmental Geoscience are also subject to cognate course restrictions. Geology electives numbered 399 and higher are available every semester, although specific courses offered vary from year to year. 

Intensive Major in Geology with Concentration in Marine Geology: 
Students seeking an intensive major in Geology with concentration in Marine Geology must pass GEOL 201 and 202 with a grade of “C” or better and  are required to complete the core curriculum in Geology, and to take an additional 9 credit hours of advanced geology electives selected from the list below. Other courses may be substituted by petition. In addition, the cognate credits must include 3 credits of MATH 241 (or higher), or STAT 509, 510, 511, 512, 515, 516.

 Geology Electives for the Marine Geology Concentration 
 #            Course
511     Advanced Paleontology 
515     Marine Micropaleontology
516     Sedimentology 
517     Advanced Micropaleontology 
521     Introduction to Geochemistry 
531     Plate Tectonics
545     Geologic Oceanography
546     Marine Geophysics
553     Marine Sediments
557     Coastal Processes
581     Esturine Oceanography
582     Marine Hydrodynamics
583     Salt Marshes
498/499 UG Research: Up to 3 credits on approved topics.  

Intensive Major in Geology with Concentration in Environmental Geoscience: 
Students seeking an intensive major in Geology with concentration in Environmental Geoscience are required to complete the pre-major requirements (pass GEOL 201 and 202 with a grade of “C” or better) and complete the following courses: GEOL 305, 315, 325, 335, 355 and five credits of Senior Capstone Experience (GEOL 561, 699 or a field course at an approved university) plus 12 credits from the following: GEOL 371, 501, 508, 510, 518, 520, 521, 536, 557, 560, 570, 571, 575, 583, 498/499 (limit 3 credits on approved research topics, not including Senior Thesis GEOL 699) (37 hours). Other courses may be substituted by petition. Cognates must include 3 credits of MATH 241 or higher, or STAT 515 or 516. Additional cognate  courses should be chosen from the following list: CHEM 321, 331, 332, 521, 541, 542, 550, BIOL 541, 570, PHYS 301, 351, MATH 241, 242, 511, 520, 521, STAT 515, 516, GEOG 343, 345, 346, 347, 363, 543, 547, 551, 563.

Geology Electives for Environmental Geosciences Concentration

 #         Course
371     A River Runs through It
501     Geomorphology
508     Palynology
510     Organic Sedimentation and Coal Genesis
518     Subsurface Stratigraphy
520     Isotope Geology and geochronology
521     Introduction to Geochemistry
536     Applied Geophysics
557     Coastal Processes
560     Earth Resource Management
570     Environmental Hydrogeology
571     Soil Hydrology
575     Introduction to Groundwater Modeling
583     Geochemistry of Salt Marshes
498/499 UG Research: Up to 3 credits on approved topics. 

Intensive Major in Geophysics: 
Students seeking an intensive major in Geophysics must pass GEOL 201 and 202 with a grade of “C” or better and are required to take GEOL 305, 315, 325, 345, 355, 5 credits of Senior Capstone Experience (GEOL 500, 561, 699), plus 12 additional credits of GEOL courses chosen from the following course sequences:  GEOL 531, 536, 537, 546, 554, 555, 556, 570, 575. GEOL 399, 498, or 499 (up to three credits) may be taken with approval of undergraduate director.

Other Requirements include MATH through 142, CSCI 206 or 207, PHYS 211, 211L, 212, 212L, and CHEM 111, 112. Cognates must include MATH 241, 242 plus 6 additional hours of quantitative coursework chosen from the following list: MATH 511, 520, 521, 526, 527, 544, 550, 552, PHYS 301, 302, 503, 504, 506, 512, 514, STAT 509 or 511, 510, 512.

Electives: Solid Earth Geophysics emphasis

531     Plate Tectonics
536     Geophysics
537     Field methods in Geophysics
554     Applied Seismology
555     Elementary Seismology
556     Seismic Reflection Interpretation 

Electives: Hydrogeology emphasis

570     Environmental Hydrogeology
575     Introduction to Groundwater Modeling

 All areas of emphasis:

399     Independent Study
498/499 UG Research