The undergraduate programs in the Department of Geology & Geophysics emphasize the basics (mathematics, chemistry, and physics) as well as comprehensive lecture, laboratory, and field study in geology and geophysics.

Undergraduate students at Texas A&M may pursue a B.S. degree in Geology, Geophysics, or Earth Sciences, or may pursue a B.A. degree in Geology. In addition, the Geology degree offers an Engineering Geology option and a Petroleum Geology track. Students also may pursue a Minor in Geology, Geophysics, Earth Science or Geoinformatics by completing 15-18 credit hours in the respective discipline.

The B.S. degree in Geology or Geophysics prepares students for entry-level employment and graduate school, as most job opportunities in industry require a M.S. degree. The B.S. degree in Earth Sciences prepares students to teach earth science in middle and secondary schools. The B.A. degree in Geology offers more flexibility than the B.S. program, and meets the needs of many students who plan to use geology as a basis for careers in other fields. Students planning a research or university teaching career should pursue a Ph.D. degree.

The first two years of the academic program is common to both Geology and Geophysics degrees. They include 8 credit hours each of chemistry and physics, 14 hours of mathematics, and 19 hours of Geology. Additional credit hours focus on requirements in liberal arts and social sciences, and on electives.

Prior to the junior year, students must select their degree program, either Geology, Engineering Geology, or Geophysics. The junior and senior years involve more advanced study in the geosciences, including the opportunity to concentrate on specific disciplines such as environmental and engineering geology, petroleum geology and geophysics, and hydrogeology.

Course and degree requirements for a B.S. in Earth Science are broad-based, and include both a solid education in the basic geosciences as well as training in professional education. The Earth Science program includes certification in Earth Science in the secondary school system.

The B.A. program provides the student a broad foundation in geology with a specialization in at least one other field through the minors program. The minor chosen by the student requires a minimum of 15 credit hours in one discipline. The B.A. program offers additional opportunities for the student to diversify through geology and technical electives.

The B.A. degree offers more flexibility than the B.S. program in terms of allowing a program of study which combines geology with subject areas such as geophysics, history, journalism, political science, mathematics, biology, business, computer science, education, medicine, physics, or other areas. In addition, the mathematics and physics requirements are less rigorous than the B.S. degree program. The B.A. program meets the needs of many students who plan to use geology as a basis for careers in law (environmental, oil, gas, etc.), medicine, technical writing, teaching at pre-college level, environmental journalism, resource-related sales and marketing, to name only a few possibilities. With a judicious selection of electives, the B.A. degree may conceivably be a starting point for further graduate education in geology or geophysics. However, the B.S. is far more appropriate for this goal.

Because of the great flexibility of this program, it is important to speak to a departmental advisor as soon as practicable. In any case, electives must be chosen in consultation with an advisor.

Download PDF: Semester-by-Semester Curriculum Outline

The undergraduate curriculum in geology emphasizes the development of sound scientific skills, including the ability to think, observe, analyze, classify, describe, and interpret data, and the application of these skills to the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, structures, landforms, and other geologic phenomena. The undergraduate curriculum also emphasizes the practical aspects of geology, including its applications to petroleum and mineral exploration, environmental management, and siting of man-made structures.

The first two years of the B.S. program in Geology, which are identical to the B.S. in Geophysics, provide students with the basics of geology and geophysics and the allied fields of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science. The junior and senior years involve more advanced study in the field of geology, including the opportunity to concentrate study in specific disciplines such as petroleum geology and geophysics, environmental and engineering geology, hydrogeology, and others. Students are also encouraged to become involved in research problems with faculty members during their undergraduate studies, which can be accomplished through classes in Directed Studies (GEOL 285 and 485).

The B.S. degree is considered the preparatory degree in the field of geology. Those students desiring employment in industry are encouraged to pursue a M.S. degree. Students planning a research or university teaching career should pursue Ph.D. degree.

Download PDF: Semester-by-Semester Curriculum Outline for Geology

Download PDF: Semester-by-Semester Curriculum Outline for Geophysics

BS in Geology with Engineering Geology Option

The Engineering Geology option provides training for geology students to work on some of society's most pressing problems including groundwater contamination and remediation, nonpoint-source pollution, water resources, and geologic hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, flooding, volcanism, and surface deformation. The curriculum is designed to provide a strong foundation in geology coupled with specialized training in environmental and engineering topics. Students completing this option receive a B.S. degree in Geology from the Department of Geology and Geophysics.

Download PDF: Semester-by-Semester Curriculum Outline Now

The Department of Geology and Geophysics offers minors in three separate programs: Geology, Geophysics, and Earth Science. The Department of Geology and Geophysics and the Department of Geography together administer the minor in Geoinformatics. Minors provide opportunities for broadening a student's background and tailoring the curriculum to specific career goals. For example, a minor in Geology or Geophysics may be especially beneficial to students majoring in fields that deal directly or indirectly with geological processes. These include agriculture, anthropology, archaeology, architecture, business, law, biology, chemistry, recreation and parks, just to name a few.

The general requirements for a minor in these programs are as follows:

• a minimum of 15 credits in the discipline with at least 6 credits at the 300-400 level,

• a minimum of 6 credits must be taken in residence at either TAMU in College Station or TAMU at Galveston,

• students must meet with the department's advisor for minor programs for approval of courses selected (any substitutions must be approved by the department head),

• a minimum GPA of 2.0 must be achieved for all courses in the minor.

Petroleum Geology Track

The Petroleum Geology track is intended to prepare an undergraduate student for graduate study in this discipline, as well as provide training for the students who may be interested in service jobs in the oil and gas industry between their undergraduate and graduate careers. Many of the geology undergraduate classes prepare students for this track (GEOL 400 Reservoir Description, GEOL 404 Geology of Petroleum). In addition, students may select technical electives in petroleum engineering and other disciplines.

Specific classes recommended include GEOL 400 Reservoir Description, GEOL 404 Geology of Petroleum, PETE 311 Reservoir Petrophysics, PETE 321 Formation Evaluation, PETE 324 Well Performance. Qualified students may also take related graduate courses during the senior year. Such classes include GEOL 619 Petroleum Geology, GEOL 622 Stratigraphy, GEOL 623 Carbonate Rocks, GEOL 624 Carbonate Reservoirs, GEOL 668 Clastic Sedimentology and Sedimentary Petrology, and GEOP 629 Seismic Interpretation.

Environmental Geology Track

The environmental geology track is a recommended group of electives that provides training for geology students to work on some of society's most pressing problems including groundwater contamination and remediation, nonpoint-source pollution, water resources, and geologic hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, flooding, volcanism, and surface deformation. The Geology curriculum with an emphasis on environmental geology is designed to provide a strong foundation in geology coupled with specialized training in environmental and engineering topics. Students completing this track receive a B.S. degree in Geology from the Department of Geology and Geophysics and are prepared to go on to graduate school for an advanced geoscience degree. Typical careers for environmental geoscientists include careers with environmental and engineering consulting companies and other industrial corporations, governmental agencies or academics.

Specific classes recommended for the geology and technical electives include GEOL 410 Hydrogeology, GEOL 420 Environmental Geology, GEOL 440 Engineering Geology, GEOG 431 Geomorphology, GEOS 410 Global Change, GEOG 390 Principles of GIS, CVEN 365 Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering; or approved classes in other departments including Soil Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Civil Engineering.

In addition to scholarships offered at the university level, the Department of Geology and Geophysics offers a variety of scholarships funded by individual and corporate donations. These scholarships, which are based primarily on scholastic achievement, can be awarded "on top of" other awards an individual may receive from the University or other sources.

For students who are not residents of Texas, these scholarships are worth much more because they waive out-of-state tuition. Scholarships for incoming freshmen will be renewed for four years provided that the student maintains at least a 3.0 grade point average. When you apply for admission to Texas A&M, majoring in Geology, Geophysics, or Earth Science, you will be automatically considered for departmental academic-based scholarships.