Geology Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, from its composition and internal structure to its history and the processes that shape its surface. The geology degree is built on a foundation of basic sciences, and geology students employ core concepts in physics, chemistry, and mathematics to study a range of fundamental earth systems in the Earth’s natural state, including the processes of mineral and rock formation, climate evolution and change, mountain building, land surface evolution, and mineral resource creation over the Earth's 4.6 billion-year history.
Experiential learning lies at the core of a geologist's education in CEOAS, and practical experiences are integrated throughout the curriculum. Geology students apply state-of-art field and laboratory techniques to study geologic phenomenon in Oregon, the nation, and around the world.
Geology students are mentored by, and often engage in research with, dedicated faculty with a broad range of expertise. The college is a vibrant research hub visited by scientists from around the world, complementing the world class research done by our own Geology faculty.
The Geology degree is suitable for students interested in careers in applied geology, environmental sciences, science education, and in research.
Contact Information
Frank Tepley, Director
Geology Undergraduate Program
104 CEOAS Administration Building
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
541-737-9350
Email: frank.tepley@oregonstate.edu
Major Code: 034
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Explain the fundamental concepts of geology including the origin, composition, and evolution of the Earth and its components, and how the Earth system responds to internal and external forces over geologic time.
- Analyze, interpret, and model geological data using a variety of critical thinking skills and techniques to test hypotheses.
- Utilize applied practical skills in geology in the laboratory, field, and in internships or directed research at a basic and advanced level through intensive experiential learning.
- Develop quantitative literacy in techniques specific to geology.
- Effectively communicate scientific observations and interpretations through oral, written and graphical presentations to scientists and the general public.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Mathematics and Science Requirements | ||
| MTH 251Z | +*DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | 4 |
| MTH 252Z | INTEGRAL CALCULUS | 4 |
| CH 221Z & CH 227Z | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and +*GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | 5 |
| or CH 121 | +GENERAL CHEMISTRY | |
| CH 222Z & CH 228Z | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | 5 |
| or CH 122 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | |
| PH 211 | +*GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS | 4-5 |
| or PH 201 | +*GENERAL PHYSICS | |
| PH 212 | *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS | 4-5 |
| or PH 202 | *GENERAL PHYSICS | |
| ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY III and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY III LABORATORY | ||
| *GENERAL PHYSICS | ||
| *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS | ||
| Writing Elevation | ||
| WR 227Z | +*TECHNICAL WRITING | 3-4 |
| or WR 362 | +*SCIENCE WRITING | |
| or WR 375 | +WRITING IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES | |
| Geology Foundation Courses | ||
| GEO 201 | +*PHYSICAL GEOLOGY | 4 |
| GEO 202 | +*EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE | 4 |
| GEO 203 | +*EVOLUTION OF PLANET EARTH | 4 |
| GEOG 360 | GISCIENCE I: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THEORY | 4 |
| GEOG 333/ENSC 333 | +*ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| OEAS 007 | +BEYOND OSU I: PREPARE | 0 |
| OEAS 008 | +BEYOND OSU II: ENGAGE | 0 |
| Geology Core Courses | ||
| GEO 301 | GEOSCIENCES DATA ANALYSIS | 4 |
| GEO 310 | EARTH MATERIALS I: PETROLOGY AND PETROGRAPHY OF MINERALS | 4 |
| GEO 315 | EARTH MATERIALS II: PETROLOGY AND PETROGRAPHY OF IGNEOUS ROCKS | 4 |
| GEO 322 | SURFACE PROCESSES | 4 |
| GEO 340 | STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY | 4 |
| GEO 370 | STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY | 4 |
| GEO 395 | INTRODUCTION TO FIELD GEOLOGY | 3 |
| GEO 415 | EARTH MATERIALS III: PETROLOGY AND PETROGRAPHY OF METAMORPHIC AND SEDIMENTARY ROCKS | 4 |
| GEO 430 | ^GEOCHEMISTRY | 4 |
| GEO 463 | ^GEOPHYSICS AND TECTONICS | 4 |
| GEO 487 | HYDROGEOLOGY | 4 |
| GEO 495 | ADVANCED FIELD GEOLOGY | 6 |
| Geology Elective Specialization | ||
| Select four courses from the following categories: | 12-16 | |
| Solid Earth | ||
| IGNEOUS PETROLOGY | ||
| ECONOMIC GEOLOGY | ||
| FIELD MAPPING OF ORE DEPOSITS | ||
| Natural Hazards | ||
| ^VOLCANOLOGY | ||
| COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY | ||
| GEOLOGY OF EARTHQUAKES | ||
| Earth Surface | ||
| PALEOBIOLOGY | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY | ||
| APPLIED GEOMORPHOLOGY | ||
| GLACIERS IN THE CLIMATE SYSTEM | ||
| GLACIAL GEOLOGY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO BIOGEOCHEMISTRY | ||
| QUATERNARY PALEOCLIMATOLOGY | ||
| QUATERNARY STRATIGRAPHY OF NORTH AMERICA | ||
| REMOTE SENSING: PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS | ||
| SNOW HYDROLOGY | ||
| GEOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| Credits from the following courses may count toward an elective specialization with advisor approval: 1 | ||
400-level courses in other departments or programs (e.g., ATS, OC) | ||
| RESEARCH | ||
| THESIS | ||
| INTERNSHIP | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
| +RESEARCH IN EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | ||
| +INTERNSHIP IN EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | ||
| Remaining Core Ed and Electives | 54-64 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
Major Code: 034
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CH 221Z & CH 227Z or CH 121 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I or +GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| GEO 201 | +*PHYSICAL GEOLOGY | 4 |
| MTH 251Z | +*DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| CH 222Z & CH 228Z or CH 122 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II or *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| GEO 202 | +*EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE | 4 |
| MTH 252Z | INTEGRAL CALCULUS | 4 |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEO 203 | +*EVOLUTION OF PLANET EARTH | 4 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEO 395 | INTRODUCTION TO FIELD GEOLOGY | 3 |
| GEO 310 | EARTH MATERIALS I: PETROLOGY AND PETROGRAPHY OF MINERALS | 4 |
| PH 211 or PH 201 | +*GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS or +*GENERAL PHYSICS | 4-5 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| GEO 315 | EARTH MATERIALS II: PETROLOGY AND PETROGRAPHY OF IGNEOUS ROCKS | 4 |
| PH 212 or PH 202 | *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS or *GENERAL PHYSICS | 4-5 |
| GEO 370 | STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY | 4 |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEO 415 | EARTH MATERIALS III: PETROLOGY AND PETROGRAPHY OF METAMORPHIC AND SEDIMENTARY ROCKS | 4 |
| ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| OEAS 007 | +BEYOND OSU I: PREPARE | 0 |
| OEAS 008 | +BEYOND OSU II: ENGAGE | 0 |
| Additional Chemistry or Physics | 4-5 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEO 301 | GEOSCIENCES DATA ANALYSIS | 4 |
| GEO 322 | SURFACE PROCESSES | 4 |
| GEOG 333/ENSC 333 | +*ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| GEOG 360 | GISCIENCE I: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THEORY | 4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Geology Elective Specialization | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEO 340 | STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY | 4 |
| WR 362 | +*SCIENCE WRITING or +WRITING IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES or +*TECHNICAL WRITING | 3-4 |
| Geology Elective Specialization | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Summer | ||
| GEO 495 | ADVANCED FIELD GEOLOGY | 6 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEO 487 | HYDROGEOLOGY | 4 |
| Geology Elective Specialization | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| GEO 430 | ^GEOCHEMISTRY | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEO 463 | ^GEOPHYSICS AND TECTONICS | 4 |
| Geology Elective Specialization | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course