Geology Major at W&L

Majoring in Geology at Washington and Lee

The Geology Dept. at Washington and Lee offers three majors, a B. S., a B. A., and a B.A.in environmental geology.

The major in geology leading to a B.S. degree is designed for students preparing for a career as professional geological scientists (which in many cases will require graduate work in geology) in either academia, the energy or mining industry, or in the environmental sciences.

The major in geology leading to a B.A. degree is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to study Earth in preparation for a career in business, law and environmental law, secondary school teaching, or who simply have a general interest in the origin and evolution of the Earth and wish to specialize in the geosciences.

The B.A. major in environmental geology is designed to provide general background in environmental studies with emphasis on geological aspects of the field.. Students with an interest in environmental issues are advised to define their interests as precisely as possible and consult with faculty member regarding major and course selection. Graduate programs in environmental studies and environmental sciences vary in emphasis. Some are centered around particular disciplines such as geology, ecology, or engineering. Others deal with public issues such as land use planning. Still others are truly interdisciplinary. Students who expect to undertake scientific work in environmental geology are best advised to complete the geology major leading to a Bachelor of Science degree.

Geology Major Degree Programs: courses and idealized schedules

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE---
The major in geology leading to a Bachelor of Science degree consists of three separate but interrelated tiers of courses. A total of 50 credits are required.

1. Entry level courses: Geology 100 or 101, Geology 102, Geology 160, Geology 185 and Geology 373. Ideally these courses are taken during the Freshman year by entering students who either clearly identify themselves as potential geology majors or who lean in that direction, but it is possible to begin taking these courses in the fall of the Sophomore year. Students are strongly urged to enroll in Geology 100 (preferably) or 101 in the Fall Term of their first year and complete the following first year schedule:

Fall Term:         Geology 100 or 101; Math 101
Winter Term:    Geology 102, 185
Spring Term:    Geology 160, 373

2. Core Courses are required of all B.S. geology majors, irrespective of their particular specialty interests. These courses are normally taken during the sophomore, junior, and senior years using the following conventional guidelines:

Geology 211 (Earth Materials I,) Geology 311 (Earth Materials II), Geology 330 (Sedimentation/Stratigraphy), and Geology 350 (Structural Geology).

Geology 211 should be taken as soon as possible after the Freshmen year, preferably during the Sophomore year. Geology Core Courses at the 200 level are normally taken during the Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years (preferably sooner than later).
Geology Core Courses at the 300 level are normally taken during the Junior and Senior years.

Supporting Science and Math Core Courses
Math 101; Chemistry 110 or 111, 112; Physics 111, 112, 113 and 114.

Math 101 should be taken in the Freshmen year. Chemistry and Physics courses should be taken during the first three years if possible.

3. Additional Geology and supporting Science Courses to bring the total to 50 credits:

Biology 111, 113; Geology 108 (Origin and Evolution and Life); Geology 209 (Laboratory Study of the Fossil Record); Geology 275 (Geophysics); Geology 340 (Hydrology); Geology 376 (Advanced Field Study) or an approved summer field camp course; Geology 385, 396 or 397 (Seminar), and during the Senior year only, Geology 472 (Credit Senior Research Thesis) or Geology 493 (6 credit Honors Senior Research Thesis).

A four year schedule would ideally be as follows:

Freshman Year - Geology 100 or 101 (Fall); 102, 185 (Winter), 160, 373 (Spring); Math 101 (Fall); Chemistry 110 or 111 and 112 (Fall).
Sophomore Year - Geology 211; Geology Core Courses at 100, 200 and 300 level. Physics 111, 112, 113, 114 and completion of any courses not taken from the Freshman year listed above.
Junior Year - Geology Core Courses at the 200 and 300 level and completion of any required supporting science courses.
Senior Year - Geology courses at 200 and 300 level; Geology 376, 472 or 493.

BACHELOR OF ARTS
The same sort of rationale to developing a schedule underlies the B. A. Geology Major program as does the B. S. Geology Major. The ideal B. A. Geology Major consists of entry-level courses in Geology, a set of Core Courses in Geology, other sciences and higher level Geology courses.

The major leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology requires 40 credits as follows:
Geology 185 and 211 (5 credits)
At least 21 additional credits in geology , including atleast 12 credits numbered 200 or above.
Additional courses must be selected from among Accounting 201, 202; Biology 111 or higher; Chemistry 111 or higher; Computer Science 111 or higher; Economics 101, 102, 201; all engineering; all geology; Management 201, 221; all mathematics; Philosophy 108; Physics 111 or higher; Politics 230,232.

A four year schedule would ideally be as follows:

Freshmen Year - Geology 100 or 101, Math 101 (Fall); Geology 102, 185 (Winter), Geology 160, 373 (Spring).
Sophomore Year - Geology 108, 209 and 275; Chemistry 110 and 111 (Fall); Geology 211 (Winter), Coastal Field Course or Geology 340 (Spring).
Junior Year - Geology 108 and 209 or 275 (Fall); Geology 247 and 311, 330 or 350 (Winter); Coastal Field Course or Geology 340 (Spring).
Senior Year - Geology 247, 330 or 350 (Fall); Geology 340 if not taken in Junior year (Spring).

The major in Environmental Geology leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree requires 40 credits as follows:
Geology 100 or 101 (4 credits)
Geology 135, 160, 201, 211, 247, and 340 (20 credits)
Geology 397 (3 credits) or 472 (4 credits) or 493 (6 credits) on an environmental topic (3-6 credits);
Additional courses (to bring the total to 40 credits) selected from the following: Biology 111, 112, 230, 240, 245, 330; Chemistry 110,111; Economics 101, 102 ; Geology 146, 275, 311, 330, 350; Philosophy 108; Politics 230, 232.

A four year schedule would ideally be as follows:

Freshmen Year - Geology 100 or 101 (Fall); Geology 185, 201 (Winter); Geology 160, 373 (Spring).
Sophomore Year - Geology 247 (Fall); Geology 260 (Winter); Geology 340 (alternate years)
Junior Year - Chemistry 110 or 111 (Fall); Geology 211 (Winter); Geology 340 (alternate years).
Senior Years - Geology 397 or 472 or 493 (Fall); Geology 397 or 472 or 493 (Winter).

Students not identifying themselves as a major in environmental geology until the sophomore year would need to compress the Freshman and Sophomore year schedule above into the Sophomore year as much as possible.