Geology

Overview

The mission of the Geology major is to foster in students an understanding of the Earth: the processes that affect its surface and interior; its formation and evolution through time; and its functioning as the physical environment for the living world. The major accomplishes this goal by offering to students a set of coordinated experiences in the classroom, laboratory, and field. Geology is an intrinsically interdisciplinary science, drawing upon the tools of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, and environmental science to examine problems that range in scale from a single mineral grain to the entire solar system. Geology majors learn to work together on inquiry-based laboratory and field projects, and each produces a Senior Thesis describing independent research they have undertaken with a faculty mentor. There is a special emphasis on articulating ideas orally, graphically, and in writing, skills that are valuable not only in science but also in the many other careers where geology majors from Occidental have found success. Geology is a global science, and so students who have made progress in the major as sophomores are encouraged to study abroad for a semester during their junior year. The Geology major expresses the Department's commitment to prepare students to excel in an increasingly complex and environmentally stressed world.

GEO 105 is open to first-year and second-year students only; 200-level courses are open to any student who has completed GEO 105; 300-level courses are intended for junior and senior geology majors and minors; 400-level seminars are for senior majors.

Major Requirements

COURSEWORK

The following courses (13) are required for completion of the major program in the Department of Geology:

Fundamental Coursework:

Electives

Students must select an additional four courses from the list below, one of which may be a 200-level course. Geo 390 (Special Topics) may be taken multiple times as course content varies. 

Mathematics Component:

Choose one option:

Option 1-

Option 2-

Major with ES Concentration

Fundamental Geology:

Geology Elective

Biology Component:

Economics Component:

Quantitative Component:

Choose one option:

Option 1-

Option 2-

Honors in the Major

Students with a GPA of at least 3.25 are eligible to graduate with honors in geology. For these students, a larger senior thesis is planned, and students start their research earlier than the fall of their senior year. For this extra work, the honors student receives additional course credit (GEO 499) beyond credit for comprehensives.

Minor

Two additional GEO electives

To be selected with department approval. These courses must be filed with the Registrar's Office by submitting the Transfer Credit & Course Substitution Form.

Second-Stage Writing

Students majoring in Geology will satisfy the Second-Stage Writing Proficiency requirement by submitting a portfolio of at least two papers from any of the intermediate- or advanced-level writing-intensive Geology courses normally required for the major (or appropriate course work). The portfolios will be evaluated by at least two faculty members using the departmental writing rubric. Students receiving a passing score on the portfolio will fulfill the requirement; a student who does not receive a passing score will be required to submit his/her major writing intensive paper/project from GEO 391 Research Methods.

Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. See the Second-Stage Writing Proficiency requirement in the college catalog and consult the department chair for additional information about which courses will fulfill the requirement and for a copy of the department's evaluation rubric.

Comprehensive Requirement

The comprehensive requirement in Geology is met by a passing grade on the senior comprehensive project. The senior comprehensive project is based on research conducted under the supervision of Department faculty or in an off-campus summer research program or field camp. This project can be started as early as the junior year (GEO 391) and typically involves field or laboratory work during the summer between junior and senior years. Seniors are expected to present their research orally and submit a written thesis by Spring Break. During the fall semester of senior year, all Geology majors attend a senior seminar (GEO 491 or equivalent). A major goal of these meetings is to help students make timely progress on their comprehensive projects.