Science and Mathematics

Geological Sciences

Professors Gregor, Kulander, Richard (Emeritus), Schmidt (Emeritus), Unrug (Emeritus), Wolfe (chair) 

Associate Professors Agrawal, Carney, Cheng, Dominic, Hauser, Kramer (Emeritus), Ritzi, Slattery 

Assistant Professors Brame, Strickland (WSU–Lake Campus), Watts 

The Department of Geological Sciences offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in geological sciences. Both programs are designed to include geology and related sciences and to prepare students for graduate study or professional employment. Professional geologists are employed in protecting and enhancing existing resources (environment, surface, and ground waters) as well as in exploring for new resources (oil, gas, and minerals). The Bachelor of Science program is more highly structured, and through the various options offered, is intended to prepare students for specific professional or technical objectives. The Bachelor of Arts program is intended to be more flexible and to permit students with either broad or specialized interests to fulfill their program needs. The Bachelor of Arts program’s flexibility readily permits interdisciplinary programs such as the dual major, in which students may major in two quite different fields simultaneously. A minor is also available. 

Since personal objectives, interests, and aptitudes vary considerably with each individual, the department tries to offer a broad spectrum of educational options within a framework of sound academic guidelines. Students majoring in geological sciences have considerable choice in the basic program, options, and elective courses. Students should be aware of these choices as early as possible because course sequencing, particularly in Bachelor of Science options, is a critical factor. For this reason, all students are strongly urged to consult their advisor to develop an individual program. 

Geological Sciences Honors Program 

Candidates for the B.A. or B.S. degree in geological sciences who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better may apply at the end of their junior year for admission to the departmental honors program. Requirements for graduation with honors in geological sciences are a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and satisfactory completion of a senior thesis under the guidance of a faculty member. The senior thesis requires a total of between six and nine credits in GL 499. Students may choose the topic from any branch of geological sciences; current course listings in this catalog may be taken as a rough indication of the range available. 

Applications to the honors program should be made in writing to the Undergraduate Studies Committee, Department of Geological Sciences, and should include the following:

1. A summary proposal (of about 200 words) for a senior thesis topic
2. Expected date of graduation (which must be at least three full quarters, not including summer quarter, after the date of the application)
3. The endorsement of the student's departmental advisor and that of the senior thesis advisor, if not the same

Electives and Requirements

 Supporting electives are courses from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Science and Mathematics (excluding Psychology) that are not normal preparation or prerequisites for required courses and are not primarily designed for General Education. Up to eight credit hours of geological sciences courses may be used to satisfy this requirement. Any geological sciences course that is jointly listed with another department must be taken as a geological sciences course in order to qualify as a supporting elective. In addition to courses that satisfy the above criteria, up to eight credit hours from the courses listed below may be used as supporting electives: ATH 242, 300, 351; GEO 330, 331, 361, 362, 365, 432, 445, 446, 447, 463; PHY 107/117. Students should examine prerequisites before selecting any of these courses. GL 434—Field Geology is required for all degree options. This five-week course is held in the Smoky Mountains during the summer quarter; students reside at Maryville College in Tennessee The department offers some courses that may be taken more than once (e.g. GL 399—Special Problems). These courses may have variable specific titles (e.g. GL 399—Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Ohio). A student may count multiple sections of such a course toward satisfying the geology elective/supporting elective requirement. However, a specific course may be applied toward this requirement only once. 

Students who have taken the General Education geology sequence (100 level) are not required to take GL 251, 253, and 255. However, they are required to take GL 252, 254, and 256. Minor modifications in departmental programs will be made from time to time. It is the students’ responsibility to confer with their advisors periodically during the academic year, preferably once each quarter before registration. 

Degree Requirements—Geological Sciences/ General Geology Option 

Bachelor of Science Degree 

The Department of Geological Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science degree in geological sciences with a general geology option. The course require-ments and recommended course sequences follow. 

* It is generally recommended that students take GL 381 (fall), GL 383 (winter), and GL 385 (spring) the year following completion of the GL 251–255 sequence. GL 485 (fall), GL 486 (winter), and GL 487 (spring) should be taken the following year. Note that GL 485 is a prerequisite for GL 487. 

Degree Requirements—Geological Sciences/Environmental Geosciences Option

Bachelor of Science Degree

 The environmental geosciences option prepares the graduate for a technical career investigating, remediating, or managing environmental resources, or for graduate study in these areas. 

Bachelor of Arts Degree 

The environmental geosciences option prepares the graduate for a technical career investigating, remediating, or managing environmental resources. Its broad and flexible approach allows students to combine scientific training with other fields such as business and management, public policy, or communication. 

Degree Requirements—Geological Sciences/ Geophysics Option 

Bachelor of Science Degree 

The Department of Geological Sciences, in cooperation with the Department of Physics, offers a Bachelor of Science degree in geological sciences with a geophysics option. This program prepares students to begin a career in this field or to pursue graduate study in geophysics. 

The recommended sequence is as follows: 

Freshman Year 
CHM 121, 122, 123; ENG 101, 102; GL 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256; MTH 229, 230, 231 

Sophomore Year 
GL 381, 383, 385; MTH 232, 233; PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204; General Education courses 

Junior Year 
GL 311, 485, 487, 434; PHY 260; CEG 220 

Senior Year 
GL 422, 423, 424, 426, 428; geological sciences electives; physics or mathematics electives; 

General Education courses Degree Requirements— Geological Sciences 

Bachelor of Arts Degree 

The Bachelor of Arts curriculum is designed for students who desire scientific training, especially through interdisciplinary programs. Because of its broad and flexible approach, students who elect to follow a Bachelor of Arts program should have specific educational objectives that can be reasonably attained through this program.

Geological Sciences Education 

Students who wish to teach earth sciences in Ohio public high schools can pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree in geological sciences. Upon comple-tion of this undergraduate degree program in the College of Science and Mathematics, students then need to complete the Professional Educators Program (PEP) Master of Education degree (M.Ed.) through Wright State’s College of Education and Human Services. Graduates of the B.A. or B.S. in geological sciences and the M.Ed. Professional Educators Program are then eligible to seek licensure from the Ohio Department of Education in Earth and Space Sciences, Earth Sciences/Chemistry or Life Sciences/Earth Sciences, depending on the content of the undergraduate curriculum. 

Degree Requirements—Geological Sciences Education 

Bachelor of Arts Degree (Earth and Space Sciences) 

The Adolescent to Young Adult Earth and Space Sciences Licensure Program is based on an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in geological sciences. 

Degree Requirements—Geological Sciences 

Education Bachelor of Arts Degree (Earth Sciences/Chemistry) 

The Adolescent to Young Adult Earth Sciences/Chemistry Licensure Program is based on an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in geological sciences. 

Degree Requirements—Geological Sciences Education 

Bachelor of Arts Degree (Life Sciences/ Earth Sciences) 

The Adolescent to Young Adult Life Sciences/Earth Sciences Licensure Program is based on an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in geological sciences. 

Minor Program 

Students majoring in another department may earn a minor in geological sciences. A minor in geological sciences can improve a student’s credentials for employment or for acceptance into graduate school. The minor requires a minimum of 34.5 credit hours. At least 10 of the credit hours used toward the minor may not be geology courses required by the student’s degree program. A GPA of 2.0 must be attained in the minor courses. A minor will be completed when the following requirements are satisfied. 

Minor Requirements—Geological Sciences

Elective Courses 

A minimum of 12 credit hours of geological sciences electives is required. In selecting these courses, the following applies: 

1. No courses numbered below 200 are acceptable.
2. No more than four credit hours of courses numbered below 300 are acceptable.
3. No more than 1.0 credit hour of GL 428 (in addition to the 0.5 credit hour required) is acceptable.
4. No more than three credit hours of field-oriented courses (excluding GL 434) are acceptable.

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