Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Geology B.S.


TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120
Plans of Study

The Bachelor of Science degree program provides the student with a hands-on foundation in the fundamentals of geosciences. As a result of faculty interests and geographic locations, several geologic sub-disciplines are emphasized, including applied geophysics, coastal geology, geochemistry, geomorphology, geoscience education, hydrogeology, paleobiology, petrology, and volcanology. However, the wide variety of courses and electives offered by the Geology, Environmental Sciences, and Geography programs within the School of Geosciences provides students with programs of study that can be tailored to fit individual needs while maintaining a sound background in all general aspects of geology.

University Admissions - College of Arts and Sciences


Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:

For Admission information specific to the College of Arts & Sciences, see the information at College of Arts and Sciences.

Graduation Requirements - College of Arts and Sciences


Satisfactory completion of the following requirements:

  • Students must complete all State and University level graduation requirements.
  •  Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in USF coursework. Note: Some Departments/program/major require a higher GPA. Students should refer to Department/program/major specific catalog requirements.
    • The College may approve an exception when a student has successfully earned the minimum grade required for all courses applied in the major but does not have a major GPA of 2.0.
  • Physical Education coursework is limited to two (2) semester hours.
  • ROTC courses that are primarily physical training and field experiences will not be applied to College of Arts and Sciences degree programs. All other military Science coursework will apply, in particular, coursework utilized toward completing an established ROTC minor will be applied to the total hours toward degree. 
  • When earning a second degree, double major or concurrent degree, the Major Core and Major Elective/Concentration areas of the degree audit must not overlap for both degrees.  All other areas of the degree audit may have overlapping credit hours applied.
  • Maximum of 20 hours of S/U option. S/U contracts must be negotiated in writing within the first three (3) weeks of the term. None of the 20 credits may be taken in the student’s major unless S/U is the only grading option. Coursework fulfilling the General Education Core Curriculum Requirements and the State Communication Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Writing) and State Computation Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Math) may not be taken S/U.
  • The Audit option is available only during the first 5 days of classes.
  • Complete all major course requirements.
  • College of Arts and Sciences students are expected to complete a minimum of 50% of their major and/or minor coursework in residence at USF. Some College of Arts and Sciences Departments/programs/majors have established additional major course hours to be taken in residency at USF. See the major or program section of the catalog for these credit-hour requirements.

State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites - Geology B.S.


Following Florida BOG Regulation 8.010, state mandated common course prerequisites are lower-division courses that are required for progression into the upper division of a particular baccalaureate degree program. 

Transfer students should complete the State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at a Florida College System institution, they must be completed before the degree is granted. Successful completion of the common prerequisites alone does not guarantee a student admission into the degree program.

Unless stated otherwise, a grade of C is the minimum acceptable grade in prerequisite courses.

  • (CHM X045 and CHM X045L General Chemistry I) or CHM X045C or (CHM X040 and CHM X041) - 4-6 credit hours
  • (CHM X046 and CHM X046L General Chemistry II) or CHM X046C - 4 credit hours
  • MAC X311 Calculus I or MAC X281 - 4 credit hours
  • GLY X010C Introduction to Physical Geology or (GLY X010 and GLY X010L) - 4 credit hours
  • (PHY X048C and PHY X049C)* or [(PHY X048 & PHY X048L) and (PHY X049 & X049L)] or (PHY X053C and PHY X054C) or [(PHY X053 and PHY X053L) and (PHY X054 and PHY X054L)] - 8-10 credit hours

FOR ALL MAJORS: Students are strongly encouraged to select required lower division electives that will enhance their general education coursework and that will support their intended baccalaureate degree program. Students should consult with an academic advisor in their major degree area.
* The choice of Physics sequence depends on the area of Geology specialization.

Historical Geology STRONGLY recommended.

Geology Supporting Required Courses: 6-7 credit hours


Required Courses: 9 courses; 47 credit hours


Geology Core Courses: 10 courses; 33 credit hours


Introductory Sequence*: 4 courses; 8 credit hours


One course, chosen from:

Geology Capstone Sequence: 3 courses; 6 credit hours


Field Mapping Requirement

The Geology major’s culminating experience capstone is six (6) credit hours of summer field camp broken into three sections of GLY 4948, each taught in two-week increments, with one course satisfying the field mapping requirement.

Quantitative Requirement


Of these upper-level electives, at least three (3) hours must be drawn from courses identified by the department as including high-quantitative content. Courses that meet this requirement are indicated with a *. Other comparable quantitative offer- ings in geology may be approved by the undergraduate advisor.

Optional Geophysics Emphasis


Additional Information - Geology B.S.


GPA Requirements


Major GPA (All USF courses which are applied to major requirements): 2.0 
General Education GPA (All USF courses which are applied to General Education requirements): 2.0
USF GPA: 2.0
Overall GPA: 2.0

Grading Requirements


A grade of C- or better to meet major course requirements unless specified elsewhere. Will vary by area.

Note: Some USF courses have higher grade criteria to meet prerequisite knowledge necessary for progression into higher level courses.

Residency Requirements - College of Arts and Sciences


Department and College of Arts and Sciences Major Academic Residency Requirement - 50% of major must be completed at USF.

USF Academic Residency Requirement - 30 of the last 60 hours earned must be from USF.

Optional Honors Program


The purpose of the Honors Program is to provide a select group of undergraduate Geology majors an opportunity to undertake an intensive, individualized research experience. The culmination of the program is the completion and presentation of an honors thesis. To apply, interested students should contact the Geology undergraduate advisor during the second semester of the student’s junior year. Admission to the program requires a GPA of 3.50 in the major and an overall GPA of 3.2.

Research Opportunities - College of Arts and Sciences


Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914  course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of High Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research is able to assist with further inquiries.

Advising Information - College of Arts and Sciences


Undergraduate Advising Information

The College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) Advising Team provides students with support to create timely graduation plans that will integrate both their academic and professional goals.  Each of our undergraduate programs has dedicated professional advisors with specialized knowledge and understanding of the major requirements, course offerings, undergraduate research, and career opportunities in their field.  Additionally, we have dedicated pre-health and prelaw advisors to help students prepare for admission to professional graduate programs.

 

CAS Academic Advisor Contact information can be found here: CAS Advisors

To schedule an advising appointment: Advising Appointments