Geology
William R. Hammer, Professor, Fritiof Fryxell Professor in Geology
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Wayne State
Jeffrey C. Strasser, Professor
B.A., Carleton; M.S., Ph.D., Lehigh
Michael B. Wolf, Professor, Chair
A.B., Hamilton; M.S., Ph.D., Caltech
MAJOR IN GEOLOGY. (30 credits): 101 or 105, 201, 301, 309, 325, 340, 403, 450 and 451, plus 3 additional GEOL credits.
Required supporting courses (15 credits): CHEM 121-122, MATH 219, and either (a) two from PHYS 101-102-103-105 or 201-202-203 or (b) one PHYS course and GEOG 373.
Recommended supporting courses for students planning graduate study: summer field work, computer science, biology, Geographic Information Systems, and additional chemistry, mathematics, physics and geology courses.
MAJOR FOR TEACHING EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE. The approved program may be obtained from the department chair. See also the Director of Secondary Education.
MINOR IN GEOLOGY. 17 credits, ten of which at 200- to 400-level, including 399 (1 credit) Directed Study. This culminating experience will result in a research paper that addresses some aspect of geology and relates it to the student's major field of study, and must incorporate a reflective component demonstrating an understanding of the connectivity between subject areas. This paper could conceivably be an extension of the Senior Inquiry effort within the student's major.
GEOLOGY DEGREE WITH DISTINCTION. Students can earn a departmental distinction upon successful completion of a superior senior research thesis, GEOL 451, and the geology degree with a grade-point average of at least 3.50 for all geology courses and the supporting courses that are required for the major, and demonstrated leadership and service roles within the department.
Geology addresses both the materials that form the Earth and the processes of Earth formation and evolution. Sub-disciplines include but are not limited to: study of life and evolution as preserved in the rock record; study of resources upon which our industrial society is based; study of environmental problems and remedial solutions; study of geologic hazards and hazard mitigation. The interdisciplinary study of geology relies upon mastery of geological principles and oral and written communication skills as well as the application of fundamental principles of physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics to complex Earth systems.
