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Geology > Major/Minor Requirements

Major/Minor Requirements

Department of Geology

 

From the 2011-12 Millsaps College Catalog

Requirements for major: Students may complete a major in geology with one of three concentrations. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all required geology courses. Exploration geology concentration: One introductory (1000-level) geology course, Plate Tectonics and Earth History (GEOL 2000), Mineralogy and Petrology (GEOL 2200), Sedimentary Geology (GEOL 2300), Subsurface Mapping and Resource Evaluation (GEOL 3200), Structural Geology (GEOL 4200), one geophysics course (GEOL 4300 or GEOL 4350), and two additional geology courses (3000-level or above) approved by the department chair. Students pursuing a B.S. degree with a concentration in exploration geology concentration must also take Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (MATH 1220), General Chemistry I (CHEM 1213, 1211) and II (CHEM 1223, 1221), and General Physics I (PHYS 1003, 1001) and II (PHYS 1013, 1011).

Environmental geology concentration: One introductory (1000-level) geology course, Environmental Issues of the 21st Century (ENVS 1100), Plate Tectonics and Earth History (GEOL 2000), Mineralogy and Petrology (GEOL 2200), Sedimentary Geology (GEOL 2300), Hydrology and Chemistry of Natural Waters (GEOL 3300), Structural Geology (GEOL 4200), one geophysics course (GEOL 4300 or GEOL 4350), and two additional geology courses (3000-level or above) approved by the department chair. Students pursuing a B.S.degree with a concentration in environmental geology must also complete General Chemistry I (CHEM 1213, 1211) and II (CHEM 1223, 1221), two courses in biology, and either Analytical Geometry and Calculus I (MATH 1220) for the bachelor of science degree, or Survey of Calculus (MATH 1210) and Elementary Statistics (MATH 1150) for the bachelor of arts degree. General Physics I (PHYS 1003, 1001) and II (PHYS 1013, 1011) are highly recommended.

Geophysics concentration: One introductory (1000-level) geology course, Plate Tectonics and Earth History (GEOL 2000), Mineralogy and Petrology (GEOL 2200), Sedimentary Geology (GEOL 2300), Structural Geology (GEOL 4200), Environmental and Engineering Geophysics (GEOL 4300), and Solid Earth Geophysics (GEOL 4350). Geology majors pursuing a B.S. degree with a concentration in geophysics must also take General Physics I (PHYS 1003, 1001) and II (PHYS 1013, 1011), three additional physics courses approved by the department chair, Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (MATH 1220) and II (MATH 2230), and one additional math course (2000-level or above).

Field Requirements: All geology majors must complete a minimum of 8 hours of field-based coursework (i.e., GEOL 3500, GEOL 3510, GEOL 3520, GEOL 4500), including at least 4 hours at the advanced level (i.e., GEOL 4500). Field courses may be taken at Millsaps or through another college or university with approval from the department chair. Senior Research Project: All geology majors are required to complete a Senior Research Project (SRP). Work on the project typically begins during the junior year and the successful completion and presentation, both written and oral, of the SRP is the principle component of the departmental comprehensive exam.

Requirements for minor: Students may elect to minor in geology with one introductory (1000-level) geology course, Plate Tectonics and Earth History (GEOL 2000), one additional 2000-level geology course, and two additional geology courses (3000-level or above) approved by the department chair.