School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Department of Sustainable Earth Systems Sciences
Geosciences (BS)
Attaining a fundamental understanding of Earth's natural systems, past and present, and their coupled nonlinear relationships, is a primary goal of geosciences. An earth scientist studies the Earth's structure, composition and evolution, its minerals, rocks, fossils, sediments and fluids, and investigates the geological, physical, and biogeochemical processes occurring within the Earth and on its surface.
Professional career opportunities in earth sciences are available in the environmental, energy, mineral, and groundwater resource industries, and in government, educational, and research organizations related to these fields. In addition, many occupations concerned with business, management, economics, law, policy, and engineering, require a background in earth sciences.
Specific degree plans will be formulated by the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Sustainable Earth Systems Sciences. Changing circumstances may require changes to the degree plans.
Bachelor of Science in Geosciences
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: David Hyndman, David Lumley, Robert J. Stern
Associate Professor: Thomas H. Brikowski
Assistant Professors: Kristina Butler, Nadine Igonin, Zachary Sickmann, Yujie Zheng, dal138778, dal146814
Professors Emeriti: John F. Ferguson, John W. Geissman, William I. Manton, George A. McMechan
Professors of Instruction: Ignacio Pujana
Associate Professor of Instruction: William R. Griffin
Assistant Professor of Instruction: Mortaza Pirouz
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours
Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
MATH 2413 Differential Calculus1,2
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses (see advisor)
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I1
or CHEM 1315 Honors Freshman Chemistry I1
CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II1
or CHEM 1316 Honors Freshman Chemistry II1
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses (see advisor)
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses (see advisor)
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses (see advisor)
Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
GEOS 1303 Physical Geology
GEOS 1304 History of Earth and Life
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses (see advisor)
II. Major Requirements: 63-75 semester credit hours
Major Preparatory Courses: 18-19 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
NATS 1101 Natural Sciences and Mathematics Freshman Seminar
Prerequisite courses to be completed before enrolling in upper-division GEOS courses.
CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I
or CHEM 1115 Honors Freshman Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1112 General Chemistry Laboratory II
or CHEM 1116 Honors Freshman Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I1
or CHEM 1315 Honors Freshman Chemistry I1
CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II1
or CHEM 1316 Honors Freshman Chemistry II1
GEOS 1304 History of Earth and Life1
GEOS 1103 Physical Geology Laboratory
GEOS 1104 History of Earth and Life Laboratory
MATH 2413 Differential Calculus1,2
MATH 2414 Integral Calculus
or MATH 2419 Calculus II
PHYS 2325 Mechanics
and PHYS 2125 Physics Laboratory I
or PHYS 2421 Honors Physics I - Mechanics and Heat3
PHYS 2326 Electromagnetism and Waves
or PHYS 2422 Honors Physics II - Electromagnetism and Waves
PHYS 2126 Physics Laboratory II
Major Core Courses: 31 semester credit hours
GEOS 3300 Field Geology I (Summer Field Camp I)
GEOS 3421 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
GEOS 3464 Earth Materials
GEOS 3470 Structural Geology
GEOS 3475 Geochemistry
GEOS 4300 Field Geology II (Summer Field Camp II)
GEOS 4320 The Physics of the Solid Earth
GEOS 4390 Communication in Earth Sciences
And select one course from the following:
GEOS 3310 Environmental Geophysics
GEOS 4395 Remote Sensing Geophysics
Students may select either the Geology Option or the Geophysics Option.
A. Geology Option: 14-15 semester credit hours
GEOS 3434 Paleobiology
GEOS 4322 The Earth System
GEOS 4430 Hydrogeology and Aqueous Geochemistry
And select one mathematics course from the following:
GEOS 2351 Mathematics in the Earth Sciences
ENGR 2300 Linear Algebra for Engineers
MATH 2415 Calculus of Several Variables
MATH 2418 Linear Algebra
MATH 3351 Advanced Calculus
PHYS 3330 Numerical Methods in Physics and Computational Techniques
STAT 2332 Introductory Statistics for Life Sciences
STAT 3355 Introduction to Data Analysis
B. Geophysics Option: 25 semester credit hours
MATH 2418 Linear Algebra
MATH 2420 Differential Equations with Applications
MATH 3351 Advanced Calculus
MATH 4362 Partial Differential Equations
PHYS 3411 Theoretical Physics
PHYS 3312 Classical Mechanics
PHYS 3416 Electricity and Magnetism
III. Elective Requirements: 3-15 semester credit hours
Both lower- and upper-division courses may count as electives.
- 13-15 semester credit hours for Geology Option
- 3-4 semester credit hours for Geophysics Option
Students are strongly encouraged to consider taking GEOS graduate courses as free electives if they meet the fast-track requirements.
The plan must include sufficient upper-division courses to total 45 upper-division semester credit hours.
1. A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement.
2. Three semester credit hours are counted to fulfill the Mathematics Core Requirement with the remaining semester credit hour to be counted under the major requirements.
3. Students who complete PHYS 2421 do not need to complete PHYS 2125.
UTeach Option
The UTeach option may be added to either the BA or BS degree. UTeach Dallas Option degree plans are streamlined to allow students to complete both a rigorous Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree and all coursework for middle or high school teacher certification in four years. Teaching Option degrees require deep content knowledge combined with courses grounded in the latest research on math and science education. While most graduates go on to classroom teaching, UTeach alums are also prepared to enter graduate school and to work in a discipline related industry.
Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees
An accelerated BS/MS Fast Track Program is available for undergraduate students with strong academic records who intend to pursue master's studies at UT Dallas. After Fast Track admission to an MS program, students may take up to 15 semester credit hours of approved graduate courses in their senior year to use toward completion of both the BS and MS degrees. Students must have completed 90 or more semester credit hours (out of which 36 hours are from the core curriculum), with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. In addition, students must have completed CHEM 1311 and CHEM 1312 with labs, MATH 2413 and MATH 2414, and PHYS 2325 and PHYS 2326 with labs; or equivalent courses.
Interested students, after reviewing the UT Dallas Fast Track policy, should contact their undergraduate advisor and the graduate advisor of the intended MS program.
Minors
Students must take a minimum of 18 semester credit hours for the minor, 12 of which must be upper-division semester credit hours. Students who take a minor will be expected to meet the normal prerequisites in courses making up the minor, and should maintain a minimum GPA of 2.000 on a 4.00 scale (C average). Semester credit hours may not be used to satisfy both the major and minor requirements; however, free elective semester credit hours or major preparatory classes may be used to satisfy the minor.
For all minors in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics students must complete all prerequisite sequences for required minor courses.
Minor in Geosciences
20 semester credit hours
Required lower-division courses: 8 semester credit hours
GEOS 1103 Physical Geology Laboratory4
GEOS 1104 History of Earth and Life Laboratory4
GEOS 1304 History of Earth and Life4
Upper-division courses: 12 semester credit hours
To be selected in consultation with Geosciences Undergraduate advisor
4. A prerequisite course to be completed before enrolling in upper-division GEOS core courses (GEOS 3300, GEOS 3421, GEOS 3434, GEOS 3464, GEOS 3470, GEOS 4300, GEOS 4320, GEOS 4322, and GEOS 4430).
Certificates
Certificate in Geophysics
12 semester credit hours
A Certificate in Geophysics is offered by the Department of Sustainable Earth Systems Sciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
The focus of the Certificate in Geophysics is to provide students with the opportunity to combine their existing knowledge with a strong foundation and understanding in Geophysics, which will open up exciting new job opportunities for their future careers in industry, government, and academia.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate students who have completed prerequisite courses.
Certificate Requirements
Students must complete the following courses:
GEOS 4320 The Physics of the Solid Earth
GEOS 4395 Remote Sensing Geophysics
GEOS 3310 Environmental Geophysics
Choose one course from the following:
GEOS 2307 Digital Earth
ISNS 2366 Global Climate Change
PHYS 3380 Astronomy
Certificate in Sustainable Earth and Environment
12-13 semester credit hours
A Certificate in Sustainable Earth and Environment is offered by the Department of Sustainable Earth Systems Sciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
The focus of the Certificate in Sustainable Earth and Environment is to provide students with a basic foundational understanding and technical skills in earth and environmental science, combined with "Sustainable Earth" aspects of natural resources, economics, business, social science, and health. The certificate is designed with a two-course core giving a basic overview of earth and environmental science, and a second set of courses that provides technical skills in quantitatively measuring current environments. An expansive third set of electives provides further breadth in areas of special interest for each student.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate science or engineering students enrolled in certificate courses or with any of the prerequisite courses.
Geosciences students cannot use more than 2 degree-required courses to fulfill both certificate and B.S. requirements.
Certificate Requirements
Core Courses: 6 semester credit hours
GEOS 1303 Physical Geology
GEOS 2310 Environmental Geology
Technical Application Courses: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
GISC 2309 Principles of Geospatial Information Sciences
or GEOS 2309 Principles of Geospatial Information Sciences
GEOS 3310 Environmental Geophysics
GISC 4325 Introduction to Remote Sensing
or GEOS 4325 Introduction to Remote Sensing
GEOS 4395 Remote Sensing Geophysics
Breadth Courses: 3-4 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
GEOG 2302 The Global Environment
GEOS 2302 The Global Environment
GEOS 2304 The 21st Century Energy
GEOS 2321 Geology, Resources, and Environment of Latin America
GEOS 3421 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
GEOS 4430 Hydrogeology & Aqueous Geochemistry
GEOS 2307 Digital Earth
or GISC 2307 Digital Earth
GISC 3336 Fundamentals of Sustainability
or ENVR 3336 Fundamentals of Sustainability
or EPPS 3336 Fundamentals of Sustainability
GISC 4386 Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions
or ENVR 4386 Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions
or EPPS 4386 Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions
ISNS 2366 Global Climate Change
ENGY 3302 Managing Power and Renewable Energy Assets; Sustainability