UT Dallas 2025 Undergraduate Catalog

School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Geosciences (BS)

Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)

Four-Year Degree Plan (Example)

This is an example only. Please see advisor to develop an individual four-year plan.

Freshman Year
Semester 1 - Fall	Notes	Preferred	Core	SCH	Semester 2 - Spring	Notes	Preferred	Core	SCH
CHEM 1311	1, 2		3090	4	CHEM 1312	1, 2		3090	4
and CHEM 1111	1, 2		090		and CHEM 1112
or CHEM 1315	1, 2		3090		or CHEM 1316	2		3090
and CHEM 1115	1		090		and CHEM 1116
GEOS 1303	1, 2		3090	3	GEOS 1304	1, 2		3090	3
GEOS 1103				1	GEOS 1104				1
MATH 2417	1, 2, 3, 4, 8		2090	4	MATH 2419	1, 2, 3, 4, 8		090	4
Core Course				3
NATS 1101				1
Total				16	Total				12

Sophomore Year
Semester 3 - Fall	Notes	Preferred	Core	SCH	Semester 4 - Spring	Notes	Preferred	Core	SCH
GEOS 3421				4	GEOS 3434				4
GEOS 3464				4	PHYS 2326	1, 2		3090	3-4
PHYS 2325	1, 2		3090	4	or PHYS 2422	1, 2		3090	3-4
and PHYS 2125	1, 2		3090		PHYS 2126				1
or PHYS 2421	1, 2, 5		3090		Core Course				3
Core Course				3	Core Course				3
Total				15	Total				14-15

Junior Year
Semester 6 - Fall	Notes	Preferred	Core	SCH	Semester 7 - Spring	Notes	Preferred	Core	SCH
GEOS 3475				4	GEOS 3470				4
Math Elective				3-4	Major Core	9			3
Core Course				3	Core Course				3
Core Course				3	Core Course				3
					Upper-Level Elective	6			3
Total				13-14	Total				16


					Semester 8 - Summer	Notes	Preferred	Core	SCH
					GEOS 3300	7			3
					GEOS 4300	7			3
					Total				6

Senior Year
Semester 9 - Fall	Notes	Preferred	Core	SCH	Semester 10 - Spring	Notes	Preferred	Core	SCH
GEOS 4320				3	GEOS 4322				3
GEOS 4430				4	GEOS 4390				3
Core Course				3	Upper Level Free Elective	6			3
Upper Level Free Elective	6			3	Free Elective	6			2-3
					Free Elective	6			2-3
Total				13	Total				13-15

NOTES:

1	Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited 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.
2	A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement.
3	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.
4	MATH 2417 and MATH 2419 requirements can be fulfilled by completing MATH 2413, MATH 2414, and MATH 2415. May affect other prerequisites.
5	Students will take one of the Physics sequences: (PHYS 2325 and PHYS 2326) or (PHYS 2421 and PHYS 2422) with accompanying labs.
6	45 semester credit hours of upper division courses are required for all degrees.
7	Geosciences has two required summer field trips
8	Class has an associated problem section (LBR) which also must be registered
9	Major Core Option - Select one from the following: GEOS 3310 or GEOS 4395

Be sure to check prerequisites of 2000-level or higher courses.
120 semester credit hours required for graduation

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) during the summer are highly recommended for Physics majors planning to continue their education in graduate school, whether in physics or another discipline. Formal REU programs exist at many universities, national laboratories, and even overseas, and usually offer a stipend typical of a graduate teaching assistantship. Announcements for REU programs usually appear online in December and application deadlines usually range from late January to early March. Requirements vary, but students are often eligible if they have completed their freshman year.

This plan is a resource tool only; it does not replace your degree plan or academic advising.

Updated: 2025-05-19 14:36:13 v3.d369c0