Hydrogeology Major (75-79 hours)

The hydrogeology major gives individuals a strong background in math and the sciences, focusing on geology and hydrogeology. This major prepares students to enter graduate programs and the job market as hydrogeologists.

Required Core

Required Courses

A minimum of a “C” grade is required in the following courses.

GEOS 1300 - Physical Geology Credits: 4 hours
GEOS 1310 - Historical Geology Credits: 4 hours
GEOS 2320 - Integrated Earth System Studies Credits: 3 hours
GEOS 3350 - Mineralogy Credits: 4 hours
GEOS 4350 - Sedimentation and Stratigraphy Credits: 4 hours
GEOS 4600 - Geologic Communications Credits: 1 hour
GEOS 5120 - Principles of Hydrogeology Credits: 3 hours

Hydrogeology Upper Level Elctives (take 2 of 4):

GEOS 4300 - Structural Geology Credits: 3 hours
GEOS 4320 - Geomorphology Credits: 3 hours
GEOS 5060 - Introduction to Soils Credits: 3 hours
GEOS 5090 - Surface Water Hydrology Credits: 3 hours
GEOS 5140 - Isotope Hydrology Credits: 3 hours
GEOS 5450 - Hazardous Waste Remediation Credits: 3 hours

Choose two courses from the list below and/or from the three not selected from the list above:

GEOS 4390 - Geologic Mapping Credits: 3 hours
Or Geology field course taken elsewhere up to 6 hours
GEOS 5360 - Glacial Geology Credits: 3 hours
GEOS 5550 - Introduction to Geochemistry Credits: 3 hours
GEOS 5600 - Introduction to Geophysics Credits: 3 hours

Hydrogeology Summer Field Courses:

GEOS 5230 - Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Credits: 1 hour
GEOS 5240 - Remediation Design and Implementation Credits: 1 hour
GEOS 5250 - Surface Geophysics Credits: 1 hour
(waived if 5640 is taken)
GEOS 5260 - Principles and Practices of Aquifer Testing Credits: 1 hour
GEOS 5270 - Principles of Well Drilling and Installation Credits: 1 hour
GEOS 5280 - Principles and Practices of Ground-water Sampling and Monitoring Credits: 1 hour

Required Supporting Courses

CHEM 1100 - General Chemistry I Credits: 3 hours
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: 1 hour
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II Credits: 3 hours
CHEM 1130 - General Chemistry Laboratory II Credits: 1 hour
PHYS 2050 - University Physics I Credits: 4 hours
PHYS 2060 - University Physics I Laboratory Credits: 1 hour
PHYS 2070 - University Physics II Credits: 4 hours
PHYS 2080 - University Physics II Laboratory Credits: 1 hour

Either of the following two semester sequences:

MATH 1220 - Calculus I Credits: 4 hours
and
MATH 1230 - Calculus II Credits: 4 hours

OR

MATH 1700 - Calculus I, Science and Engineering Credits: 4 hours
and
MATH 1710 - Calculus II, Science and Engineering Credits: 4 hours

Supporting Tool Skills—choose two courses from the list below (6 credits):

CHEM 3700 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry Credits: 3 hours
and
CHEM 3710 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry Lab Credits: 1 hour
GEOG 5010 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credits: 4 hours
GEOS 5210 - Geological and Environmental Remote Sensing Credits: 4 hours
GEOS 5350 - GIS Applications in Geological and Environmental Sciences Credits: 3 hours
MATH 2720 - Multivariate Calculus and Matrix Algebra Credits: 4 hours
MATH 3740 - Differential Equations and Linear Algebra Credits: 4 hours
STAT 3640 - Statistical Methods Credits: 4 hours

Required Minor

The Group Science minor for Geology Majors is recommended. Other options include Anthropology, Applied Statistics, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, any Foreign Language, Geography, Mathematics, and Physics, or one can take a coordinate major in Environmental Sciences.

Baccalaureate-Level Writing Requirement

Students who have chosen the Hydrogeology major will satisfy the Baccalaureate-Level Writing Requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses:

GEOS 4320 - Geomorphology Credits: 3 hours
GEOS 4350 - Sedimentation and Stratigraphy Credits: 4 hours