University of Montana Catalog 2023-2024

Geosciences B.S.

Bachelor of Science - Geosciences

General Education Requirements

Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog. 

Summary

Lower-Division Core12
Degree Electives18
Cognate Sciences24
Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics
Computer Science
Cognate Elective
Total Hours54

Degree Specific Credits: 54

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: This option is designed for students who seek post-graduate employment as a professional geoscientist or preparation for graduate study in geosciences.

Lower-Division Core

Complete one of the following courses:3
Introduction to Physical Geology
Introduction to Environmental Geology
Oceanography
Natural Disasters
Complete one of the following courses:1
Introduction to Physical Geology Lab
Introduction to Environmental Geology Laboratory
Complete all of the following courses:
GEO 201Geologic Evolution of North America4
GEO 202The Water Planet4
Total Hours12

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Degree Electives

Note: At least three of these courses must be at the 400-level.

Complete 18 credits of the following courses:18
Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy
Igneous & Metamorph Petrology
Sedimentation/Stratigraphy
Structural Geology
Earth's Changing Climate
Global Water
Geochemistry
Special Topics
Hydrogeology
Hydrology
Global Tectonics
Geophysics
Principles of Sedimentary Petrology
Process Geomorphology
Snow, Ice and Climate Change
Special Topics
Total Hours18

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Cognate Sciences

Rule: In addition to completing course work in Geosciences, a minimum of 24 credits in cognate science classes must be completed. More advanced courses in Chemistry, Computer Science, Math, and Physics may be used to meet the 24 credit minimum total in cognate sciences. Course substitutions for the 24 credit minimum in cognate sciences must be approved by a departmental advisor.

Physics

Complete one of the following sequences:10
Algebra- and Trigonometry-based Physics:
College Physics I
and College Physics I Laboratory
Calculus-based Physics:
Fundamentals of Physics with Calculus I
and Physics Laboratory I with Calculus

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Chemistry

Complete one of the following:3-5
Introduction to General Chemistry
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Lab
Total Hours3-5

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Mathematics

M 171Calculus I4
Total Hours4

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Computer Science

Complete the following course:
CSCI 151Interdisciplinary Computer Science I3
Complete one of the following courses:
GPHY 284Intro to GIS and Cartography3-4
or STAT 216 Introduction to Statistics
Total Hours6-7

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Cognate Elective

Complete two of the following courses:6
Introduction to Public Speaking
Argumentation
Nature and Society
Earth Ethics
Environmental Politics & Policies
Water and Sustainability
Water Policy
Environment & Development
Intro Ethics and Environment
Ethics of Climate Change
Total Hours6

Minimum Required Grade: C-