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May 06, 2024
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Course Catalog 2006-2007 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Geology
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 Return to: College of Arts and Sciences
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Major
The requirements for a geology major are:
- GEOL 120 which should be taken in a student’s first or second year.
- Five upper-level geology courses as follows:
- Mineralogy (GEOL 201)
- Evolution of the Earth (GEOL 204)
- EITHER Earth Surface Processes (GEOL 212) OR Groundwater Hydrogeology (GEOL 242)
- EITHER Paleontology (GEOL 320) OR Sedimentary Geology (GEOL 330)
- EITHER Structural Geology (GEOL 340) OR Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (GEOL 361)
- Two elective geology courses selected from:
- one or two 3- or 4-credit hour 200- or 300-level geology course(s) not already taken;
- ONE of the following: Marine Science (GEOL 161) OR Modern Mapping and Analysis (GEOL 190) OR two half-semester geology courses approved by the Department.
- The following additional courses in cognate Natural Sciences and Mathematics:
- introductory Chemistry, either CHEM 101 and CHEM 102 or the equivalent (e.g. CHEM 103), and
- eight additional hours at the introductory and/or advanced level(s) selected from courses that count toward the Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and/or Physics majors, and/or PHYS 103 and 104
Prospective geology majors should discuss their major program with a member of the Geology Department as early as possible in order to identify the courses that best serve their needs. Advanced electives (400-level courses) and independent research in geology are also available, but such courses neither are required nor count toward the Geology major. After taking an introductory laboratory course, a student can complete a Geology major in four semesters, although a less compact schedule is preferable.
Students pursuing a professional career in earth science usually take more than the minimum number of courses required for the Geology major. In particular, most Geology graduate programs require at least two semesters of college-level mathematics, many graduate programs require introductory Physics, and employers find computer skills attractive. We also urge majors to take a summer course in field geology. Students with interests in environmental policy and/or resource development who are considering geology as part of a pre-law program should consult with both the Geology department chair and with a member of the Pre-law Advisory Committee.
Courses in which a student has earned a letter grade lower than a C-/CR/P cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the major. Minor
Students may obtain a minor in Geology by completing at least 15 hours
of coursework that includes an introductory laboratory course (GEOL
120) and a minimum of three courses at the 200 and 300 levels. Students
interested in minoring should consult with the chair of Geology as
departmental approval is required to minor in geology. Honors
Outstanding students may participate in the Honors Program in Geology.
Honors students carry out a program of independent geological research
under the supervision of an individual faculty member during their
senior year. Any student interested in doing Honors research should
discuss this with a member of the department in her or his junior year.
In order to be accepted into the Honors Program, a student must have a
GPA of 3.10 or higher in their geology course work and submit a written
proposal to the department. Other guidelines for the Honors Program are
set forth elsewhere in this catalog. The Geology Department also offers
other avenues for independent research in addition to Honors. Related Programs
The Department of Geology encourages students who are interested in fields not covered in depth in Oberlin courses to attend off-campus programs. We especially recommend participation in programs where students get the opportunity to study different types of geological processes in the field. Many excellent institutions offer semester and summer programs in geology; a list is available in the department office or in the Office of the Dean of Studies. Integrating a semester of off-campus study into a Geology major requires advanced planning, so students considering this possibility should consult with a Department member as early as possible. Transfer of Credit
The department grants major credit for students who do off-campus coursework that is comparable to Oberlin’s offerings, but students must consult with and receive prior approval from the Geology Chair in order to guarantee earning credit. The department generally does NOT approve work done as part of National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) programs for geology credit. Winter Term
The Geology faculty who are tentatively available to sponsor individual
Winter Term projects in 2007 and their primary areas of expertise are
as follows: Mr. Hubbard: environmental science; geomorphology and
surface processes; clastic and carbonate sedimentology; marine geology;
physical oceanography; mapping and field methods. Ms. Hubbard:
paleontology; evolution; modern and ancient marine ecosystems; and
environmental science. Ms. Moore: coastal processes and geology;
geomorphology; geologic and environmental applications of geographic
information systems. Mr. Wojtal: mountain building and tectonics;
continuum mechanics; environmental applications of global positioning
systems and other mapping technologies; geophysics; meteorology;
glaciology; climate change and paleoclimatology. Courses of General Interest (for Non-Majors)
Introductory Courses (for Non-Majors and Prospective Majors)
Intermediate and Advanced Courses
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