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The University of Texas at Austin Jackson School of Geosciences 44 courses 126 total credits
The Bachelor of Science in Geosciences (BSGS) serves as a professional degree for students planning careers as geologists, geophysicists, hydrologists, climate scientists, or teachers, as well as for those planning to pursue graduate work in geosciences or a profession such as law or business. Careers are available in the petroleum and related energy industries, resource evaluation, mineral exploration, geologic hazard monitoring, environmental control and reclamation, building foundation evaluation, groundwater contamination studies, soil testing, regional planning, watershed management, climate modeling, and college or secondary school teaching. Graduates may also work in state or federal agencies, in universities or museums, with consulting firms, or with service companies to the energy and mineral industries. Students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Geosciences degree must choose one of five majors: General Geology, Geophysics, Hydrology and Water Resources, Climate System Science, or Geosciences. The Climate System Science curriculum consists of three set of classes that are designed to develop studentsβ quantitative and analytical skills as they learn about the climate system. The scientific study of the climate system requires strong preparation in mathematics - including calculus and statistics β as well as physics and chemistry. students will be prepared to work in any field that requires the ability to digest information about complex systems, including skills in handling and extracting meaning from large amounts of data. The option is also compatible with preparation for graduate school with judicious selection of upper-division classes and technical electives.
| Disciplinary Fundamentals Component | credits |
| Hours chosen from: GEO coursework | 6 credits |
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division GEO coursework | 9 credits |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | credits |
| College Requirements - Geosciences | credits |
| General University Requirements | credits |
Major
Sequence 1:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
Major
Sequence 2:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M 408K | Differential Calculus | 4 |
| M 408L | Integral Calculus | |
| M 408M | Multivariable Calculus |
Major
Sequence 1:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHY 301 | Mechanics | 3 |
| PHY 101L | Laboratory for Physics 301 | 1 |
| PHY 316 | Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PHY 116L | Laboratory for Physics 316 | 1 |
Major
Sequence 2:
Major
Hours chosen from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEO 401 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| GEO 302C | Climate: Past, Present, and Future | 3 |
| GEO 302D | Age of Dinosaurs | 3 |
| GEO 302E | Earth, Wind, and Fire | 3 |
| GEO 302G | Earth Science and Sustainability | 3 |
| GEO 302J | Crisis of Our Planet | 3 |
| GEO 302M | The Age of Mammals | 3 |
| GEO 302N | Geology of National Parks | 3 |
| GEO 302Q | Gems and Gem Minerals | 3 |
| GEO 303 | Introduction to Geology | 3 |
| GEO 303C | Introduction to the Solar System | 3 |
| GEO 303E | Earth in 2100 | 3 |
| Total Major | 3 credits | |
Major
Hours chosen from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEO 405 | Life through Time | 4 |
| GEO 311D | Geodata | 3 |
| GEO 315L | Earth From Lab to Planet | 3 |
| GEO 420K | Introduction to Field and Stratigraphic Methods | 4 |
| Total Major | 6 credits | |
Major
Disciplinary Breadth Component
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEO 416E | Solid Earth Processes | 4 |
| GEO 416S | Earth and Planetary Processes Through Time | 4 |
| GEO 416W | Climate, Water, and the Environment | 4 |
Major
Hours chosen from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEO 320S | Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences | 3 |
| GEO 349C | Introduction to the Cryosphere | 3 |
| GEO 377P or GEO 347D | Physical Climatology or Global Warming | 3 |
| GEO 371T | Topics in Geological Sciences: Undergraduate Seminar | |
| Total Major | 12 credits | |
Major
Hours chosen from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEO 325G | Computational Applications in the Geosciences | 3 |
| GEO 327G | Geographic Information System and Global Positioning System Applications in Earth Sciences | 3 |
| GEO 352P | Python for Geoscience Research | 3 |
| GEO 378D | Introduction to Machine Learning and Geosciences | 3 |
| Total Major | 6 credits | |
Click a course code or title to read the full course description.
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