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GEOLOGY AND PLANETARY SCIENCE

Students in the Department of Geology and Planetary Science study a wide range of subjects: the nature and history of the earth and other planets and the processes that have shaped their respective evolutions; the changes that presently occur on land and in the oceans; the availability, use, and depletion of the natural resources of the solid earth and oceans; human impact on the physical environment; and the human being's place in the solar system. These topics can be studied from either a technical perspective, such as that offered in the courses intended primarily for geology majors, or from a nontechnical perspective to be found in the numerous courses offered for nonmajors who wish to gain an understanding of these issues. The department offers Bachelor of Science degrees in geology and in environmental geology (each with an honors major option), and the Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental studies. For more information on the Department of Geology and Planetary Science, see http://www.geology.pitt.edu.

Requirements for both Geology and Environmental Geology Majors

The following rules and requirements apply to both geology and environmental geology majors:

Geology credits may not be earned on credit-by-examination basis, and no geology course may be taken on the S/N basis by majors. However, any two of the following required courses for either major may be taken on an S/N basis:

• BIOSC 0150 and 0160 (Foundations of Biology I and II)
• CHEM 0110 and 0120 (General Chemistry 1 and 2)
• MATH 0220, 0230, and 0240 (Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1, 2, and 3)
• PHYS 0104, 0105, and 0106 (Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 1, 2, and 3)

Geology majors automatically fulfill the CAS-required related area by taking courses in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Environmental geology majors do not automatically fulfill the related area requirements by taking the required courses.

A reading proficiency in German, French, or Russian is recommended for students interested in graduate studies.

To graduate with departmental honors, a student must complete one of three options (course, research, or internship). Please see the department for details on these options for students majoring in geology or environmental geology.

• A minimum of three credits in geochemistry and three credits in geophysics must be included in the minimum requirements listed above, and students must have an overall QPA of 3.25 or higher.
  
  
• The nature of geology is such that certain courses must be taken in sequence. Because of the prerequisites in other sciences, CHEM 0110 and 0120 should be taken during the first two terms and the mathematics and physics sequences should begin as early as possible, preferably in the freshman year.
  
  

Geology Major Course Requirements

Core courses required for a geology major (29 credits):

• GEOL 0040 (Physical Geology) or GEOL 0800 (Geology) or GEOL 0860 (Environmental Geology)
• GEOL 0055 (Geology Laboratory)
• GEOL 0060 (Historical Geology)
• GEOL 1001 (Mineralogy)
• GEOL 1003 (Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology)
• GEOL 1020 (Sedimentology and Stratigraphy)
• GEOL 1100 (Structural Geology)
• GEOL 1960 (Field Camp)

Electives (9 credits): Students must earn at least nine credits of upper-division or graduate-level GEOL courses from the following:

• GEOL 1051 (Groundwater Geology)
• GEOL 1055 (Environmental Science, Ethics and Public Policy)
• GEOL 1060 (Geomorphology)
• GEOL 1079 (Field Methods)
• GEOL 1080 (Geoarcheology)
• GEOL 1200 (Paleontology)
• GEOL 1400 (Introduction to Solid-Earth Geophysics)
• GEOL 1410 (Exploration Geophysics)
• GEOL 1413 (Well Logging)
• GEOL 1445 (GIS, GPS and Computer Methods)
• GEOL 1460 (Remote Sensing of the Earth)
• GEOL 1500 (Chemistry of Earth and Its Environment)
• GEOL 1515 (Environmental Geochemistry)
• GEOL 1602 (Mineral and Energy Resources)
• GEOL 1640 (Geologic & Environmental Hazards)
• GEOL 1701 (Geology of the Planets)
• GEOL 1900 (Internship)
• GEOL 1903 (Undergraduate Research)
• GEOL 3963 (Topics in Environmental Geology)

Corequirements (29 credits):

• MATH 0220, 0230, and 0240 (Analytical Geometry and Calculus 1, 2, 3)
• PHYS 0104, 0105, and 0106 (Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 1, 2, 3)
• CHEM 0110 and 0120 (General Chemistry 1, 2)

Environmental Geology Major Course Requirements

Core courses required for a geology major (29 credits):

• GEOL 0040 (Physical Geology) or GEOL 0800 (Geology) or GEOL 0860 (Environmental Geology)
• GEOL 0055 (Geology Laboratory)
• GEOL 1001 (Mineralogy)
• GEOL 1003 (Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology)
• GEOL 1020 (Sedimentology and Stratigraphy)
• GEOL 1051 (Groundwater Geology)
• GEOL 1100 (Structural Geology)
• GEOL 1960 (Field Camp)

Electives (12 credits):

(1) At least nine credits of upper-division or graduate-level GEOL courses from the following:

• GEOL 1055 (Environmental Science, Ethics and Public Policy)
• GEOL 1060 (Geomorphology)
• GEOL 1080 (Geoarcheology)
• GEOL 1200 (Paleontology)
• GEOL 1410 (Exploration Geophysics)
• GEOL 1413 (Well Logging)
• GEOL 1445 (GIS, GPS and Computer Methods)
• GEOL 1460 (Remote Sensing of the Earth)
• GEOL 1500 (Chemistry of Earth and its Environment)
• GEOL 1515 (Environmental Geochemistry)
• GEOL 1602 (Mineral and Energy Resources)
• GEOL 1640 (Geologic & Environmental Hazards)
• GEOL 1701 (Geology of the Planets)
• GEOL 1900 (Internship)
• GEOL 1903 (Undergraduate Research)
• GEOL 2447 (Introduction to Arc/View and Advanced Arc/View Programming)
• GEOL 3963 (Topics in Environmental Geology)

(2) One upper-division BIOSC, CHEM, CE, MATH, or CS course such as BIOSC 0370 (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology), CHEM 0310 (Organic Chemistry), or CE 1503 (Introduction to Environmental Engineering)

Corequirements (28 credits):

• MATH 0220 and 0230 (Analytical Geometry and Calculus 1, 2)
• PHYS 0104 and 0105 (Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 1, 2) or PHYS 0475 and 0476 (UHC)
• CHEM 0110 and 0120 (General Chemistry 1 and 2) or equivalents
• BIOSC 0150 (Foundations of Biology 1)
• BIOSCI 0160 (Foundations of Biology 2) or GEOL 1200 or BIOSC 0740

Environmental Studies Overview

Rapid growth in human population and development has led to complex environmental problems on local and global scales. The way in which we address these issues will have a profound effect on our society and planet in the coming century. Enlightened solutions require a strong component of scientific knowledge and an awareness of the relevant societal issues. A major in environmental studies will equip students with an understanding of earth systems and the environment, including the role of geologic processes on human activity and the impact of humans on the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and global climate. Courses in the natural and social sciences supplement a traditional liberal arts curriculum to provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary background in the scientific, economic, political, and social aspects of human interaction with the environment.

The environmental studies major provides a strong background for students who seek careers in fields such as resource development and management, environmental policy and regulation, risk assessment, land use planning, public policy, and education. Potential employers include local, state, or federal government organizations, consulting firms, or companies that are affected by environmental issues or regulations. Graduates of the Environmental Studies Program can also pursue postgraduate study in fields such as business, law, medicine, public policy, education, international relations, urban and regional planning, environmental management, and public health.

Environmental Studies Major Requirements

The major consists of core courses, corequirements, and electives. The core courses provide a fundamental understanding of environmental processes, issues, and policy, and culminate in an environmental science field course and an interdisciplinary capstone course on science and public policy. The corequirements provide the necessary background for advanced study. Majors are encouraged to undertake an independent research project, internship, or senior thesis. A minimum of three of the elective courses are to be taken from a single department, constituting a focus.

Core courses required for the major include the following (33 credits):

• GEOL 0860 (Environmental Geology)
  or GEOL 0800 (Geology) or GEOL 0040 (Physical Geology)
  or GEOL 0840 (Our Restless Earth)
  
• GEOL 0030 (World Physical Geography)
• GEOL 0055 (Geology Laboratory)
• GEOL 0896 (World Physical Geography)
• GEOL 1500 (Chemistry of the Earth and its Environment).
• BIOSC 0150 (Foundations of Biology 1)
• BIOSC 0050 (Foundations of Biology Laboratory 1)
• BIOSC 0160 (Foundations of Biology 2)
• ECON 1210 (Microeconomics)
  or ECON 0800 (Introduction to Economics)
  or ECON 0100 (Introductory Microeconomic Theory)
• LEGLST 1320 (Law and Environment)
• EOH 1200 (Introduction to Risk Assessment)

Environmental Field Course (at least two credits from one of the following):

• BIOSC 0740 (Yellowstone Field Course)
• BIOSCI 1040 (Ecological Management)
• An approved environmental science field course run through an outside institution.

Interdisciplinary Capstone Course:

• GEOL 1055 (Environmental Science, Ethics, and Public Policy) or UHC 1056 (the honors version taught jointly by the Department of Geology and Planetary Science and the University Honors College).

Corequirements (12 credits):

• CHEM 0110 (General Chemistry 1)
• MATH 0220 (Analytic Geometry and Calculus)
• STAT 0200 (Basic Applied Statistics)
  or STAT 1000 (Applied Statistical Methods)
  or STAT 1100 (Statistics and Probability for Business Management)
  or STAT 1151 (Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics)

Electives (27 credits) in one of the following fashions:

• Fifteen credits from the social sciences and humanities elective list and completion of a related area (12 credits) using courses from the natural sciences and engineering elective list (see Department of Geology and Planetary Science for a copy of these lists).
• Fifteen credits from the natural sciences and engineering elective list and completion of a related area (12 credits) from the social sciences and humanities elective list.

  Three elective credits may be earned through independent study projects or internships.

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