BS in Geology with concentration in General Geology

Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BS in Geology with a concentration in General Geology. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill KU Core Goals, please visit the KU Core website.

Freshman
FallHoursSpringHours 
ENGL 101 (Goal 2.1 Written Communication (1 of 2)3ENGL 102 (Goal 2.1 Written Communication (2 of 2))3 
MATH 125 (Goal 1.2 Quantitative Reasoning, Major Pre-requisite)4MATH 126 (Major Pre-requisite)4 
Goal 3 Arts and Humanities3PHSX 211
PHSX 216 (Goal 3 Natural Science, Major Pre-requisite)
5 
GEOL 101
GEOL 103 (Major Requirement)
5GEOL 304 (Major Requirement)13 
 15 15 
Sophomore
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
Goal 1.1 Critical Thinking2Goal 4.1 US Diversity3GEOL 360 (Major Requirement)32
COMS 130 (Goal 2.2 Communication)3Goal 3 Social Science 
CHEM 130 (Major Pre-requisite)5EECS 138 or GEOL 503 (Major Pre-requisite)3 
GEOL 311
GEOL 312 (Major Requirement)1
4CHEM 135 (Major Pre-requisite)5 
 GEOL 331 (Major Requirement)14 
 12 15 2
Junior
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
Goal 4.2 Global Awareness3GEOL 562 (Major Requirement)14GEOL 560 (Goal 6 Integration & Creativity, Major Requirement)33
PHSX 212
PHSX 236 (Major Pre-requisite)
4GEOL 512
GEOL 513 (Major Requirement)1
4GEOL 561 (Major Requirement)33
BIOL 1523GEOL 500+ Elective - First Category (Major Requirement)43 
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours53Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours53 
 13 14 6
Senior
FallHoursSpringHours 
Goal 5 Social Responsibility & Ethics3GEOL 521
GEOL 523 (Major Requirement)1
4 
GEOL 500+ Elective - Second Category (Major Requirement)43GEOL 500+ Elective - Third Category43 
GEOL 500+ Elective (Major Requirement)43GEOL 500+ Elective (Major Requirement)43 
GEOL 500+ Elective (Major Requirement)43Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours53 
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours53  
 15 13 
Total Hours 120
1

All major required Geology courses and most Geology elective courses numbered 300 and above are offered once a year, either in the fall, spring or summer term. 

2
Geology BS majors are required to complete a third English, and a list of possible courses can be found under the Degree Requirements tab.
3

GEOL 360, GEOL 560, and GEOL 561 are offered only in the summer.  

4

Geology majors must complete 18.0 hours of elective coursework, and three courses must come from each of the following categories: Life; Rocks; Water and Climate. A complete course list can be found under the Degree Requirements tab.  

5

Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through KU core, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours.  Students completing the BGS with a major must choose a secondary area of study.  Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.

Please note:

All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.

The same course cannot be used to fulfill more than one KU Core Goal. However, overlap of a KU Core course with a major or degree-specific requirement is allowed. Overlapping is recommended to allow more opportunities to explore other majors and/or minors.