Geosciences

Department Chair - James D. Collier

Professor - James D. Collier;

Associate Professors - Gary L. Gianniny, David A. Gonzales,

and Ray Kenny;

Assistant Professors - Kimberly A. Hannula and W. Scott White.

 

The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology with three different options:  Geology, Environmental Geology, and Earth Science for Secondary Teachers.  The Geology option is designed to meet the needs of students wishing to continue their education in graduate school or to work as professional geologists.  The Environmental Geology option is designed for students planning to work in the areas of natural resource management and environmental impact assessment and remediation.  The Earth Science for Secondary Teachers option is designed for students whose specific goal is to teach earth science at the secondary school level.

 

The department also has course offerings in Geography and a minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).  Geography classes are recommended for those students who wish to enhance their understanding of such topics as geopolitics, world cultures, globalization, weather and climate, natural landscapes and mountain environments, in addition to technical topics such as computer mapping and GIS.

 

The study of geosciences at Fort Lewis College is strengthened by the College’s proximity to the remarkable natural geological laboratory in the Southern Rocky Mountains and adjacent areas of the Southwest.  The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Shiprock, and the San Juan volcanic field and mining district are representative of classical geological localities nearby.  The numerous outcrops and mine and oil field workings are sources of excellent real-world experiences for students.  Also, the sequence of rocks in the Animas River Valley represents literally hundreds of millions of years of earth history. 

 

Laboratory and field equipment and geological holdings in the College library are available for research and reading.

 

Advanced graduate work in geology is required for positions in state and federal surveys, petroleum and mining companies, and college teaching.  Employment with engineering firms, governmental agencies, mining companies, and environmental consulting organizations, among others, is available for persons with bachelors degrees in geology and environmental geology.

 

Students majoring in geology may be certified to teach science at the secondary level.  To obtain requirements for teacher certification, please contact the Department of Teacher Education.

 

A minor in geology is available for students majoring in other disciplines. Requirements for a minor in geology are listed at the end of this section.

 

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE WITH A MAJOR IN GEOLOGY:

Geology Option

 

General Education                                                              35-46

                                                                               

** Courses marked with double asterisks may also be counted toward TS1 or Q requirements.

 

Specific Departmental Requirements:

**Geol 107Nx  Earth Systems Science

                                OR

**Geol 113Tx  Physical Geology                                             4

Geol 114  Historical Geology                                                    4

Geol 202  Geologic Methods                                                    2

Geol 207  Mineralogy                                                               3

Geol 208  Optical Mineralogy                                                   4

Geol 210  Petrology                                                                 3

Geol 323  Geomorphology                                                       4

Geol 333  Introductory Paleontology                                      3

Geol 337  Structural Geology                                                  4

Geol 361  Stratigraphy and Sedimentation                             4

Geol 380W  Technical Writing in Geology                                3

Geol 405  Geologic Data Analysis                                            4

Geol 441  Field Geology                                                           6

Geol 496  Senior Seminar I – Research                                   1

Geol 497  Senior Seminar II – Thesis                                       2

 

Subtotal                Specific Departmental Requirements           51

 

Auxiliary Requirements:

**Chem 150Nx Fundamentals of Chemistry I                         4

**Chem 151Tx  Fundamentals of Chemistry II                       4

                                OR

Geol 420  Introduction to Geochemistry                                 3

**Math 221Q  Calculus I                                                         4

 

One of the following:

**Math 222Q, **Math 201Q, **BA 253Q, or **Psyc 241Q  4

Phys 201 College Physics                                                        4

OR

**Phys 217Tx  Physics for Science and Engineering I            5

 

 

Subtotal                Auxiliary Requirements                                    19-21

 

Free Electives (variable)

 

TOTAL REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION                              120

 

Note to transfer and former students:  If you have taken any of your major requirements and received a different number of credits than listed above, you may need to complete additional major credit requirements.

 

Environmental Geology Option

 

General Education                                           35-46   

 

** Courses marked with double asterisks may also be counted toward TS1 or Q requirements.

 

Specific Departmental Requirements:

**Geol 107Nx  Earth Systems Science

                                OR

**Geol 113Tx  Physical Geology                                             4

Geol 114  Historical Geology                                                    4

Geol 202  Geologic Methods                                                    2

Geol 207  Mineralogy                                                               3

Geol 210  Petrology                                                                 3

**Geog 250T  Intro Computer Mapping/GIS                           4

Geol 323  Geomorpholgy                                                         4

Geol 337  Structural Geology                                                  4

Geol 361  Stratigraphy and Sedimentation                             4

Geol 380W  Technical Writing in Geology                                3

Geol 420  Introduction to Geochemistry                                 3

Geol 430  Engineering Geology                                               3

Geol 435  Groundwater Geology                                             4

Geol 441  Field Geology                                                           6

Geol 496  Senior Seminar I – Research                                   1

Geol 497  Senior Seminar II – Thesis                                       2

 

Subtotal                Specific Departmental Requirements           54

 

Auxiliary Requirements:

**Chem 150Nx Fundamentals of Chemistry I                         4

**Chem 151Tx  Fundamentals of Chemistry II                       4

**Math 221Q  Calculus I                                                         4

One of the following:

**Math 201Q, **Math 222Q, **BA 253Q, **Psyc 241Q, or

Geol 405                                                                                  4

 

Phys 201 College Physics                                                        4

OR

**Phys 217Tx  Physics for Science and Engineering I            5

 

Subtotal Auxiliary Requirements                                   16-17

 

Free Electives (variable)

 

TOTAL REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION                              120

 

Note to transfer and former students:  If you have taken any of your major requirements and received a different number of credits than listed above, you may need to complete additional major credit requirements.

 

Earth Science for Secondary Teachers Option

 

General Education                                           35-46   

 

** Courses marked with double asterisks may also be counted toward TS1 or Q requirements.

 

Specific Departmental Requirements:

**Geol 107Nx  Earth Systems Science                                    4

Geol 114  Historical Geology                                                    4

**Geol 180N  Oceanography                                                  3

Geol 202  Geologic Methods                                                    2

Geol 207  Mineralogy                                                               3

Geol 210  Petrology                                                                 3

Geol 323  Geomorphology                                                       4

Geol 333  Introductory Paleontology                                      3

Geol 332  Plate Tectonics                                                        3

Geol 380W  Technical Writing in Geology                                3

Geol 401  Natural Resources and the Environment                                3

Geog 335 Weather and Climate                                              3

Geol 496  Senior Seminar I – Research                                   1

Geol 497  Senior Seminar II – Thesis                                       2

 

Subtotal Specific Departmental Requirements          41

 

Auxiliary Requirements:

**Bio 112N  Introduction to Biology:                                      4

**Chem 150Nx Fundamentals of Chemistry                           4

**Math 110Q  College Algebra                                                               4

Phys 201 College Physics                                                        4

**PhSc 206Tx  Astronomy                                                      4

 

Teacher Education Courses1:

**Ed 200R  Intro to Ed in America                                          4

**Ed 210S  Culture of Childhood and Youth                           4

Ed 421     Individualized Instruction in a Pluralistic Society     6

Ed 424     Language and Math Literacy                                   4

Ed 495     Laboratory Experience and Seminar in the Secondary

School                                                                      15

 

Subtotal                Auxiliary Requirements                                    53

 

Free Electives (variable)

 

TOTAL REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION                              120

 

1Please see Teacher Education section for Teacher Licensing requirements.

 

Note to transfer and former students:  If you have taken any of your major requirements and received a different number of credits than listed above, you may need to complete additional major credit requirements.

 

PREPARATION FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL

 

The following additional courses are recommended for Geology majors who plan to go to graduate school.

Geol 332  Plate Tectonics

Geol 405  Geologic Data Analysis and Modeling by Computer

French, German, or Spanish

Engr 205  Surveying I

Engr 103  Computer Aided Drafting

Phys 202 College Physics (non-Calculus) II

Math 222Q  Calculus II

 

Geology Minor

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN GEOLOGY:

 

Specific Departmental Requirements:

**Geol 113Tx  Physical Geology                                             4

                                OR

**Gel 107Nx  Earth Systems Science                                      4

Geol 114  Historical Geology                                                    4

Geol 207  Mineralogy                                                               3

Geol 210  Petrology                                                                 3

Upper division Geology electives                                             10

 

TOTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GEOLOGY MINOR              24