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Geobiology Courses
 
Revised Feb 13, 2004
 
Undergraduate Requirements | Undergraduate Courses
Graduate Requirements
 
Undergraduate Option Requirements

 
The aim of this undergraduate program is to provide thorough training in geobiology and, wherever possible, to integrate these studies with, and build upon, the courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology taken during the student's earlier years at the Institute. Active involvement in research, particularly during the summer, is encouraged. Electives permit students to follow lines of special interest in related scientific and engineering fields.

     Under the geobiology option a student can be associated with either Biology or GPS. This association formally will only affect which course the students elect to satisfy the institute-wide oral presentation requirement; all other geobiology option requirements are independent of GPS or Biology affiliation. In practice, however, we expect that students' affiliation with one division or another will significantly shape their choice of elective courses.

     Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed below. Any student whose grade-point average in science and mathematics courses is less than 1.9 at the end of an academic year may be refused permission to register in the geobiology option.
 
 
Undergraduate Courses
 
In addition to the option-specific courses listed below, all geobiology undergraduate students will fulfill the appropriate division requirements.
 
Second Year
  Units per term
  1st 2nd 3rd
Ge 11 ab, Ge/Ay 11 c Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences 9 9 9
Bi 8 Introduction to Molecular Biology (3-0-6) - 9 -
Bi 9 Cell Biology (3-0-6) - - 9
Bi 10 Cell Biology Laboratory (1-3-2) - - 6
Ch 41 abc1 Organic Chemistry (3-0-6) 9 9 9
    18 27 33
 
Third Year
  Units per term
  1st 2nd 3rd
Ge 114a Third Year Mineralogy (3-4-3) 9 - -
Bi/Ch 1101 Introduction to Biochemistry (4-0-8) 12 - -
ESE/Bi 168 Microbial Diversity (3-0-6) - 9 -
  Geobiology Electives2 - 18 9
    21 27 9
 
Fourth Year
  Units per term
  1st 2nd 3rd
Bi 12 Introduction to Developmental Biology (3-0-6) - 9 -
Bi 122 Genetics (3-0-6) 9 - -
Ge 112 Geomorphology and Stratigraphy (3-5-4) 12 - -
  Geobiology Electives2 - 9 9
    21 18 9
 

Notes:

  1. Students affiliated with the GPS division will substitute Ch 41 abc and Bi/Ch 110 for the GPS ACM 95 abc requirement.
  2. Geobiology electives: 45 units of geobiology electives in geology, biology, chemistry, and/or environmental engineering to be chosen in consultation with adviser from Ge 40, Ge 41 abc, Ge 66, Ge 100 abc, Ge 106, Ge 114b, Ge 115 ab, Ge 120, Ge 121 ab, Ge 124 ab, Ge 140 ab, Ge/ESE 149, Ge 203, Ge/Bi 244 ab, Ge/Bi 246, Ge 282 abc, BMB/Bi/Ch 170, Bi 22, Bi 80, Bi 90 abc, Bi/Ch 111, Bi/Ch 113, Bi 115, Bi 123, Bi/CNS 150, Bi 152, Bi/CNS 158, Bi 180, Bi 182, Bi 188, Bi 190, Bi 204, Bi 212, Bi/CNS 216, ESE 142, ESE 143, ESE/Ge 148 ab, ESE/Ge 152 abc, ESE/Bi 166, ESE/Ge/Ch 171, ESE/Ge/Ch 172, ESE/Ge/Ch 175 ab, Ch 4 ab, Ch 5 ab, Ch 7, Ch 14, Ch 15, Ch 21 abc, Ch 24 ab, Ch 112, Ch 145, Ch 146, Ch 154, Ch 212; Occidental College Ge 365. Of these, at least 9 units must come from the following laboratory courses: Bi 123, Bi 180, Ch 4 ab, Ch 5ab, Ch 7, Ch 15, ESE 143, Ge 121 ab.
Division Requirements (all options)
In addition to the option-specific courses listed above, all geobiology undergraduate students will fulfill the appropriate division requirements.
  Units per term
Second Year   1st 2nd 3rd
Ge 11 ab, Ge/Ay 11 c Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences 9 9 9
Ge 1093 Oral Presentation (1-0-2) - - 3
 
  Units per term
Third Year   1st 2nd 3rd
ACM 95 abc4 Introductory Methods of Applied Mathematics (4-0-8) 12 12 12
 

Notes:

  1. For geobiology students associated with the Biology division, Bi 80 will satisfy this requirement.
  2. Geobiology students may substitute Ch 41 abc plus Bi/Ch 110 for ACM 95 abc.
 
 
Graduate Option Requirements

 
Graduate information and requirements for all options within GPS, including geobiology may be found here.
 
   
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