Undergraduate Requirements: Geology Option

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1. Ge 11 ab, Ge/Ay 11 c or Ge 11 d¹, and any writing class that satisfies the Institute scientific writing requirement².
2. Ma 2 and one choice from: Ma 3, Ge/ESE 118, or Ge/Ay 117.
3. Ph 2 a or Ph 12 a plus an additional quarter of sophomore-level physics (Ph 2 b, 2 c, 12 b, or 12 c).
4. Either ACM 95 ab or the combination of a full-year chemistry sequence (Ch 41 abc or Ch 21 abc).
5. Ge 106, 114 ab, 115 ab, 120 ab³.
6. Ge 111 ab or Ge 11 d. 
7. Ge 112 or Ge 125.
8. Elective courses in Ge or cross-listed with Ge to bring the total option units up to 210.

¹No class may be used to simultaneously satisfy more than one of these requirements.

² For example, E 11, En/Wr 84.

³ If Ge120 b is not offered, a suitable 3-5 week field camp may be substituted.

¹ Ge 120 ab is taught in alternate years.  Some cohorts of students will take this course in their third year and the summer following.

For students beginning their junior year, it is possible to complete the requirements for the geology option within two years, but there are benefits from starting with Ge 11 abc in the sophomore year.

Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. 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 geological and planetary science options.

For more information

For more information, contact geology option representative Mike Lamb.