Undergraduate Requirements: Geophysics Option
- Ge 11 ab, Ge 11 d, Ge 109, and a science writing course.1
- Ge 111 ab
- Ma 2 and one of: Ma 3, Ge/Ay 117, Ge/ESE 118
- Ph 2 a or Ph 12 a, Ph 2 b or 12 b, and one of the following: Ph 2 c, Ph 12 c, ME 11 a, Aph 17 a, Ch 21 c, Ch 25.
- ACM 95 ab
- 27 units of advanced science courses selected in consultation with adviser and approved by the option representative. Appropriate choices include (but are not limited to): up to 18 units of Me 11and 12, ME 65, 66, AM 125 abc, Ae/Ge/ME 160, Ph 106 abc, MS 115, MS 133, MS/ME/MedE 116.
- 36 units of geophysics electives (selected in consultation with adviser and approved by the option representative). Appropriate choices include (but are not limited to): up to 9 units of Ge 40 and Ge 41 abc, Ge 161-168, Ge 261, Ge 263, ME/Ge/Ae 266 ab.
1 For example, E 11, or En/Wr 84.
Typical Course Schedule | Units per term |
1st | 2nd | 3rd |
Second Year |
Ge 11abc | Introduction to Earth and Planetary Science | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Scientific Writing | 3 | |||
Ge 109 | Oral Presentation | 3 | ||
Ph 2 abc | Sophomore Physics | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Ma 2 a | Sophomore Mathematics | 9 | ||
Ma 3 | ||||
HSS electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
Total units | 36 | 36 | 33 |
Third Year |
ACM 95 ab | Introduction to Methods of Applied Math | 12 | 12 | |
Ge 111 ab | Applied Geophysics Seminar | 6 | 9 | |
Ge 11 d | Geophysics | 9 | ||
Advanced Science Electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
HSS electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
Total units | 18 | 45 | 39 |
Fourth Year |
Geophysics electives | 18 | 18 | 9 | |
HSS electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
Total units | 27 | 27 | 18 |
For students beginning their junior year, it is possible to complete the requirements for the geophysics 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
Geophysics option representative Zhongwen Zhan
Click here to see current Geophysics undergrad students