This minor is designed for students with an interest in geology but are not majoring in geology. This minor pairs well with other degrees in the sciences such as environmental science, geography, chemistry, or biology. It is also useful for students in other colleges such as business who need to understand how earth surfaces processes like weather and natural hazards affect business practices.
Policies
Eight credits of coursework must be unique to the minor. For policies governing all minors, see AP.5.3.4 Minors.
Minor Requirements
Total credits: 16-20
Students should refer to the Admissions & Policies tab for specific policies related to this program.
Students must successfully complete the following coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.00.
Geology Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 101 & GEOL 103 | Physical Geology (Mason Core) and Physical Geology Lab (Mason Core) | 4 |
| GEOL 102 & GEOL 104 | Historical Geology (Mason Core) and Historical Geology Laboratory (Mason Core) | 4 |
| or GEOL 120 & GEOL 121 | The Changing Ocean (Mason Core) and The Changing Ocean Laboratory (Mason Core) | |
| or CLIM 111 & CLIM 112 | Introduction to the Fundamentals of Atmospheric Science (Mason Core) and Introduction to the Fundamentals of Atmospheric Science Lab (Mason Core) | |
| GEOL 302 | Mineralogy | 4 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Geology Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses from the following: | 4-8 | |
| Geological Field Experience | ||
| Sedimentary Geology | ||
| Environmental Geology (Mason Core) | ||
| Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | ||
| Invertebrate Paleontology | ||
| Hydrogeology | ||
| Geomorphology (Mason Core) | ||
| Resource Geology | ||
| Planetary Geology | ||
| Paleoclimatology | ||
| Marine Geology | ||
| Structural Geology | ||
| Geochemistry | ||
| Geological Field Mapping | ||
| Earth Science and Policy (Mason Core) | ||
| Great Events in Earth History | ||
| Total Credits | 4-8 | |