The Geophysics concentration combines a strong foundation in geology with additional depth in geophysics, physics, mathematics, and associated quantitative, data analysis, and computer skills. The concentration provides strong preparation for employment in a wide variety of public- and private-sector geosciences, resources, national defense, and geotechnical careers, and for graduate education in geophysics, seismology, geodynamics, energy, water, environmental science, space science, and many other disciplines.

Effective Fall 2022

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)3A1
CHEM 113General Chemistry II 3
CHEM 114General Chemistry Lab II 1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
GEOL 1501Physical Geology for Scientists and Engineers3A4
GEOL 154Historical and Analytical Geology 4
MATH 160Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)1B4
Arts and Humanities3B3
Social and Behavioral Sciences3C3
 Total Credits 30
Sophomore
 
GEOL 232Mineralogy 3
GEOL 250The Solid Earth 3
GEOL 364Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology4B4
MATH 151Mathematical Algorithms in Matlab I 1
MATH 161Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)1B4
MATH 261Calculus for Physical Scientists III 4
PH 141Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)3A5
Historical Perspectives3D3
 Total Credits 27
Junior
 
GEOL 344Stratigraphy and Sedimentology4A4
GEOL 372Structural Geology4B4
GEOL 376Geologic Field Methods4A,4C3
MATH 340Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations 4
PH 142Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1)3A5
Select one course from the following: 3
Linear Algebra I  
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods  
Intro to Theory and Practice of Statistics  
Select one course from the following:  3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)2 
Arts and Humanities3B3
 Total Credits 29
Summer 
GEOL 436Geology Summer Field Course4C6
 Total Credits 6
Senior
 
Upper-Division Geology Elective2 3-5
Directed Technical Electives (select a minimum of 12 credits - see list below):  12-14
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Electives3 8
 Total Credits 28
 Program Total Credits: 120

Directed Technical Electives List (Select a minimum of 12 credits) 

GEOL 442Applied Geophysics4
GEOL 452Hydrogeology4
GEOL 540Petrophysics and Well Log Interpretation3
GEOL 541Geostatistics2
GEOL 570Plate Tectonics3
GEOL 574Geodynamics3
GEOL 578Global Seismology4
GEOL 579Solid Earth Inverse Methods and Practices3
MATH 317Advanced Calculus of One Variable3
MATH 332Partial Differential Equations3
MATH 417Advanced Calculus I3
MATH 418Advanced Calculus II3
MATH 419Introduction to Complex Variables3
MATH 450Introduction to Numerical Analysis I3
MATH 469Linear Algebra II3
MATH 530Mathematics for Scientists and Engineers3
PH 245Introduction to Electronics3
PH 314Introduction to Modern Physics4
PH 341Mechanics4
PH 351Electricity and Magnetism4
PH 353Optics and Waves4
PH 361Physical Thermodynamics3
One option may be selected from the following if not used to satisfy Junior year program requirements:3
Linear Algebra I
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
Intro to Theory and Practice of Statistics
1

GEOL 120, GEOL 122 or GEOL 124 in combination with GEOL 121 may be substituted for GEOL 150.

2

Select 3 to 5 credits in 300- to 500-level GEOL courses excluding GEOL 384, GEOL 401, GEOL 492, GEOL 494A-I.

3

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)X 3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)X 3A1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)  1A3
GEOL 150Physical Geology for Scientists and EngineersX 3A4
Arts and Humanities  3B3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CHEM 113General Chemistry II X 3
CHEM 114General Chemistry Lab II X 1
GEOL 154Historical and Analytical GeologyX  4
MATH 160Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1) X1B4
Social and Behavioral Sciences  3C3
CO 150 and AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   15
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
GEOL 232MineralogyX  3
MATH 161Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)  1B4
PH 141Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)  3A5
Historical Perspectives  3D3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
GEOL 250The Solid Earth X 3
GEOL 364Igneous and Metamorphic PetrologyX 4B4
MATH 151Mathematical Algorithms in Matlab I   1
MATH 261Calculus for Physical Scientists III   4
CHEM 113 must be completed by the end of Semester 4.X   
 Total Credits   12
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
GEOL 344Stratigraphy and SedimentologyX 4A4
PH 142Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1) X3A5
Select one course from the following:   3
Linear Algebra I    
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods    
Intro to Theory and Practice of Statistics    
Arts and Humanities  3B3
MATH 261 must be completed by the end of Semester 5.X   
 Total Credits   15
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
GEOL 372Structural GeologyX 4B4
GEOL 376Geologic Field MethodsX 4A,4C3
MATH 340Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations X 4
Select one course from the following:    3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)  2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)  2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)  2 
 Total Credits   14
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
GEOL 436Geology Summer Field CourseX 4C6
 Total Credits   6
Senior
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Directed Technical Electives (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)   8
Electives   4
STAT 301, STAT 315, or MATH 369 must be completed by the end of Semester 8.X   
 Total Credits   12
Semester 9CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Upper-Division Geology ElectiveX  3-5
Directed Technical Electives (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  4-6
ElectivesX  4
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  1C3
The benchmark courses for the 9th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   16
 Program Total Credits:   120