Geology, B.A.

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Geology.

The B.A. program is not intended for prospective geologists. The B.A. program is suitable for pre-medicine or pre-law students or for students planning to teach earth science in secondary schools. 

Undergraduate Contact Information:

Dr. Nicholas Davatzes, Chair
Beury Hall, Room 307
215-204-2319
davatzes@temple.edu

Dr. Allison Tumarkin-Deratzian, Vice Chair and Faculty Advisor
Beury Hall, Room 308
215-204-2321
altd@temple.edu

Dr. Ilya Buynevich, Faculty Advisor, Geology
Beury Hall, Room 313
215-204-3635
coast@temple.edu

Dr. David Grandstaff, Faculty Advisor, Environmental Science
Beury Hall, Room 322B
215-204-8228
grand@temple.edu

Bachelor of Arts 

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

  1. University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
    • Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
    • All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are: 
      EES 2096Climate Change: Oceans To Atmosphere4
      EES 2097Process Geomorphology4
      EES 4696Vertebrate Paleontology and Taphonomy3
      EES 4796Soils and Paleosols4
      EES 4896Planetary Geology4
    • Students must complete the General Education (GenEd) requirements.
      • See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the GenEd curriculum.
      • Students who complete CST majors receive a waiver for 2 Science & Technology (GS) and 1 Quantitative Literacy (GQ) GenEd courses.
    • Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements.
  2. College Requirements
    • 45 Upper Level (2000+) credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), or the College of Engineering (ENG).
    • 90 credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), or the College of Engineering (ENG).
    • Two (2) Upper-Level (2000+) Liberal Arts courses.
    • Second (2nd) Level of a Foreign Language (1002).
    • All students in the College of Science and Technology are required to take a one credit first year seminar. SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar is the appropriate course option for every entering first year CST major. Transfer students should use SCTC 2001 CST Transfer Seminar to fulfill this requirement. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CST College Requirements page.
  3. Major Requirements for Bachelor of Arts (51-56 s.h.)
    At least 7 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 4 EES courses must be completed at Temple.
    Chemistry
    Select one of the following:4
    General Chemistry I
    and General Chemistry Laboratory I
    Honors General Chemical Science I
    and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F)
    Mathematics
    MATH 1041Calculus I4
    or MATH 1941 Honors Calculus I
    Select one of the following:4
    Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences
    Calculus II
    Honors Calculus II
    Physics
    Select one of the following:4
    Elementary Classical Physics I
    Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F)
    General Physics I
    Honors General Physics I (F)
    Earth & Environmental Science
    EES 2001Physical Geology4
    EES 2011Mineralogy I (F)4
    Select one EES course between 3020-3025:4
    Groundwater Hydrology (S)
    Physical Hydrology (F)
    Earth & Environmental Science Electives 1
    Five EES electives 2002 or above15-20
    Science Foundation Electives
    Select two of the following:8
    Introduction to Organismal Biology
    Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology
    Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
    Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
    Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
    Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
    General Chemistry II
    and General Chemistry Laboratory II
    Honors General Chemical Science II
    and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II
    Organic Chemistry I
    and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
    Organic Chemistry for Honors I
    and Organic Honors Laboratory I
    Elementary Classical Physics II
    Honors Elementary Classical Physics II
    General Physics II
    Honors General Physics II
    Total Credit Hours51-56
    (F) - Fall only course
    (S) - Spring only course

Calculation of Major GPA

Courses listed under the major requirements for the degree will be included in the calculation of the major GPA. Courses that could not apply toward the major as an elective or required course would not be counted in the calculation of the major GPA. This would include CHEM 1027, for example.

Senior Research Project

Students whose cumulative GPA is at least 3.25 at the end of the first semester of their junior year are eligible to undertake a senior research project. In the second semester of their junior year, students must select a faculty research advisor and, with the advisor, prepare a written research proposal. After the research advisor and the undergraduate Earth & Environmental Science advisor approve the proposal, the student may register for up to four (4) hours of EES 4082 Individual Study Program for a grade. Additional credits may be offered in subsequent semesters, but only for Credit/No-Credit (CR/NC), to carry out the research project. Normally, the project will involve field or laboratory work in the summer between the junior and senior years and lead to presentation of the results at a departmental seminar.

Distinction in Major

To graduate with distinction in the major, students are required to achieve a 3.5 GPA in EES and Upper Level Science Electives for the major. In addition, a student graduating with distinction has no grade below C in the remaining courses required for the major.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Geology

Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year

Year 1
FallCredit Hours
EES 2001Physical Geology4
MATH 1041 or 1941Calculus I4
SCTC 1001CST First Year Seminar1
ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]4
Elective2
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
Select one of the following:4
General Chemistry I 
Honors General Chemical Science I (F) 
Select one of the following:4
Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences 
Calculus II 
Honors Calculus II 
IH 0851 or 0951Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]3
Elective 3
Elective2
 Term Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
EES 2011Mineralogy I (F)4
Select one of the following:4
Elementary Classical Physics I 
Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F) 
General Physics I 
Honors General Physics I (F) 
IH 0852 or 0952Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]3
Elective 4
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
Earth & Environmental Science Elective (see Requirements page)4
GenEd Breadth Course3
Elective3
Elective3
Elective3
 Term Credit Hours16
Year 3
Fall
Select one EES course between 3020-3025:4
Groundwater Hydrology (S) 
Physical Hydrology (F) 
Science Foundation Elective (see Requirements page)4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Elective3
Elective1
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
Earth & Environmental Science Elective [WI] (see Requirements page)4
Science Foundation Elective (see Requirements page)4
GenEd Breadth Course3-4
Elective4-3
 Term Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
Earth & Environmental Science Elective (see Requirements page)4
GenEd Breadth Course3
Elective3
Elective3
Elective3
 Term Credit Hours16
Spring
Earth & Environmental Science Elective [WI] (see Requirements page)4
Earth & Environmental Science Elective (see Requirements page)4
GenEd Breadth Course3
Elective3
Elective1
 Term Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours: 123
(F) - Fall only course
(S) - Spring only course