Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Geology – Professional [BS]


Geology is a multidisciplinary scientific study of the Earth, its origin, structure, composition, and history. It includes the processes that have given rise to its present state and how they are interconnected. Geologists play a leading role in the discovery, utilization, and management of natural resources, evaluating how natural processes impact life on Earth and how humans interact with Earth.

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Geology is the study of the Earth, the materials of which it is made, the structure of those materials, and the processes acting upon them. An important part of geology is the study of how Earth’s materials, structures, processes, and organisms have changed over time. Geologists work to understand the history of our planet. The better we can understand Earth’s history, the better we can foresee how events and processes of the past might influence the future.

The Professional Geology Concentration provides the necessary background for students planning to become professional geologists. Students who successfully complete the curriculum are prepared to enter positions in industry or to undertake graduate study in geology. The program includes courses in mathematics, chemistry, and physics.

The Hydrogeology Concentration prepares students for graduate study or employment in the environmental industry. It focuses on those aspects of geology and related sciences that pertain to the occurrence, movement, supply, and quality of water. The program is designed to provide a strong technical base. Students will be educated in skills that are required to gather and process data with particular attention to water-related problems. The program includes courses in mathematics, chemistry, and physics.

Opportunities

Geology is a highly satisfying, rewarding career.  Geologists are in demand and commonly earn two to three times the national average per capita income. Sample career opportunities:

Environmental Industry – assess the impact of construction or protect water resources
Government – assess and monitor geologic hazards or study planetary geology
Petroleum and Mining – find and produce natural resources

This is a designated STEM program (see OPT Extension).

Department Information


Geography & Geology 140D Strong Hall, 734.487.0218

Christine Clark, PhD, Department Head

Advisor Information


Christine Clark, PhD, 140M Strong Hall, 734.487.8590

Steve LoDuca, PhD, 140J Strong Hall, 734.487.8589

Eric Portenga, PhD, 140V Strong Hall, 734.487.0926

Chris Gellasch, PhD, 140U Strong Hall, 734.487.8523

Hannah Blatchford, PhD, 140K Strong Hall, 734.487.0218

General Education Requirements:


For specific requirements, see General Education  or view the General Education Worksheet [PDF] .  

Major Requirements: 69-75 hours


Concentration: 14-18 hours


Choose one concentration from the following. Declare your concentration using the Major/Minor Declaration Form.

Minor Requirement:


This major does not require a minor.

Program Total:


Students must earn a minimum total of 120 credits at the 100-level or above.

Critical Graduation Information


Each undergraduate student will be responsible for fulfilling the requirements (or their equivalents) of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration at a college or university or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

In the event an undergraduate student does not complete the degree requirements within seven years of the date of their original registration at a college or university, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their major/minor in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

Minimum requirements for all bachelor’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University

Some majors and minors require more than the minimum in one or more of the areas below; students are urged to consult this catalog for the requirements of their particular programs.

  • Earn a minimum total of 120 credit hours at the 100-level and above.
    • Courses numbered below 100 are not counted toward this degree requirement.
    • At most, eight credit hours of physical education (PEGN) activity courses are counted toward this requirement.
  • Meet the requirements of the General Education program (see information below), including completing a Writing Intensive (GEWI) course in the student’s major.
  • Earn a minimum of 60 credits from a four-year college or university; courses taken at community colleges cannot be used to meet this requirement (Some formal program-to-program articulation agreements modify this requirement. See specific agreements for details).
  • Earn a minimum of 30 credits from courses taken at EMU.
  • Complete 10 of the last 30 hours for the degree from courses taken at EMU.
  • Have a minimum of 30 unique credit hours in their major and 20 unique credit hours in their minor for a total of at least 50 unique credit hours between them. Some majors that require 50 or more hours themselves do not require a minor. A double major automatically satisfies the need for a minor unless one of the two majors requires a specific minor. Students should check the requirements of the selected major in the undergraduate catalog to see if a minor is required. 
  • Earn no more than 60 credit hours in one subject area (prefix). Credits over the 60 maximum will not be counted toward the minimum of 120 credits required for a bachelor’s degree.
  • Earn the minimum number of credits in 300-level and above courses in each major and minor as specified below - these credits must be earned in distinct courses; that is, no course can be used to fulfill this requirement in more than one major or minor.
    • Earn a minimum of 6 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each minor
    • Earn a minimum of 9 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that requires a minor.
    • Earn a minimum of 15 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that does not require a minor
  • Transfer credit will be awarded for courses taken at colleges and universities that are accredited by one of the recognized regional accrediting bodies only if the courses are college-level (equated to 100-level or above at EMU) and the student earned a “C” (or 2.0 on a 4 point scale) or better. Transfer credit may be awarded on a case-by-case basis for college-level courses in which a “C” (2.0) or better was earned at institutions outside the U.S. or at non-accredited U.S. institutions; individual departments/schools conduct the internal review of such courses within EMU, and additional documentation may be required. Please note: EMU awards only credit for transferred courses; grades are not used to calculate an EMU GPA.
  • Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses taken at EMU to graduate. In addition, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be reached in each major and minor. Only courses a student takes at EMU and those applied to their major or minor are used to calculate their major and minor cumulative GPAs. (Note: some programs may require a higher GPA - check with your program advisor.)

General Education Requirements - EMU’s General Education Program requires students to choose from a menu of approved courses in several different areas; do not assume that other courses in the same department or similar names will fulfill these requirements. A detailed description of General Education requirements is available in the General Education  section of the catalog.

Students who transferred to EMU may have modified general education requirements based on Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) or articulation agreements; consult your academic advisor for additional information.