Jan 02, 2025

2024-25 Undergraduate Catalog

Earth Sciences and Geologic Resources, BS

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The Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences and Geologic Resources provides students with a strong foundation in geoscience as well as a background in other sciences and math. Our curriculum offers coursework and hands-on experiences in multi-disciplinary fields of Earth materials and processes, and provides opportunities for undergraduate research. We prepare students for careers in the environmental and energy industries, federal and state agencies, private sector and nonprofit organizations, and advanced study in graduate programs.

University Core Curriculum Requirements

A. Communication

Three hours from:

ENGL 1301 - Rhetoric and Composition Credit(s): 3
or
ENGL 1303 - Honors Composition: Analysis, Argument and Research Credit(s): 3

Three hours from:

SPCH 1315 - Public Speaking Credit(s): 3
SPCH 1318 - Interpersonal Communication Credit(s): 3
SPCH 2333 - Teamwork and Group Communication Credit(s): 3

B. Mathematics

Three hours from:

MATH 2313 - Calculus I Credit(s): 3

C. Life and Physical Science

Six hours from:

PHYS 1301 - Mechanics and Heat Credit(s): 3
and
BIOL 1306 - Biology for Science Majors I Credit(s): 3
or
PHYS 1302 - Electricity, Sound and Light Credit(s): 3

D. Language, Philosophy and Culture

Three hours from:

ENGL 2309 - Introduction to Mythology Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2322 - British Literature to 1800 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2323 - British Literature from 1800 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2327 - American Literature to 1865 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2328 - American Literature from 1865 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2332 - World Literature to 1650 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2333 - World Literature from 1650 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2335 - Literary Genres Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2341 - Introduction to Literature Credit(s): 3
HIST 2311 - Western Civilization I Credit(s): 3
HIST 2312 - Western Civilization II Credit(s): 3
HIST 2321 - World Civilizations I Credit(s): 3
HIST 2322 - World Civilizations II Credit(s): 3
PHIL 1301 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit(s): 3
PHIL 2306 - Introduction to Ethics Credit(s): 3

E. Creative Arts

Three hours from:

ARTS 1301 - Art Appreciation Credit(s): 3
ARTS 1303 - Art History I (Prehistoric to the 14th century) Credit(s): 3
ARTS 1304 - Art History II (14th Century to the present) Credit(s): 3
DANC 2303 - Dance Appreciation Credit(s): 3
DRAM 1310 - Theatre Appreciation Credit(s): 3
DRAM 2366 - Film and Culture Credit(s): 3
MUMH 1307 - Intro to Music Literature Credit(s): 3
MUSI 1306 - Music Appreciation Credit(s): 3

F. American History

Six hours from:

HIST 1301 - United States History I Credit(s): 3
HIST 1302 - United States History II Credit(s): 3

G. Government/Political Science

Six hours from:

GOVT 2305 - Federal Government Credit(s): 3
GOVT 2306 - Texas Government Credit(s): 3

H. Social and Behavioral Science

Three hours from:

ANTH 2351 - Cultural Anthropology Credit(s): 3
ECON 2301 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit(s): 3
ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit(s): 3
GEOG 1303 - World Regional Geography Credit(s): 3
PSYC 2301 - General Psychology Credit(s): 3
SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology Credit(s): 3

I. Component Area Option

Three hours from:

ENGL 1302 - Research and Argument Credit(s): 3

Three hours from:

ENGL 2311 - Technical and Scientific Writing Credit(s): 3

Foundation of Knowledge

Required Courses

CHEM 1311 - General Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab Credit(s): 1
CHEM 1312 - General Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 1112 - General Chemistry II Lab Credit(s): 1
MATH 1342 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credit(s): 3

Computer Science Option

Three hours from:

COSC 1301 - Introduction to Computing Credit(s): 3

Core Labs

Two or three hours from:

MATH 2113 - Calculus I Lab Credit(s): 1
PHYS 1101 - Mechanics and Heat Laboratory Credit(s): 1
and
BIOL 1106 - Biology for Science Majors I Lab Credit(s): 1
or
PHYS 1102 - Electricity, Sound and Light Laboratory Credit(s): 1

Earth Sciences and Geologic Resources Major

The student pursuing a major in Earth Sciences and Geologic Resources may complete the major with or without a concentration.

Earth Sciences and Geologic Resources Core Courses

A minimum grade of C is required in all earth sciences and geologic resources courses numbered 2000 or higher for completion of the degree.

ERTH 1303 - Earth Science Credit(s): 3
ERTH 1103 - Earth Science Lab Credit(s): 1
ERTH 1304 - Earth Through Time Credit(s): 3
ERTH 1104 - Earth Through Time Lab Credit(s): 1
ERTH 2341 - Mineralogy Credit(s): 3
ERTH 2041 - Mineralogy Lab Credit(s): 0
ERTH 2342 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology Credit(s): 3
ERTH 2042 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology Lab Credit(s): 0
ERTH 2343 - Sedimentary Petrology Credit(s): 3
ERTH 2043 - Sedimentary Petrology Lab Credit(s): 0
ERTH 3338 - Structural Geology Credit(s): 3 * See Note below before registering for this course.
ERTH 3038 - Structural Geology Lab Credit(s): 0
ERTH 3664 - Field Geology Credit(s): 6
ERTH 4308 - Stratigraphy and Sedimentation Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4008 - Stratigraphy and Sedimentation Lab Credit(s): 0
ERTH 4320 - Geochemistry Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4335 - Introduction to Geophysics Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4035 - Introduction to Geophysics Lab Credit(s): 0
ERTH 4332 - Petroleum Geology and Fossil Fuels Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4032 - Petroleum Geology and Fossil Fuels Lab Credit(s): 0
ERTH 4349 - Hydrogeology Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4049 - Hydrogeology Lab Credit(s): 0
ERTH 4172 - Field Methods Credit(s): 1
ERTH 4179 - Senior Seminar Credit(s): 1

Note:

Students must complete CHEM 1311 and CHEM 1312 ; PHYS 1301 and one of the following PHYS 1302 or BIOL 1306; and MATH 1342 and MATH 2313 with all co-requisite courses before they can register for ERTH 3338.

Optional Geosciences Concentration

Students may choose to complete the Geosciences concentration or a minor.

Required Course

GISC 2301 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credit(s): 3

Geosciences Option

Three hours from:

CHEM 3311 - Inorganic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 3330 - Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 3130 - Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Lab Credit(s): 1
CHEM 3331 - Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 3131 - Organic Chemistry I Lab Credit(s): 1
CHEM 3421 - Quantitative Analysis Credit(s): 4
CHEM 3021 - Quantitative Analysis Lab Credit(s): 0
CSCI 1302 - Computer Science Principles Credit(s): 3
ENVR 1301 - Intro to Environmental Science Credit(s): 3
ENVR 1101 - Intro to Environmental Science Lab Credit(s): 1
ENVR 3310 - EHS Credit(s): 3
ENVR 3349 - Environmental Soil Science Credit(s): 3
ENVR 3049 - Environmental Soil Science Lab Credit(s): 0
ENVR 4312 - Environmental Hydrology Credit(s): 3
ENVR 4012 - Environmental Hydrology Lab Credit(s): 0
ENVR 4350 - Air Quality Assessment Credit(s): 3
GISC 2324 - Introduction to Spatial Science Credit(s): 3
GISC 2024 - Introduction to Spatial Science Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 3301 - GIS Applications Credit(s): 3
GISC 3001 - GIS Applications Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 4310 - Landscape Modeling Credit(s): 3
GISC 4010 - Landscape Modeling Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 4325 - Mobile and Field GIS Credit(s): 3
GISC 4025 - Mobile and Field GIS Lab Credit(s): 0
MATH 2314 - Calculus II Credit(s): 3
MATH 2114 - Calculus II Lab Credit(s): 1
STAT 3342 - Statistical Methods Credit(s): 3
STAT 3343 - Nonparametric Statistics Credit(s): 3

Geoscience Research

Three hours of:

ERTH 4176 - Geoscience Research Credit(s): 1 to 3

Advanced Geology

Nine hours from:

ERTH 3303 - Oceanography Credit(s): 3
ERTH 3342 - Planetary Geology Credit(s): 3
ERTH 3350 - Environmental Geology Credit(s): 3
ERTH 3361 - Invertebrate Paleontology Credit(s): 3
ERTH 3061 - Invertebrate Paleontology Lab Credit(s): 0
ERTH 4304 - Geomorphology Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4305 - North American Geology Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4310 - Engineering Geology Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4323 - Aqueous Geochemistry Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4330 - Fundamentals of Plate Tectonics Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4333 - Subsurface Exploration Techniques Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4341 - Geocharacterization of Natural Resources Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4344 - Geoanalytical Methods Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4345 - Geochronology Credit(s): 3
ERTH 4350 - Cave and Karst Systems Credit(s): 3

Minor Option

Complete an academic minor of at least 18 semester hours, but not more than 24 semester hours, with at least six advanced hours at SFA. Earth Sciences and Geologic Resources majors will plan their minor program in consultation with an earth sciences and geologic resources advisor. Suggested minors are chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, business, computer science, geographic information systems, and geography.

General Electives

The student may be required to complete additional elective hours to complete the degree.

Preparatory Coursework

The following courses may be required prior to enrollment in Calculus or major coursework. The courses listed below may be in excess of the hours required for the degree. This may affect eligibility for the Texas Tuition Rebate Opportunity.

MATH 1314 College Algebra

MATH 1316 Plane Trigonometry

MATH 2211 Precalculus A

MATH 2212 Precalculus B

Total hours: 120

Grade Requirements

A grade of at least C in each first-year English course (ENGL 1301 , ENGL 1302 )
A C average in work completed in the major field
A C average in work completed in the minor field

The required averages are based on those SFA courses taken in each category that are included in the student’s official degree plan (CAPP). Transfer and advanced placement coursework are not included in GPA calculations.

In-Residence Requirement

Undergraduate Degree Programs

Undergraduate degrees require at least 25% semester credit hours completed in-residence.

Undergraduate degrees with 120 hours total degree program hours require a minimum of 30 advanced (upper level) in-residence semester credit hours. The in-residence hour requirement will be fulfilled as part of the individual discipline major, which includes as least 12 advanced in-residence semester credit hours. Minor requirements also may contribute to the total in-residence hours as at least six advanced in-residence semester credit hours are required. The balance of in-resident hours will be fulfilled through additional advanced semester credit hours and may include further major and minor coursework.

Undergraduate degrees with more than 120 total degree program hour requirements will ensure semester credit hours for the specific discipline include at least 25% of total semester credit hours in-residence.

View HOP policy 02-214.