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Geology Pathway
This pathway assumes:
- You will be a full-time student.
- You will start in the fall.
- You are ready to take 100- and 200-level classes.
If not, you can still complete the pathway! You will just need to make adjustments. Talk with your advisor to customize your plan.
GEOLOGY, ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE-TRANSFER (AS-T) (90 CREDITS)
Follow this recommended pathway to earn the AS-T degree and prepare for a university major in geology. Or you can customize your plan even more. Talk with your advisor about adapting it for your individual goals.
Scroll to the end for course suggestions.
Quarter 1
GEOL 211 Physical Geology (5 credits)
| Description | Intended for science majors. Composition and structure of earth, identification of common rocks and minerals, formation of surface features of continents and ocean floor, and interpretation of land forms frommaps. Lab work and field trips included. (MSl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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MATH& 141 Precalculus I (5 credits)
| Description | The basic properties and graphs of functions and inverses of functions, operations on functions, compositions; various specific functions and their properties including polynomial, absolute value, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions; applications of various functions; conics. A graphing calculator is required. (QSR,MS) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH 099 or MATH 132 with a minimum grade of C. |
| Course Attributes |
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SOCIAL SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
Career exploration: Find your people! Attend area-of-study activities and connect with clubs that relate to your career goals.
Action item: Meet with your advisor to build your degree plan.
Action item: Have your transfer-in credits officially evaluated.
Quarter 2
ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)
| Description | This course helps students become more effective writers in academic and professional settings. Students learn to enter ongoing academic conversations, analyze and use secondary sources to formulate, develop, revise, and communicate ideas in writing, and shape their message to different purposes, audiences, and media. (CC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of ENGL 95 or placement in ENGL& 101. |
| Course Attributes |
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MATH& 142 Precalculus II (5 credits)
| Description | Second in a two-course sequence designed to prepare students for the study of Calculus. Intended for students planning to major in math and/or science. Course to include right triangle trigonometry; trigonometric functions and their graphs; trigonometric identities and formulae;applications of trigonometry; parametric equations; and polar coordinates. A graphing calculator is required. A graphing calculator is required. (QSR,MS) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH& 141 with a minimum grade of C. |
| Course Attributes |
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HUMANITIES from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
Career exploration: Compare the different geology majors at the universities you're interested in.
Quarter 3
GEOL 212 Historical Geology (5 credits)
| Description | History of the earth and of the plants and animals that have left their records in the rocks. Application of physical geologic principles to unravel the sequence of dynamic events that have shaped the earth as we know it today. Lab work and field trips included. (MSwl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of GEOL& 101 or GEOL 211; and placement in ENGL& 101 |
| Course Attributes |
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MATH& 151 Calculus I (5 credits)
| Description | This course looks at the study of functions, limits, continuity, limits at infinity, differentiation of algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions and their inverses, and applications. Graphing calculator required. (QSR,MS) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH 133 or MATH& 142 with a minimum grade of C. |
| Course Attributes |
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HUMANITIES from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
or SOCIAL SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
or SOCIAL SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
Course note: GEOL 212 is offered every two years in the spring. If it isn't available in your Quarter 3, adjust your plan to include it later.
Career exploration: Participate in original undergraduate research as part of GEOL 212.
Career exploration: Look for a summer job or internship related to your career goals.
Action item: Check the GPA and other entry requirements for your future major. Are you on track?
Quarter 4
MATH& 152 Calculus II (5 credits)
| Description | The study of Riemann Sums, methods of integration, numerical methods, polar and rectangular forms, fundamental theorem of Calculus, areas of regions, volumes of solids, centroids, length of curves, surface area, and an introduction to differential equations. Graphing calculator required. (QSR,MS) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH& 151 with a minimum grade of C. |
| Course Attributes |
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CHEM& 161 General Chemistry With Lab I (5 credits)
| Description | First of a three-course sequence designed for science, engineering, and other majors needing a full year general chemistry sequence. Covers basic principles of modern chemistry, structure of atoms, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, bonding, and molecular geometry. Lab work included. Recommended preparation CHEM& 121 or one year of High School Chemistry. (MSl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH& 141 with minimum grade of C |
| Course Attributes |
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BIOL& 221 Majors Ecology/Evolution (5 credits)
| Description | This course is designed to prepare the student for further studies inthe field of biology or related fields. Basic information about evolution, genetics, biodiversity of life forms, and ecology will be taught and assessed. This is the first in a three-quarter sequence for biology majors. (MSwl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Prior or concurrent enrollment in CHEM& 161 and placement in ENGL& 101 |
| Course Attributes |
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or PHYS& 221 Engineering Physics I (5 credits )
| Description | Basic principles of mechanics. Emphasis on critical analysis, interpretation, and problem solving, energy and momentum conservation, rotational motion, static equilibrium. (MSl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH& 151 with a minimum grade of C and placement in ENGL& 101; and one college level physics course or a high school physics course. |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 15
Course note: This quarter you start a three-course sequence in either biology or physics. You must complete one whole sequence.
Action item: Meet with your advisor about applying to universities. Start your transfer applications.
Action item: Apply for next year's financial aid.
Quarter 5
MATH& 163 Calculus III (5 credits)
| Description | Multivariate integral and differential calculus. Geometry in R3 and in the plane. The study of vectors, acceleration, curvature; functions of several variables, partial derivatives; directional derivatives and gradients; extreme values; double and triple integrals; applications. Graphing calculator required. (QSR,MS) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH& 152 with a minimum grade of C. |
| Course Attributes |
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or MATH& 146 Introduction to Stats (5 credits )
| Description | Rigorous introduction to statistical methods and hypothesis testing. Includes descriptive and inferential statistics. Tabular and pictorialmethods for describing data; central tendencies; mean; modes; medians; variance; standard deviation; quartiles; regression; normal distribution; confidence intervals; hypothesis testing, one and two-tailed tests. Applications to business, social sciences, and sciences. (QSR,MS) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH 088 or MATH 099 with a minimum grade of C. |
| Course Attributes |
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CHEM& 162 General Chemistry With Lab II (5 credits)
| Description | Second of a three-course sequence designed for science, engineering, and other majors needing a full year general chemistry sequence. Covers gases, thermochemistry, states of matter, solution chemistry, kinetics, and chemical equilibrium. Lab work included. (MSl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of CHEM& 161 with minimum grade of C |
| Course Attributes |
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BIOL& 222 Majors Cell Biology/Molecular (5 credits)
| Description | This course is designed to prepare the student for further studies inthe field of biology or related fields. It covers basic information about cell metabolism, biological molecules, structure and function of cells, gene regulation, and development in plants and animals. (MSwl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | BIOL& 222 |
| Course Attributes |
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or PHYS& 222 Engineering Physics II (5 credits )
| Description | Basic principles of thermodynamics, mechanics of fluids and oscillatory motion, and mechanical waves. (MSl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH& 152 and PHYS& 221 with a minimum grade of C; and placement in ENGL& 101 |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 15
Course note: Choose MATH& 163 if you're completing the physics sequence.
Action item: Apply to graduate by week 3 of this quarter.
Quarter 6
CHEM& 163 General Chemistry With Lab III (5 credits)
| Description | Third of a three-course sequence designed for science, engineering, and other majors needing a full-year general chemistry sequence. Coversacids, bases, acid-base equilibria, solubility and complex-ion equilibria, thermodynamics and equilibrium, electrochemistry, and special topics. Lab work included. (MSl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of CHEM& 162 with minimum grade of C |
| Course Attributes |
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BIOL& 223 Majors Organismal Physiology (5 credits)
| Description | This course is designed to prepare the student for further studies in the field of biology or related fields. Basic information about the structure and functions of living organisms will be taught and assessed. This is the third in a three-quarter sequence for biology majors. (MSwl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of BIOL& 222 with minimum grade of B- |
| Course Attributes |
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or PHYS& 223 Engineering Physics III (5 credits )
| Description | Functional understanding and appreciation for the foundations of electromagnetism and its applications. Topics include Coulomb's Law, electric potential, circuits and circuit theory, electrical devices, Ampere's Law, electric and magnetic flux, and induction. (MSl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of PHYS& 222 with a minimum grade of C |
| Course Attributes |
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CS& 141 Computer Science I Java (5 credits)
| Description | This course provides an introduction to computer programming with Java. It covers computer architecture, machine instruction processing, basic data types, program control structures, functional decomposition, classes, and fundamental data structures. Recommended for math, science, engineering, computer science, and software development majors. CS 101 recommended. (MS) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH 099 |
| Course Attributes |
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or ELECTIVE from suggested list below or click for complete list (3-5 credits)
and/or LEARNING CONTRACT (2-5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
Course note: A learning contract is an independent study with a faculty mentor.
Action item: Attend the spring job fair.
Course suggestions
You are encouraged to choose classes that complement your interests. Don't be afraid to reach out and try something new!
Humanities or electives
- Philosophy courses can help you develop the critical thinking important in the sciences:
- PHIL 115 Critical thinking
- PHIL 130 Intro to ethics
- PHIL 132 Environmental ethics
- Since geology is a global discipline, another language may be helpful:
- ASL& 121, CHIN& 121, FREN& 121, GERM& 121, JAPN& 121 or SPAN& 121
You can use 5 credits of 100-level language as a humanities course. If you take a second course to become more proficient, that course will be an elective.
- ASL& 121, CHIN& 121, FREN& 121, GERM& 121, JAPN& 121 or SPAN& 121
- Geology involves a lot of sketching and drawing the world around you:
- ART 112 Drawing I
- Geology culture intersects with other worlds and ways of knowing in many ways. Consider these options (by no means the only ones) for expanding your worldview:
- ENGL 124 Environmental literature
- ENGL 136 Science fiction and fantasy
- ENGL 238 Gender and literature
- ENGL 286 Mythology
- ENGL 267 Native American literature
- FILM 240 Documentary film
- FILM 265 American LGBTQ+ cinema
- HUM& 101 Intro to the humanities
- IDS 161 Literature, science and gender
- IDS 180 Visual media and culture
Social Sciences or electives
- If you're interested in exploring human history and geology's role in some of these interactions:
- ANTH& 204 Archaeology
Archeology is similar to geology in its way of using the evidence left behind to make inferences about what happened. - Anthropology (any course)
- SALI 201 Intro to the Salish Sea (spring only)
This class weaves together sciences and social sciences in its focus on the Salish Sea.
- ANTH& 204 Archaeology
- Geography overlaps with physical geology, but goes further into surface processes and human constructs of spaces:
- GEOG& 100 Intro to geography
- GEOG& 102 World regional geography
- GEOG 243 Urban geography
- Geology and geologic processes have a big influence on raw materials and supply chain processes. If that side of geology interests you:
- ECON 100 Survey of economic principles
- BUS&101 Intro to business
- If you're interested in an education focus:
- EDUC 202 Intro to education
- If you're thinking about a park ranger path:
- CJ& 101 Intro to criminal justice
- Consider these interdisciplinary options for expanding your understanding of the ways we explain the world and the ways our practices impact / are impacted by that world:
- IDS 112 Ethnomathematics
- IDS 113 Quantitative methods in the social sciences
- IDS 161 Literature, science and gender
- IDS 170 Intro to sustainability
- IDS 180 Visual media and culture
- IDS 210 Science, economics and politics of sustainable resources
Electives
- Communicate your science to others:
- CMST& 101 Intro to communication
- CMST& 210 Interpersonal communication
- CMST& 230 Small group communication
- If you're interested in K-12 teaching:
- GEOL 104 Finding things out: Earth
This course is designed for students who will be teaching sciences.
- GEOL 104 Finding things out: Earth
- Prepare yourself for the much needed skills of GIS and other computer software with a solid overview of programming:
- CS& 141 Computer science I - Java