Overview

The NIU Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences offers three areas of undergraduate study:

• Geology
• Environmental Geoscience
• Earth Science Education

Students should choose the geology emphasis if they want the most in-depth and comprehensive study of earth science. Greater numbers of upper-level geology courses are an integral part of this emphasis, to achieve the necessary depth and breadth of study, as does a required six-week summer field camp in Wyoming and South Dakota.

Because geology is a multi-disciplinary and increasingly more quantitative science, students in the geology emphasis are required to take at least six to eight hours each of physics, mathematics, and chemistry as part of their degree requirement.

The geology emphasis is designed for students planning to pursue careers as professional geologists, often through enrollment in a graduate program. Opportunities are available to juniors and seniors for special problem studies and independent research in geology under the direction of faculty members. Although the curriculum develops a broad background in geology, it also facilitates a solid focus on environmental geology.

Admission Requirements

• Admission: These requirements are essentially the same as those for admission to NIU, as described in the NIU Undergraduate Catalog.
• Transfer Students: Undergraduate transfer students with 30 or more semester hours of credit who wish to major in geology are advised to have completed courses in physical geology, general chemistry with laboratory ( first course ), and the first semester of calculus before entering NIU.
• Consult Advisor: Students should consult with the undergraduate adviser ( Dr. Mark Fischer, 753-7939 ) as early as possible to plan the start of their program.

Curriculum

Required Core Courses with the Department (19-20 Credit Hours)

One of the following: (3-4 Credit Hours)

GEOL 103 Planetary and Space Science (3 hrs)
GEOL 104 Introduction to Oceanography (3 hrs)
GEOL 105 Environmental Geology (3 hrs)
GEOL 120 Introductory Geology (3 hrs)
GEOL 120/121 Introductory Geology & Lab (3/1 hrs)
GEOL 203 Global Change (3 hrs)

Each of the following: (16 credit hours)

GEOL 320 Environments & Life Through Time (4 hrs)
GEOL 325 Solid Earth Composition (4 hrs)
GEOL 330 Global Cycles (4 hrs)
GEOL 335 Dynamics & Structure of the Earth (4 hrs)

Upper Division Course Requirements within the Department (24 credit hours)

Each of the following: (9 credit hours)

GEOL 405 Stratigraphy (3 hrs)
GEOL 478 Geologic Field Work (3 hrs)
GEOL 479 Geologic Field Work (3 hrs)

Required Electives: (15 credit hours)

In addition to the required Core Courses and the upper division courses listed above, students are required to take 15 credit hours of upper division courses numbered 300 and above. Credit hours earned from a Senior Thesis research project may be used toward fulfilling this requirement.

Required Science Sequences outside the Department (22-24 credit hours)

Note: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requires that a student must maintain a 2.0 GPA in these courses for graduation.

Students must take the following chemistry sequence:

CHEM 210 General Chemistry I (3 hrs)
CHEM 212 General Chemistry Lab I (1 hr)
CHEM 211 General Chemistry II (3 hrs)
CHEM 213 General Chemistry Lab II (1 hr)

Choose one of the following mathematics sequences:

MATH 229 Calculus I (4 hrs)
MATH 230 Calculus II (4 hrs)

... or ...

MATH 210 Finite Mathematics (3 hrs)
MATH 211 Calculus for Business (3 hrs)

Choose one of the following physics or biology sequences:

PHYS 253 Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics (4 hrs)
PHYS 273 Fundamentals of Physics II: Electromagnetism (4 hrs)

... or ...

PHYS 210 General Physics I (4 hrs)
PHYS 211 General Physics II (4 hrs)

Other Requirements Outside the Department

University graduation requirements:

• Total Required Hours: A minimum of 120 semester hours that can be applied toward the degree is required for graduation.
• Minimum Upper-Level Courses: A minimum of 40 semester hours of the total number must be in courses numbered 300 and/or 400. These must include at least 12 semester hours of courses taken in the major department ( in this case, Geology ) at NIU.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requirements:

• Maximum Major-Department Hours: A student may not count more than 50 semester hours from a single department toward the 120-semester-hour baccalaureate requirement.
• Demonstrate Competence: Candidates for the degree Bachelor of Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must demonstrate competence in laboratory science/mathematical/computational skills equivalent to that attained through two years of regular college instruction ( 11-15 semester hours ). This requirement may be met by completing one of the approved science sequences with at least a 2.0 GPA in the sequence.

Student Responsibility

• Personal Responsibility: It is the responsibility of students to know and observe all regulations and procedures relating to the program they are pursuing. In no case will a regulation be waived or an exception granted because students plead ignorance of, or contend that they were not informed of, the regulations or procedures. Questions on regulations and their interpretation should be addressed to the advising office of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
• Confer With Advisor: Students are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment with an academic adviser at least once each semester, preferably before registering for succeeding semester course work.

Further Information

For additional information on geology and environmental geosciences programs you may contact these undergraduate advisors:

Chair of the Undergraduate Committee
Dr. Melissa Lenczewski - E-mail

Geology Emphasis
Dr. Mark Fischer - E-mail

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