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Geology - B.A.

Discover the earth's wonders with Kent State's Geology B.A. program. Gain the knowledge and experience needed to understand our planet's geological processes, while developing the skills to tackle real-world challenges in this dynamic field.

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Bachelor's Degree in Geology

Kent State University's Bachelor of Arts in Geology offers students a comprehensive understanding of Earth's processes, materials, and history. The program provides a broad, interdisciplinary approach to the study of geology, covering topics such as plate tectonics, rock formation, climate change, and natural resources. With a focus on both theoretical concepts and practical applications, the B.A. in Geology equips students with the skills needed to analyze environmental challenges and geological phenomena. Graduates are prepared for careers in environmental consulting, natural resource management, and education, or to pursue further studies in the Earth sciences.

Program Information for Geology - B.A.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology prepares graduates for employment in a wide variety of careers where an understanding of the natural sciences is useful or critical for success. Geology can be a strong background for advanced study or career development in areas such as business, city management, regional development, planning, law, journalism and science writing. The curriculum includes courses concerning minerals, rocks, fossils and field mapping, among others. These courses are supplemented by courses such as introductory chemistry, biology and mathematics.

Geology students may apply early to the M.S. degree in Geology and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.

Admissions for Geology - B.A.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Understand and communicate to others the nature of scientific investigation and evidence.
  2. Understand and communicate to others the complex interrelationships of the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere through geologic time.
  3. Understand Earth materials and interpret geologic and environmental processes.
  4. Synthesize geologic information to understand and solve geologic and environmental problems.
  5. Demonstrate critical thinking skills and be able to work as a geologist in the field and in the laboratory.
Coursework
On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
BSCI 10002LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS) 3-4
or BSCI 10110 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB)
CHEM 10060GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
CHEM 10062GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ESCI 22000DEGREE AND CAREER PATHS IN EARTH SCIENCES (ELR) 1
ESCI 23063EARTH MATERIALS I 4
ESCI 31070EARTH MATERIALS II (WIC) 14
ESCI 34061PRINCIPLES OF PALEONTOLOGY 4
MATH 11010ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
MATH 11022TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 215
Earth Electives, choose from the following:4
ESCI 11040
& ESCI 11041
HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS)
and HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB)
ESCI 11042
& ESCI 11043
EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS)
and EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB)
Major Elective, choose from the following:3
ESCI 11040
HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS)
ESCI 11042
EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS)
ESCI 21062
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (KBS)
ESCI 21080
ALL ABOUT THE OCEANS (KBS)
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign language College Requirement below)14-16
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)35
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

ESCI 41092 is recommended as an upper-division Earth Science (ESCI) elective. The following courses will not satisfy major requirements: ESCI 41073, ESCI 41077 and ESCI 41079.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.1
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options2:

  1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
  2. Elementary I and II of a second language
  3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
  • Intermediate I of the same language
  • ARAB 21401
  • ASL 19401
  • CHIN 25421
  • MCLS 10001
  • MCLS 20001
  • MCLS 20091
  • MCLS 21417
  • MCLS 21420
  • MCLS 22217
  • MCLS 28403
  • MCLS 28404
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2

Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.

 
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
MATH 11010 ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Earth Electives 4
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Two
MATH 11022 TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
Major Elective 3
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
CHEM 10060 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
CHEM 10062 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ESCI 22000 DEGREE AND CAREER PATHS IN EARTH SCIENCES (ELR) 1
ESCI 23063 EARTH MATERIALS I 4
Foreign Langauge 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Four
BSCI 10002
or BSCI 10110
 LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS)
or BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB)
3
ESCI 31070 EARTH MATERIALS II (WIC) 4
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Five
ESCI 34061 PRINCIPLES OF PALEONTOLOGY 4
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 5
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 6
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours12
Semester Seven
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
    • Stark Campus

Advisors in Earth Sciences

Undergraduate Advisors

Field Camp Director:

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Geology - B.A.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts program in Geology have excellent opportunities for employment in a wide variety of careers where an understanding of natural science is useful or critical in success. Geology can be a strong background for advanced study or career development in areas such as business, city management, regional development, planning, law, journalism, and science writing.

Geological and hydrologic technicians

5.5%

faster than the average

19,000

number of jobs

$50,630

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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