Information for Prospective Students

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Geological Sciences 460

Main Office: Room 250, Wright Geological Laboratory
Phone: (732) 445-2044
Fax: (732) 445-3374

Undergraduate Director: Prof. Gail Ashley, WL-239A, (732) 445-2221
gmashley@rci.rutgers.edu

Department Chair: Prof. Kenneth Miller, WL-246, (732) 445-3622
kgm@rci.rutgers.edu

Department Vice Chair: Prof. Carl Swisher, WL-343, (732) 445-5363
cswish@rci.rutgers.edu

Geological Sciences
Geological Sciences investigates processes controlling the evolution of Earth, its environment, and life through time. The geological sciences are interdisciplinary fields of inquiry with scientific and societal relevance: global changes to the solid Earth and its environment, oceans, climate, and life; natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, floods, and landslides); natural resource exploration and management (hydrocarbons, ore minerals, groundwater); and planetary geology. The need to understand both history and process makes Geological Sciences inherently interdisciplinary and our department is closely tied to Marine and Coastal Sciences (SEBS and SAS) and Environmental Sciences (SEBS). The Geology major covers the core areas of Geological Sciences and still allows ample opportunity for students to specialize through additional courses in math, upper level geological sciences, and allied sciences. The major can be completed in three semesters once basic Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics courses are completed. Our majors enjoy employment opportunities in environmental and energy industries, as well as excellent placement in the top graduate programs in the country.

Major Requirements
In addition to the core courses listed below, students are encouraged to take additional courses in geology, mathematics, computer science, statistics, and the physical and biological sciences. Students planning professional careers in geology (including graduate study) should take additional courses in mathematics beyond the requirements listed below and would benefit from a minor in mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology. A faculty adviser is assigned by the departmental office at the time the student declares the major; the advisor can recommend elective courses that best suit the student's career options.

Minor Requirements
The minor in geological sciences requires 01:460:101 Introductory Geology and 01:460:103 Introductory Geology Laboratory plus five additional geology courses, of which at least two must be at the 300-400 level. We recommend that minors take 01:460:330 S and 01:460:331 to satisfy 300-400 level requirement.

Departmental Honors Program
Students may be admitted to candidacy for honors in geological sciences if they make written application to the department chairperson before May 1 of their junior year. To qualify, a student must have a minimum overall cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 and a minimum grade-point average in major courses of 3.4. In addition, the student must have completed all the core courses except 01:460:410 and 412. Honors students must successfully complete at least two additional 3-credit courses in geology (at the 400 level) and/or in the allied sciences as well as 01:460:495,496 Honors in Geology. In consultation with a faculty adviser, students choose an honors research project for which they write an honors paper and demonstrate their competence in a comprehensive examination.

COURSE SCHEDULE: SAS
Freshman and Sophomore years: complete the Foundation Courses

• Introductory Geology I
• Physical and Introductory Geology II
• Historical with Lab
• Calculus I and 11
• General Chemistry I and II and lab
• General Physics I and II and labs

*The Faculty urge all students (particularly those interested in pursuing a graduate education) to take a six-week summer field course. Many geology departments offer them. For information, consult promotional fliers in the filing cabinet in the student-faculty lounge or the Directory of Geoscience Departments available in the departmental office (Room 250). Qualified students are urged to undertake independent study projects and honors research in their senior year.

Note About Prerequisites
Introductory Geology is a prerequisite for all upper-level geology courses. Chemistry is a prerequisite for Mineralogy, which is a prerequisite for Petrology. Physics is a pre- or corequisite for Geophysics. Sedimentology is a prerequisite for Stratigraphy. Structural Geology and Stratigraphy are prerequisites for Field Geology. The registration system at Rutgers will not allow students lacking the proper prerequisites to register for these courses.

COURSE SCHEDULE: COOK GEOLOGY TRACK

*Geophysics may be taken in fall of senior year or fall of junior year

**Scientific and Technical Writing (typically taken in the third year) is strongly recommended as an alternative to Expository Writing II (typically taken in the first year).

***The Faculty urge all students, particularly those interested in pursuing a graduate education, to take a six-week summer field course. Many geology departments offer them. For information, consult promotional fliers in the filing cabinet in the student-faculty lounge or the Directory of Geoscience Departments available in the departmental office (Room 250).

****Qualified students are urged to undertake independent study projects and honors research in their senior year. Furthermore, 01:460:428 (Hydrogeology) is strongly recommended for employment opportunities.