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Dec 04, 2024
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Geology: Hydrogeology Concentration, BS
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 Return to: College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences
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Program Description
Geology is the study of the Earth. It is an applied science that integrates principles from physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and other disciplines to better understand the natural processes and human influences that shape our planet. Geology helps people deduce Earth’s natural history, locate natural resources needed to support society, develop sustainable approaches to energy and resource management, and predict, assess, and manage global change and natural disasters.
Employment opportunities for geologists are numerous and varied. Examples include environmental and engineering consulting firms, energy exploration and production firms, mineral and metal industries, municipal, state, and federal governments, natural resource conservation organizations, and water authorities. Many students go on to graduate school in the geosciences, environmental sciences, or related fields. Geology is a professional degree and state certification as a Registered Professional Geologist is obtainable. Given the various career options that are possible, students are provided the opportunity to develop a broad range of skills and knowledge within the Geology program.
The Geology curriculum provides students with a well-rounded background in geology and related fields and is built around three critical themes: (1) appreciation for spatial and temporal scales, (2) knowledge of earth materials and compositions of environmental systems, and (3) understanding of geological and environmental processes. While providing solid fundamentals within science and engineering, the Geology program is also flexible, allowing students to choose among many electives to tailor their education to specific interests and career goals. The program has been carefully designed to help students develop quantitative and other critical skills, while familiarizing them with the topics, technologies, and resources needed for a variety of career paths in the geosciences. As students progress through the program they have multiple opportunities to enhance their skills of observation, computation, synthesis, communication and problem solving. Because Geology is inherently a field-based discipline, all students are required to take one or more courses that provide them with field experience. All Geology majors also participate in a multi-semester research program that provides them with hands-on experiences conducting geologic research and solving real-world problems in their chosen area of interest. It is also possible for Geology majors to pursue the Engineering Cluster Minor; students interested in this pathway should consult with their advisor early in their program of study.
Within the Geology curriculum, students who are particularly interested in environmental or water resources issues may choose to specialize in the Environmental Science Concentration or the Hydrogeology Concentration. These two concentrations provide more structured course pathways through the curriculum and help prepare students for careers in these specific areas. The Environmental Science Concentration in Geology focuses on environmental aspects of geoscience and is well suited for students interested in topics such as environmental policy, natural hazard assessment and remediation, evaluation of land use impacts, understanding geochemical cycles, and environmental systems analysis. This concentration provides a rigorous background in the sciences so that students can scientifically address environmental issues and integrate material from several fields to solve complex environmental problems. The Hydrogeology Concentration in Geology is designed for students who want to specialize in areas such as surface- and ground-water systems, treatment of water and cleanup of contaminated sites, contaminant flow and fluid transport, and water resource sustainability.
Combined Bachelor of Science to Master of Science Program
Qualified students can reduce the time to earn a master’s degree in Hydrogeology by applying graduate credits to both the bachelor’s and master’s degree program requirements. Undergraduate Geology students who have earned a grade-point average of 3.4 or higher and completed 90 credits can begin work toward a Master of Science in Hydrogeology by selecting approved graduate courses. Details are available in the Geology Undergraduate Handbook.
Footnotes
1 See General Education Requirements . Three of these credits must also satisfy the South Carolina REACH Act Requirement. See the South Carolina REACH Act Requirement in the Academic Regulations section.
2 Total of 12 credit hours selected from CE 2010 , CE 2080 , CH 2010 , CH 2230 , EM 2020 , ENGR 1020 , ENGR 1410 , ENSP 2000 , GEOL 2700 , GEOL 2750 , MATH 2060 , MATH 2080 , PES 2020 ; one course from CPSC 1110 , CPSC 1150 or CPSC 1610 ; or any 3000- or 4000-level course in ASTR, BCHM (except BCHM 4910 , BCHM 4920 or BCHM 4930 ), BE (except BE 3000 , BE 3010 , BE 3700 , BE 3990 , BE 4000 , BE 4510 , BE 4730 or BE 4990 ), BIOE (except BIOE 4000 , BIOE 4510 , BIOE 4600 , BIOE 4610 , BIOE 4690 , BIOE 4900 or BIOE 4910 ), BIOL (except BIOL 3940 , BIOL 4910 , BIOL 4920 , BIOL 4930 , BIOL 4940 or BIOL 4950 ), CE (except CE 3530 , CE 3870 , CE 3880 , CE 3890 , CE 3990 , CE 4870 , CE 4880 , CE 4890 , CE 4900 or CE 4990 ), CH (except CH 3990 , CH 4430 , CH 4440 , CH 4500 or CH 4990 ), CHE (except CHE 3000 , CHE 3950 , CHE 3990 , CHE 4430 , CHE 4440 , CHE 4950 , CHE 4970 or CHE 4990 ), ECE (except ECE 3000 , ECE 3990 , ECE 4910 , ECE 4920 or ECE 4990 ), EES (except EES 3000 , EES 3010 , EES 4000 , EES 4500 , EES 4510 , EES 4900 or EES 4950 ), ETOX, GEOL, IE (except IE 3000 , IE 4000 , IE 4040 or IE 4690 ), MATH (except MATH 3820 , MATH 3990 , MATH 4810 , MATH 4820 , MATH 4910 , MATH 4920 or MATH 4990 ), ME (except ME 3000 , ME 3900 , ME 4000 , ME 4020 , ME 4150 or ME 4900 ), MICR (except MICR 3940 , MICR 4910 , MICR 4920 , MICR 4930 , MICR 4940 or MICR 4950 ), MSE (except MSE 3000 , MSE 3450 , MSE 4070 , MSE 4910 , MSE 4950 or MSE 4970 ), or PHYS (except PHYS 3000 , PHYS 3990 , PHYS 4010 or PHYS 4990 ). Credit for GEOL 4110 is limited to a maximum of three credits.Courses may not be used to satisfy any other requirement.
3 MATH 2060 may be substituted.
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