About This Program
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. Read more...
Contact Information
- Program Coordinator: Daniel Holm | dholm@kent.edu | 330-672-2680
- Speak with an Advisor
- Chat with an Admissions Counselor: Kent Campus | Regional Campuses
Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
- Stark Campus
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Geological and hydrologic technicians
- 5.5% faster than the average
- 19,000 number of jobs
- $50,630 potential earnings
* 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.
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. 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.
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 Coursework tab.
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| BSCI 10002 | LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS) | 3-4 |
| or BSCI 10110 | BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) | |
| 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 |
| ESCI 31070 | EARTH MATERIALS II (WIC) 1 | 4 |
| ESCI 34061 | PRINCIPLES OF PALEONTOLOGY | 4 |
| MATH 11010 | ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) | 3 |
| MATH 11022 | TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) | 3 |
| Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 2 | 15 | |
| Earth Electives, choose from the following: | 4 | |
| HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) and HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) | ||
| EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS) and EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) | ||
| Major Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) | ||
| EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS) | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (KBS) | ||
| ALL ABOUT THE OCEANS (KBS) | ||
| Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| Foreign Language (see Foreign language College Requirement below) | 14-16 | |
| Kent Core Composition | 6 | |
| 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 credits hour, 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:
- Intermediate I and II of the same language
- Elementary I and II of a second language
- 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
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.
| Semester One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 11010 | ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) | 3 |
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| Earth Electives | 4 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| MATH 11022 | TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| 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 Hours | 16 | |
| 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 Hours | 16 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) | 6 | |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Semester Seven | ||
| Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) | 3 | |
| General Electives | 12 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 | |
University Requirements
All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.
NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.
| Requirement | Credits/Courses |
|---|---|
| Flashes 101 (UC 10001) | 1 credit hour |
Course is not required for students with 30+ transfer credits (excluding College Credit Plus) or age 21+ at time of admission. | |
| Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG) | 2 courses |
Students must successfully complete one domestic and one global course, of which one must be from the Kent Core. | |
| Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) | varies |
Students must successfully complete one course or approved experience. | |
| Kent Core (see table below) | 36-37 credit hours |
| Writing-Intensive Course (WIC) | 1 course |
Students must earn a minimum C grade in the course. | |
| Upper-Division Requirement | 39 credit hours |
Students must successfully complete 39 upper-division (numbered 30000 to 49999) credit hours to graduate. | |
| Total Credit Hour Requirement | 120 credit hours |
Kent Core Requirements
| Requirement | Credits/Courses |
|---|---|
| Kent Core Composition (KCMP) | 6 |
| Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR) | 3 |
| Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each) | 9 |
| Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines) | 6 |
| Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 |
| Kent Core Additional (KADL) | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36-37 |
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Understand and communicate to others the nature of scientific investigation and evidence.
- Understand and communicate to others the complex interrelationships of the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere through geologic time.
- Understand Earth materials and interpret geologic and environmental processes.
- Synthesize geologic information to understand and solve geologic and environmental problems.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills and be able to work as a geologist in the field and in the laboratory.
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.