
Examples of Possible Careers*
Geological and hydrologic technicians
- 5.5% faster than the average
- 19,000 number of jobs
- $50,630 potential earnings
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
- 4.9% about as fast as the average
- 31,800 number of jobs
- $93,580 potential earnings
Hydrologists
- 5.3% faster than the average
- 7,000 number of jobs
- $84,040 potential earnings
Contact Information
- Program Coordinator: Daniel Holm | dholm@kent.edu | 330-672-2680
- Speak with an Advisor
- Chat with an Admissions Counselor
Fully Offered
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
*Note
Source of occupation titles and labor data is 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.
Description
The Bachelor of Science degree in Geology is designed for those interested in a professional career in the field. The curriculum focuses on minerals, rocks, landforms, fossils, structural geology, geochemistry and field mapping, among others. Supplemental courses include introductory chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics. Students are also encouraged to specialize in a applied or theoretical area of the science.
The program features a capstone summer field course in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
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.
The Geology major includes the following optional concentration:
- The Environmental Geology optional concentration provides students with specialized training for careers in the well-established and growing field of environmental geology, including water resources, resource management and energy resources. The concentration's curriculum focuses on hydrology, hydrogeology and environmental monitoring techniques.
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 campus 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. Check with a regional campus admissions office to determine application requirements, as they may differ among campuses.
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, minimum 48 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score; or by completing the ESL level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
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.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Understand and communicate to others on the nature of scientific investigation and evidence.
- Understand and communication to others on the complex interrelationships of the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and the 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.
- Develop the skills to work as a geologist in the field and in the laboratory.
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 |
---|---|
Destination Kent State: First Year Experience | 1 |
Course is not required for students with 25 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 |
Writing-Intensive Course (WIC) | 1 course |
Students must earn a minimum C grade in the course. | |
Upper-Division Requirement | 39 |
Students must successfully complete 39 upper-division (numbered 30000 to 49999) credit hours to graduate. | |
Total Credit Hour Requirement | 120 |
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 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 11040 | HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) | 3 |
ESCI 11041 | HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
ESCI 11042 | EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS) | 3 |
ESCI 11043 | EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME 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) | 4 |
ESCI 31080 | STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY | 4 |
ESCI 34061 | PRINCIPLES OF PALEONTOLOGY | 4 |
ESCI 41092 | SUMMER FIELD CAMP (ELR) | 6 |
ESCI 42035 | DATA ANALYSIS IN THE EARTH SCIENCES | 3 |
or MATH 30011 | BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS | |
ESCI 44070 | SEDIMENTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY | 4 |
MATH 12002 | ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) | 5 |
PHY 13001 | GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS) | 4 |
PHY 13021 | GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
UC 10097 | DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE | 1 |
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below) | 8 | |
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 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) | 13-14 | |
Additional Requirements or Concentration | ||
Choose from the following: | 20-21 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
Earth Sciences (ESCI) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 1 | 15-16 | |
Science Electives, choose from the following: 2 | 4-5 | |
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) | ||
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE | ||
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS) and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY II (KBS) (KLAB) | ||
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 20 |
- 1
The following courses may not count toward the elective requirement: ESCI 41073 and ESCI 41077.
- 2
Students who intend to pursue graduate studies in geology are recommended to complete both science lectures and labs courses: CHEM 10061, CHEM 10063, PHY 13002, PHY 13022.
Environmental Geology Concentration Requirements
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
CHEM 10061 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) | 4 |
CHEM 10063 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
ESCI 32066 | GEOMORPHOLOGY | 4 |
ESCI 40380 | BIOGEOCHEMISTRY | 3 |
or ESCI 43040 | PRINCIPLES OF GEOCHEMISTRY | |
or ESCI 43042 | ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY | |
Environmental Geology Concentration Electives, choose from the following: | 9 | |
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY | ||
REMOTE SENSING | ||
WATERSHED HYDROLOGY | ||
PHYSICAL HYDROGEOLOGY | ||
CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY | ||
PRINCIPLES OF GEOCHEMISTRY | ||
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY | ||
ENVIRONMENTAL MINERALOGY | ||
ENVIRONMENTAL ISOTOPES | ||
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
---|---|
2.000 | 2.000 |
Roadmaps
Geology Major (no concentration)
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 | |
---|---|---|
ESCI 11040 | HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) | 3 |
ESCI 11041 | HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
UC 10097 | DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE | 1 |
Foreign Language | 4 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Two | ||
BSCI 10002 or BSCI 10110 | LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS) or BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) | 3 |
ESCI 11042 | EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS) | 3 |
ESCI 11043 | EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
Foreign Language | 4 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 14 | |
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 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 16 | |
Semester Four | ||
ESCI 31070 | EARTH MATERIALS II (WIC) | 4 |
ESCI 31080 | STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY | 4 |
PHY 13001 | GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS) | 4 |
PHY 13021 | GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
Credit Hours | 13 | |
Semester Five | ||
ESCI 34061 | PRINCIPLES OF PALEONTOLOGY | 4 |
ESCI 42035 | DATA ANALYSIS IN THE EARTH SCIENCES | 3 |
MATH 12002 | ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) | 5 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Six | ||
Science Electives | 4-5 | |
Earth Sciences (ESCI) Upper-Division (30000 or 40000 level) Elective | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
General Electives | 4 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Third Summer Term | ||
ESCI 41092 | SUMMER FIELD CAMP (ELR) | 6 |
Credit Hours | 6 | |
Semester Seven | ||
Earth Sciences (ESCI) Upper-Division (30000 or 40000 level) Electives | 6 | |
General Electives | 8 | |
Credit Hours | 14 | |
Semester Eight | ||
ESCI 44070 | SEDIMENTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY | 4 |
Earth Sciences (ESCI) Upper-Division (30000 or 40000 level) Electives | 6 | |
General Elective | 2 | |
Credit Hours | 12 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
Environmental Geology Concentration
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 | |
---|---|---|
ESCI 11040 | HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) | 3 |
ESCI 11041 | HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
UC 10097 | DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE | 1 |
Foreign Language | 4 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Two | ||
BSCI 10002 or BSCI 10110 | LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS) or BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) | 3-4 |
ESCI 11042 | EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS) | 3 |
ESCI 11043 | EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
Foreign Language | 4 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 14 | |
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 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 16 | |
Semester Four | ||
CHEM 10061 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) | 4 |
CHEM 10063 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
ESCI 31070 | EARTH MATERIALS II (WIC) | 4 |
MATH 12002 | ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) | 5 |
Credit Hours | 14 | |
Semester Five | ||
ESCI 32066 | GEOMORPHOLOGY | 4 |
ESCI 34061 | PRINCIPLES OF PALEONTOLOGY | 4 |
ESCI 42035 | DATA ANALYSIS IN THE EARTH SCIENCES | 3 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 14 | |
Semester Six | ||
ESCI 31080 | STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY | 4 |
ESCI 40380 | BIOGEOCHEMISTRY | 3 |
PHY 13001 | GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS) | 4 |
PHY 13021 | GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Third Summer Term | ||
ESCI 41092 | SUMMER FIELD CAMP (ELR) | 6 |
Credit Hours | 6 | |
Semester Seven | ||
Environmental Geology Concentration Electives | 6 | |
General Electives | 7 | |
Credit Hours | 13 | |
Semester Eight | ||
ESCI 44070 | SEDIMENTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY | 4 |
Environmental Geology Concentration Electives | 3-4 | |
General Electives | 6 | |
Credit Hours | 13 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |