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
- Carrie Schweitzer | cschweit@kent.edu | 330-672-2505
- 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 technicians, except hydrologic technicians
- 1.5% slower than the average
- 9,800 number of jobs
- $48,390 potential earnings
Hydrologic technicians
- -2.1% decline
- 3,100 number of jobs
- $58,570 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.
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 proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.
Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.
Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's 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 10058 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR LIFE SCIENCES I (KBS) | 4 |
| or CHEM 10060 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) | |
| 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 |
| 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 Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
| 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) | 10-16 | |
| American Civic Literacy Requirement 3 | 3 | |
| Kent Core Composition | 6 | |
| Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 3 | 6-9 | |
| Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 3 | 3-6 | |
| General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) | 39 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 | |
- 1
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
- 2
ESCI 43092 is recommended as an Earth Science (ESCI) upper-division elective. The following courses will not satisfy major requirements: ESCI 41073 and ESCI 41077.
- 3
If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.
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 Sciences and Humanities must complete the following:
- Elementary I and II of any language (or equivalent) and
- One of the following options:
- 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
- One to two college-level course(s) completed outside the United States
- Courses: ARAB 21401, ASL 19401, CHIN 25421, MCLS 10001, MCLS 20001, MCLS 20091, MCLS 21417, MCLS 21420, MCLS 22217, MCLS 28403, MCLS 28404
*The Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies is exempt from the foreign language requirement until fall 2028 due to its previous longstanding academic placement in the College of Communication and Information, which does not have a foreign language requirement.
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 courses. This may be accomplished in one of three ways:
- Passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level
- Receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University
- Demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language
Certain programs 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 a particular language proficiency.
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. 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 | ||
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| American Civic Literacy Requirement | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Semester Three | ||
| CHEM 10058 or CHEM 10060 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR LIFE SCIENCES I (KBS) or 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 |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Foreign Language and/or General Elective | 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 and/or General Elective | 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. | |
| American Civic Literacy | 3 credit hours |
| 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.
Program Policies
Foreign Language Requirements
In general, students may elect any foreign language taught through the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies. However, certain majors, concentrations and minors require specific languages or limit the languages from which students may choose. In addition, students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular languages for that study. In such cases, students should seek the advice of the appropriate department before selecting a language.
Progress Toward Fulfillment
College of Sciences and Humanities students are encouraged to begin meeting the foreign language requirement as early as possible in their program to ensure timely degree completion.
Mandatory Outcomes Assessment
In addition to the other General Requirements of the college, candidates for an undergraduate degree in the College of Sciences and Humanities are required, as a condition of graduation, to participate in an outcomes assessment. These outcomes assessments are conducted by each undergraduate degree program in the College of Sciences and Humanities.
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.