The following program of study in Geology leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. Please consult with a faculty advisor as soon as possible as there are many different options available for students in the Department of Geography and Geology. We want to help you find the right mix of courses and the right minor or second major to complement your studies in Geology. You can complete your undergraduate degree in Geology in four years (8 semesters) or less (particularly if you take summer courses) if you plan carefully your program of study.

1. Completion of the following Geology core courses

• GEOL 111/113 Physical Geology/Physical Geology Laboratory: 4 hrs
• GEOL 112/114 Historical Geology/Historical Geology Laboratory: 4 hrs
• GEOL 308 Structural Geology: 4 hrs
• GEOL 330 Mineralogy: 4 hrs
• GEOL 350 Petrology: 4 hrs
• GEOL 370 Principles of Stratigraphy: 4 hrs
• GEOL 460 Sedimentology: 4 hrs

Total: 28 hrs

2. Completion of: Eight Hours (8) of Geology courses chosen in accordance with the Program Track elected by the student.

3. Completion of a minor (21 hours minimum) or second major (33 hours). Click on Geography to view the Geography program option.

4. Additional requirements are required for several tracks. Follow the links below to view these track requirements:

• Traditional Track.
• Hydrology Track.
• Geomorphology Track.
• Fossil Fuels Track.
• Environmental Geology Track.
• Adherence to all University policy as indicated in the WKU catalog section entitled, "Academic Information." These subsections are
  • Academic Programs
  • General Education Requirements
  • Academic Requirements and Regulations

Freshman Year

Gen Ed

Hours

Sophomore Year

Gen Ed

Hours

Fall Semester

Fall Semester

GEOG 175

2

GEOG 110

(E)

3

GEOL 102

(D-I)

3

ENG 200

w(B-1)

3

ENG 100

(A-I)

3

Minor Lower Div

3

HIST 119/120

(C)

3

Geol 112/114

(D-I)

4

MATH 116

(D-II)

3

Humanities

B-II

3

Development

(F)

1

(E)

Spring Semester

Spring Semester

GEOG 101

(C)

3

Language

A-II

3

Geol 111/113

(D-I)

4

Minor - Lower Div

3

Geol 330

4

SCOM 145/161

(A-III)

3

CS 145/240

(A-IV)

3

Chemistry 120/121

5

Social Science elective

(C)

3

Total Hours

30

Total Hours

32

Junior Year

Hours

Senior Year

Hours

Fall Semester

Fall Semester

GEOL 308

4

Physics 201/207

4

GEOL 350

4

Minor - U/D Course

3

Math 117

3

Biol 120/121

4

Minor - U/D Course

3

Geol 310

3

ENG 300

(A-I)

3

Elective

3

Spring Semester

Spring Semester

GEOG 315

3

Geography U/D Course

3

Minor U/D Course

3

Elective

3

Geography U/D Major

3

Geography U/D Major

3

Elective

3

Minor U/D Course

3

Elective

3

Elective

3

Elective

3

Total Hours

33

Total Hours

33

Grand Total Hours 128

ON TRACK TO GRADUATE:

THE 4-YEAR DEGREE PLAN; HOW TO GRADUATE IN 4 YEARS

Graduating within four years is possible in most baccalaureate programs at Western.
If graduating within four years is a goal for you, you need to plan your academic program carefully beginning in your freshman year.

1. Check with the program track you are majoring in to verify that it can be completed within four years. All programs that can be completed within four years have detailed plans of study showing exactly what courses you need to take in order to complete the program in that time frame. You can find these detailed four-year plans of study in the departmental office, or you may check the catalog for that program where you will find either a four-year plan of study or directions to the departmental website where the four year plans are posted. You can also find other departmental websites through the Western website: http://www.wku.edu/

2. Declare your Geology major early in your college career and be sure that you are assigned an advisor. Generally, if you change your major, you may have to earn additional hours, which will delay your graduation.

3. Get to know your academic advisor in your major and make it clear to your advisor that you want to graduate within four years or as soon as possible. It will be important that you work out a detailed tentative plan of study that will enable you to graduate on your timetable. Your advisor will help you with the selection of your General Education courses and also with your selection of a Minor, which is needed for the Geology program.

4. In order to ensure that you are able to enroll in the classes that you need, it is important that you take advantage of priority registration. This means that you will need to meet with your advisor before the priority registration period for which you qualify (i.e., senior, junior, sophomore, returning freshmen) and be ready to register at the earliest possible time. If for some reason you are unable to register for a class that you need, you should immediately confer with your advisor about your options.

5. In order to graduate as soon as possible, you will have to be flexible about when you take classes. That is, if your first priority is progressing rapidly through your program, you may have to take classes at times you might prefer to avoid or that are less convenient with your work or social schedule.

6. It is especially important that you file your degree program with the Office of the Registrar during the first semester of the junior year. This is a crucial check point for you and the university to determine if you are on track to graduate.

7. Needless to say, in order to graduate within four years, you will need to observe all university requirements. See the section of the WKU catalog that deals with the "Academic Requirements and Regulations." Work closely with your advisor to ensure that you are in compliance and are making good progress toward your degree. If your major is listed in the catalog as one that can be completed in four years, following the above guidelines will enable you to be on track to graduate in that time frame.