Bachelor of Arts in Earth Science - University of Houston
Skip to main content

Bachelor of Arts in Earth Science

Students who major in Earth Science must complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree and also complete the following requirements.

Required Courses (does not include prerequisites) Hours
Geology

GEOL 1103 (formerly 1130), 1104 (formerly 1176), 1303 (formerly 1330), 1304 (formerly 1376),1102 and 1302 or

1147 (formerly 1150) and 1347 (formerly 1350), 3340, 3370, 3372, 3377, 3378

9 additional hours, of which 6 must be advanced.

36
Biology BIOL 1306 (formerly 1361), 1307 (formerly 1362), 1106 (formerly 1161), 1107 (formerly 1162) 8
Chemistry CHEM 1111, 1112, 1311 (formerly 1331), 1312 (formerly 1332) 8
Mathematics MATH 2413 (formerly 1431), 2414 (formerly 1432) 6
Physics PHYS 1101, 1102, 1301, 1302 8
Foreign Language 6 hrs at 2000 level 6
Other Core requirements (excluding capstone) 30
Electives (including capstone) 22
Total (minimum number of hours) 124

The Bachelor of Arts degree requires completion of a minimum of 120 hours, at least 36 of which are to be advanced. International students may not take English or their native language to satisfy the foreign language requirement. Students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all courses attempted at the university. Students must also earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all courses attempted at the university in the major, in the minor, and in the core. Students must have no more than 6 semester hours with grades below C- in all courses attempted in the major. Any student exceeding that limit must retake sufficient courses and obtain acceptable grades so that they do not exceed the two-course limit.

Capstone Requirement

All students in NSM are required to complete the Capstone Requirement but there are no specific Capstone courses in Earth Science. Earth Science majors may satisfy the Capstone in a number of ways by completing: an approved minor, a double major, a senior research project, a senior honors thesis, 6 hours of NSM-designated interdisciplinary capstone courses, 9 hours selected from INDE4333, DISC3371, 4368, 4370, 4371, 4372, 4377, 4378 or 4379. Qualified students are highly recommended to take Geology Field Camp (GEOL3355-3360), an NSM capstone course, to satisfy this requirement. NB. Stratigraphy (GEOL 3150,3350) and Structure (GEOL 3145,3345) are pre-requisites for Field Camp, and can serve as approved Geoscience electives.

Bachelor of Arts in Earth Science - Suggested Program

First Year

Fall Semester Hours
ENGL 1301 (formerly 1303). First Year Writing I 3
HIST 1376 or 1376. The United States to 1877 or equivalent 3
GEOL 1303 (formerly 1330) and 1103 (formerly 1130). Physical Geology (lecture) and Physical Geology (lab) 4
MATH 2413 (formerly 1431). Calculus I 3
CHEM 1312 (formerly 1332) and 1111. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
Total 17
Spring Semester Hours
ENGL 1302 (formerly 1304). First Year Writing II 3
HIST 1378 or 1379. The United States since 1877 or equivalent 3
GEOL 1304 (formerly 1376) and GEOL 1104 (formerly 1176). Historical Geology (lecture) and Historical Geology (lab) 4
MATH 2414 (formerly 1432). Calculus II 3
CHEM 1312 (formerly 1332) and 1112. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
Total 17

Second Year

Fall Semester Hours
Foreign Language 2000-level 3
GEOL 3370. Mineralogy 3
GOVT 2306 (formerly POLS 1336). U.S. and Texas Constitutions and Politics or Equivalent 3
Visual and Performing Arts Core 3
Approved Elective 3
Total 15
Spring Semester Hours
GOVT 2305 (formerly POLS 1337). U.S. Government: Congress, President and Courts or equivalent 3
GEOL 3340. Geologic Field Methods 3
GEOL 3372. Petrography 3
Foreign Language 2000-level 3
Humanities Core Course 3
Total 15

Third Year

Fall Semester Hours
PHYS 1301 and 1101. Introductory General Physics and Introductory General Physics Laboratory 4
GEOL 3378 and 3178. Introduction to Atmospheric Science And Weather Information 4
Approved GEOL Elective 1
Social Sciences Core 3
Approved Elective 3
Total 15
Spring Semester Hours
PHYS 1302 and 1102. Introductory General Physics and Introductory General Physics Laboratory 4
GEOL 3377 and 3177. Introductory Oceanography and Oceanography Laboratory 4
Social Sciences Writing Intensive Core 3
Approved Elective 3
Approved Elective 3
Total 17

Fourth Year

Fall Semester Hours
BIOL 1306 (formerly 1361) and 1106 (formerly 1161). Biology for Science Majors I (lecture) and (lab) 4
Approved GEOL Elective (Advanced) 3
Approved Elective (Advanced) (NSM Capstone Requirement) 3
Approved Elective (Advanced) 3
Total 13
Spring Semester Hours
BIOL 1307 (formerly 1362) and 1107 (formerly 1162). Biology for Science Majors II (lecture) and (lab) 4
Approved GEOL Elective (Advanced) 3
Approved Elective (Advanced) (NSM Capstone Requirement) 3
Approved Elective (Advanced) 3
Total 13