About the Geosciences Program
The undergraduate program offers a 120-hour major in geosciences with a concentration in geology, geophysics and environmental geology. Students are required to earn at least a C in all major, minor, and adjunct courses. Successful completion of adjunct courses with a C or better is required before upper-division geoscience courses may be taken. Field work is a requirement for the B.S. degree. If this is a concern, the B.A. should be considered. However, the B.A. degree also requires field work that may be strenuous. Capacity in upper-division GEOL, GPH and GCH courses may be capped due to limited departmental resources. The residency requirement for the major is 12 hours.
Communication Literacy Plan. Students attending Texas Tech University for the first time in the Fall 2017 term or later will complete a Communication Literacy (CL) requirement in their program(s) of study.
Texas Tech University’s transition from the Writing Intensive requirement to the CL requirement signals the university’s awareness that in addition to the fundamental role that writing plays in enabling students to explore, develop, focus, and organize a message, other types of communication must also be taught as appropriate for a student’s discipline. Throughout each program of study, then, students must be given ample opportunity to develop their skills in forms of communication central to that program.
Geoscience graduates are expected to be able to communicate with their peers and with the general public in a variety of ways. In particular, they should be capable of written communication in a scientific format, oral communication, both to peers and to informed laypersons, and illustration of data and concepts through various graphical formats. Courses in the CL Plan for the B.S. in Geosciences and B.A. in Geosciences in all concentrations are GEOL 3401 , GEOL 3402 , GEOL 4101 , and GEOL 4312 .
About the B.S. in Geosciences
Students pursuing a B.S. in Geoscience are required to maintain a TTU GPA of 2.5 to remain in the program. Students earning a cumulative TTU GPA less than 2.5 will be given a one-semester probationary period allowing them to raise their GPA. Internal transfers are required to have a TTU GPA of 2.5 to declare into the B.S. in Geosciences program.
Geology Concentration
The geology concentration for the B.S. degree is designed to prepare the student for admission to a graduate program in geology and employment as a professional geologist. Each student must complete a senior research project (GEOL 4312 ) as part of the degree requirements. The minor must be in a field of science, mathematics, engineering, or an approved composite of courses from these fields. A well-prepared student should be able to complete the B.S. in Geosciences with a geology concentration with a minimum of 46 hours in geosciences, 18 hours in the minor, and 24 hours in mathematics and physical sciences. For other students, leveling courses may be required.Only one of GEOL 3328 or GEOL 4306 may be counted in the major elective requirements.
