The Geoscience curriculum provides a technical background in the field of Natural Resources. Students may choose the traditional geology concentration, the environmental geology concentration, the geophysics concentration, or the hydrogeology concentration for their degree track. All of the concentrations require courses from Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Statistics, as well as a balance of Liberal Arts courses. Many Geoscience majors add courses in Engineering and Watershed Sciences to broaden their career opportunities.Emphasis is placed on integrating field studies in the Rocky Mountains with on-campus work in both the classroom and the laboratory. A required Geology Summer Field Course (GEOL 436) provides a transition between academic studies and professional employment. The course also serves as a capstone course that allows us to monitor and improve our curriculum to meet the changing needs of our students.

Course Requirements and Approved Elective Lists by Concentration
Undergraduate Course Offerings
(AUCC 3A). Term offered: F, S, SS. This is a partial semester course. Offered as an online course only. Credit allowed for only one of the following: GEOL 110, GEOL 120, GEOL 122, GEOL 124, or GEOL 150.
(AUCC 3A). Term offered: F, S, SS. Credit allowed for only one of the following: GEOL 120, GEOL 122, GEOL 124, or GEOL 150.
(AUCC 3A). Term offered: F, S, SS. Prerequisite: GEOL 120 or taken concurrently, or may be taken concurrently with GEOL 122, or may be taken concurrently with GEOL 124. Credit allowed for only one of the following: GEOL 120 and GEOL 121, GEOL 150.
(AUCC 3A). Term offered: F, S, SS. Credit allowed for only one of the following: GEOL 150, GEOL 120, GEOL 122, GEOL 124.
Earth Materials, structures, and surface processes. Geologic analysis using field data, topographic and geologic maps, and aerial photos. Term offered: F. Credit allowed for only one of the following: GEOL 120, GEOL 122, GEOL 124, or GEOL 150.
GEOL 154 Historical and Analytical Geology – (4 credits)
Physical and biological history of Earth with introduction to laboratory, computer, and field techniques.
Term offered: S. Prerequisite: GEOL 120, GEOL 122, GEOL 124, or GEOL 150
GEOL 192 New Student Seminar — Exploring Geosciences – (1 credit)
Crystal structures, crystal chemistry, rock-forming and economically important minerals, crystal growth and defects, physical properties of minerals.
Term offered: F. Prerequisite: (CHEM 111, may be taken concurrently) and (GEOL 120 or GEOL 122 or GEOL 124 or GEOL 150) and (MATH 124 or MATH 155 or MATH 160 or MATH 161 or MATH 255).
Term offered: S. Prerequisite: (GEOL 120 or GEOL 122 or GEOL 124 or GEOL 150) and (MATH 124) and (MATH 125 or MATH 155 or MATH 160 or MATH 161 or MATH 255).
Fundamental light optics in crystalline substances; optical indicatrix; isotropic, uniaxial, and biaxial substances; common minerals in thin section. Term offered: F. Prerequisite: GEOL 232, may be taken concurrently.
Description of invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants and their distribution in earth history. Term offered: F. Prerequisite: GEOL 154.
Description, genesis, correlation, and age of sediments, sedimentary rocks and layered rock sequences. Term offered: F. Prerequisite: GEOL 154 with a minimum grade of C-.
Identification, classification, geochemistry, petrogenesis of igneous and metamorphic rocks; textural interpretation of hand samples and thin sections. Term offered: S. Prerequisite: GEOL 232 with a minimum grade of C-.
Composition, identification, and classification of sedimentary rocks; geochemical processes affecting sedimentary rocks and surficial deposits. Term offered: F. Prerequisite: CHEM 113 and GEOL 154 and GEOL 364.
Field course, geology of the local Rocky Mountain region. Term offered: F. Prerequisite: GEOL 154.
Geologic mapping, measuring sections, interpreting geologic history in Colorado. Required comprehensive reports, geologic maps, and cross sections. Term offered: SS. Prerequisites: GEOL 364 and GEOL 376.
Term offered: F. Prerequisites: GEOL 372 and MATH 161 and PH 142.
Term offered: S. Prerequisites: (GEOL 120, may be taken concurrently or GEOL 122 or GEOL 124 or GEOL 150) and (PH 141 and CHEM 111).
Occurrence, origin, and exploration of economic metallic mineral deposits.
Term offered: F. Prerequisites: GEOL 366, may be taken concurrently and GEOL 372.
Term offered: F. Prerequisite: (GEOL 120 or GEOL 122 or GEOL 124 or GEOL 150 or GR 210) and (MATH 161 or MATH 255) and (PH 141).
Origin of landforms; morphology and processes.
Term offered: S. Prerequisites: (GEOL 120 or GEOL 122 or GEOL 150 or GR 210) and (STAT 301 or STAT 307 or STAT 315).
Please Note: Undergraduates may take 500 level courses in consultation with their advisor.