2026-2027 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Core Requirements | ||
| GEOS 2004 | Geosciences Career and Professional Development | 3 |
| GEOS 2024 | Earth's Dynamic Systems | 6 |
| GEOS 2444 | Geoscience Field Observations | 3 |
| GEOS 3204 | Sedimentology-Stratigraphy | 3 |
| GEOS 3404 | Elements of Structural Geology | 3 |
| GEOS 3504 | Mineralogy | 3 |
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| GEOS 4024 | Senior Seminar 1 | 3 |
| GEOG 2084 | Principles of Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| CHEM 1035 | General Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 1045 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Statistical Methods 1 | ||
| Biological Statistics 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Computational Methods in the Geosciences | ||
| Introduction to Programming in Python 1 | ||
| Subtotal | 16 | |
| Option Required Courses | ||
| ENGL 2844 | Introduction to Technical and Scientific Communication 2 | 3 |
| Select one sequence from the following: | 14-16 | |
| Sequence 1 (14 credits): | ||
| Elementary Calculus 2 | ||
| Elementary Calculus 2 | ||
| General Physics 2 | ||
| General Physics Laboratory 2 | ||
| General Physics 2 | ||
| General Physics Laboratory 2 | ||
| Sequence 2 (16 credits; preferred): | ||
| Calculus of a Single Variable 2 | ||
| Calculus of a Single Variable 2 | ||
| Foundations of Physics 2 | ||
| Foundations of Physics 2 | ||
| Subtotal (Option Required) | 17-19 | |
| Elective Courses | ||
| GEOS Elective Courses | 18 | |
| Environmental Geosciences | ||
| Oceanography | ||
| Geodesy in the Earth Sciences | ||
| Coastal Hazards | ||
| Mineral Deposits | ||
| Environmental Geochemistry | ||
| Volcanoes and Volcanic Processes | ||
| Groundwater Hydrology | ||
| Engineering Geology | ||
| Study Abroad Topics in Geosciences (max 2 credits) | ||
| Study Abroad (max 2 credits) | ||
| Field Study (max 6 credits) | ||
| Undergraduate Research (max 3 credits) | ||
| Society Elective Courses | 15 | |
Select 3 credits from each of the following three categories. For the remaining 6 credits, choose from any category. | ||
| 1- Law and Policy Category | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Water Resources Policy and Economics 2, 3 | ||
| Climate Change and the International Policy Framework 2 | ||
| Natural Resource Policy | ||
| The Politics of Energy 2 | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Policy and Planning | ||
| Law of Critical Environmental Areas | ||
| Sustainable Land Use and Environmental Planning | ||
| 2- Science, Economics and Society Category | ||
| Environment and Sustainable Development Economics 3 | ||
| Energy Economics 3 | ||
| Environmental Economics 3 | ||
| Natural Resources Economics 3 | ||
| Environmental Justice, Resources and Development 2 | ||
| Polar Environments 2 | ||
| Interdisciplinary Issues and Ethics in Water Resources | ||
| Human Dimensions of Coastal Social-Ecological Systems | ||
| Climate Change and Societal Impacts | ||
| Global Environmental Issues: Interdisciplinary Perspectives | ||
| International Development Policy and Planning | ||
| Energy and Society 2 | ||
| Science and Technology in Modern Society | ||
| 3 - Scientific Communication Category | ||
| Environmental Interpretation 2 | ||
| Visual Media (requires purchase of software) | ||
| Public Speaking 2 | ||
| Media Writing 2 | ||
| Science Outreach and Service Learning | ||
| Technical Writing 2 | ||
| Writing and Digital Media 2 | ||
| Grant Proposals and Reports | ||
| Science Writing 2 | ||
| Subtotal (Option Electives) | 33 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
Complete remaining credit hours needed to satisfy 120 credit hour degree requirement. Credit hours will depend on options of courses chosen in the major and option requirements. | ||
| Pathways to General Education 4 | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse (Advanced) completed by major/option requirements | ||
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 3 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences completed by major/option requirements | ||
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking (Foundation) completed by major/option requirements | ||
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking (Advanced) completed by major/option requirements | ||
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select three credits in Pathway 6a | 3 | |
| Select three credits in Pathway 6d | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
| Pathways Concept 7 is currently suspended effective Fall 2025. Please refer to the Pathways Page for more information. | ||
| Select three credits in Pathway 7 | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 33 | |
| Total Credits | 120-122 | |
Credits may double-count for Major Requirements and Pathways.
Credits may double-count for Option Requirements/Electives and Pathways.
See University Course Catalog for prerequisites.
If requirements completed as outlined, at least 18 credit hours of Pathways will be satisfied by major/option requirements. Pathways requirements and approved courses are available online: https://www.pathways.prov.vt.edu/
Graduation Requirements
Graduation requires completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or greater for all hours attempted. In addition, students must have an in-major GPA of 2.5 or greater. The in-major GPA is calculated from all GEOS courses.
Prerequisites are subject to change.
Students who did not successfully complete at least two years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language during high school must successfully complete six semester hours of a single foreign, classical, or sign language at the college level. Courses taken to meet this requirement do not count toward the hours required for graduation. Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog for details.
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