2024-2025 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 | 2 |
| GEOS 3204 | Sedimentology-Stratigraphy | 3 |
| GEOS 3404 | Elements of Structural Geology | 3 |
| GEOS 3504/MSE 3104 | Mineralogy | 3 |
| Subtotal | 20 | |
| 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 |
| STAT 3005 | Statistical Methods 1 | 3 |
| or STAT 3615 | Biological Statistics | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Computational Methods in the Geosciences | ||
| Introduction to Programming in C | ||
| Introduction to Programming in Python | ||
| Subtotal | 16 | |
| Option Required Courses | ||
| Select one sequence of the following: | 10-12 | |
Sequence 1 | ||
| Elementary Calculus 2 | ||
| Elementary Calculus 2 | ||
| General Physics and General Physics Laboratory 2 | ||
Sequence 2 (preferred) | ||
| Calculus of a Single Variable 2 | ||
| Calculus of a Single Variable 2 | ||
| Foundations of Physics 2 | ||
| Subtotal | 10-12 | |
| BIOL 1105 & BIOL 1115 | Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory 2 | 4 |
| BIOL 1106 & BIOL 1116 | Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory 2 | 4 |
| BIOL 2704 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| STAT 4094 | Introduction to Programming in R | 1 |
| GEOS 3044 | Geosciences Outreach | 2-3 |
| or COMM 2004 | Public Speaking | |
| or COMM 2014 | Speech Communication | |
| GEOS 3604 | Paleontology | 3 |
| GEOS 4254 | Integrative Earth System History | 3 |
| GEOS 4234 | Vertebrate Evolution | 4 |
| or GEOS 4244 | Morphology of the Vertebrates | |
| GEOS 4964 | Field Study | 6 |
| or GEOS 3634 & GEOS 3644 & GEOS 4994 | Natural History Collections and Curation and Paleontological Laboratory Techniques and Undergraduate Research | |
| Subtotal | 30-31 | |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6-8 | |
| Genetics | ||
| Plant Biology | ||
| General Zoology | ||
| General Microbiology | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Aquatic Entomology | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Ichthyology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Study Abroad Topics in Geosciences (max 6 credits) | ||
| Study Abroad (max 6 credits) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Ecology | ||
| Global Change Ecology | ||
| Marine Ecology | ||
| Subtotal | 9-11 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Complete remaining credit hours needed to satisfy degree 120 credit hour requirement (Students may need to complete less credit hours in this category depending on choices in categories above) | 8-9 | |
| Subtotal | 8-9 | |
| Pathways to General Education 3 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Select three credits in Pathway 7 | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 27 | |
| Total Credits | 120-126 | |
Credits may double-count for Major Requirements and Pathways.
Credits may double-count for Option Requirements and Pathways.
If requirements completed as outlined, 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 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.
Except when noted, all prerequisites are listed on the checksheet. There are no hidden prerequisites, although some of the courses listed are prerequisites for other courses. Even when listed, prerequisites are subject to change. Please consult University Course Catalog for current information.
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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