A summer field course in geology is strongly recommended for all majors and is required for admission to many graduate earth-science programs. Other geology courses in the Five Colleges may be used toward the major. Students intending to minor in geology must consult with the department before planning their program of study. Sixteen credits above the 100-level are required. Students considering graduate work or professional employment in geology, oceanography, or other earth and environmental sciences are strongly encouraged to take as many courses as possible in the cognate sciences and mathematics.
Most graduate schools require chemistry, physics, and mathematics through calculus.
At least 8 credits in these fields are strongly recommended. Prospective majors should see a department adviser as early as possible to discuss your interests and obtain information and advice about the selection and sequence of courses for a program of study. The geography major is intended to provide students with an understanding of the world around them. Central to the discipline is the study of interactions of human and environmental systems. Specific topics emphasized in the curriculum include the physical environment, population dynamics, political geography, socioeconomic development, and spatial data analysis.