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The science of geology is concerned with the physical and chemical nature of the Earth (and other planets) and the evolution of the Earth over the vast expanse of geological time. The B.S. program in geology (GEO) includes four tracks: environmental geoscience, engineering geology, and geological oceanography. The major aims to provide the student with maximum preparation to carry out graduate and professional work in each of these fields. Students graduating with a B.S., majoring in geology, typically go on to graduate school or obtain professional employment with environmental consulting firms or various government organizations.
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Programs of Study
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The Geology track provides in-depth exposure to the primary subdisciplines of
geology, from mineralogy and petrology to seismology, tectonics, and sedimentology. For more information, download the
Geology Brochure.
- The Environmental Geosciences track is designed for students interested in environmental science, with additional
laboratory and field courses focused on evaluating environmental problems. Many students
take advantage of internships with local
environmental companies or the United States Geological Survey as part of their
academic program. For more information, download the
Environmental Geosciences Brochure.
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The Geological Oceanography track is for those who want to study both geology and marine sciences by
combining select courses from the geology track with marine science courses.
- The Engineering Geology track is for students who wish to combine geological training with mechanical engineering.
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The Geology track provides in-depth exposure to the primary subdisciplines of
geology, from mineralogy and petrology to seismology, tectonics, and sedimentology. For more information, download the
Geology Brochure.
All faculty within the Department of Geosciences have active research programs that welcome undergraduate participation. Many of our majors become involved in the excitement of laboratory or field research as part of their undergraduate studies. Our undergraduate researchers are part of the fabric of the department and have presented their work at conferences nation-wide. Acceptance into a research program is done on an individual basis and is dependent on the identification of a faculty sponsor.
Dual Majors
Geology is an interdisciplinary subject that attracts students interested in a variety of fields of science and mathematics. Dual majors are common and the academic programs in the Department of Geosciences are flexible enough to accommodate such efforts. For those interested in provisional certification as a secondary school teacher of earth sciences in addition to a B.S. in Geology, the department offers dual majors in Geology and in Earth and Space Science (Earth Science Education Track) with many overlapping requirements.
Minor
For students majoring in other disciplines who are interested in obtaining a fundamental understanding of the earth sciences, a minor concentration in geology with two distinct tracks--geology and environmental geoscience--is available. The geology track acquaints students with earth materials, the origin and evolution of life on earth, and physical processes that have shaped the earth through time. The environmental geoscience track includes courses focusing on evaluating environmental problems. All courses offered for the minor must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. The minor requires 20 credits.
Course requirements
Below is a list of courses offered within the Department of Geosciences. Please contact the appropriate undergraduate program director for a list of which courses are required for the major or minor in Geology or see the pdf version Stony Brook Undergraduate Bulletin-Geology. You can also go to the main Stony Brook University undergraduate bulletin page by clicking here to retrieve this information. All courses taken to meet requirements for the geology major must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C or higher.
For a listing of all geoscience courses and their descriptions, please see the
Undergraduate GEO Course List
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