Department Information

GEOSCIENCES (GEOS)

Contact Information:

Department of Geosciences The University of Arizona Gould-Simpson Building, 208 PO Box 210077 Tucson, AZ 85721-0077

Phone: (520) 621-6004 Fax: (520) 621-2672 Email: achase@geo.arizona.edu Web: Department Homepage

General Information:

GEOS Course Descriptions

Faculty Members

The Department of Geosciences is in the College of Science.

Degrees, Majors, Minors, and Options:

Baccalaureate Degree

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Graduate Degrees -- consult the Graduate Catalog or the department office for details.

• Master of Science (M.S.)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Major and Degrees -- undergraduate degrees link to Degree/Academic Program Requirements Reports (APRRs).

• Geosciences (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)
  • Geosciences B.S. Options:
    • Environmental Geology Option
    • Geology Option
    • Geophysics Option

Undergraduate Minors -- minors link to Minor Requirements Reports.

The undergraduate programs do not require a minor; however, students may select an optional minor from among the list of approved University minors.  Minors available within the department are:

• Earth Science Teaching Minor
• Geoscience Minor*

* A variety of geosciences minor options are available to students in other departments: earth resources, environmental geoscience, geoarchaeology, geochemistry, geophysics, mineralogy, paleontology, petrology, stratigraphy, and tectonics. A thematic minor also is an option. An advisor in the student's field of interest will assist in selecting courses.

Geosciences, or those sciences dealing with the study of the Earth, incorporate the various fields of study that are applicable to an understanding of the formation and development of chemical, physical and biological aspects of the Earth. Academic and research pursuits in the geosciences lead toward a professional career in questions concerning many different Earth processes; in solving or helping to solve the current and projected issues dealing with land use and urban development; the search for energy sources, water, industrial and commercial minerals, and in environmental reconstruction at archaeological sites. The Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, in association with the department, offers undergraduate and graduate courses in dendrochronology using tree-rings to study climatic, ecological, environmental and archaeological problems.

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Education with a teaching major in earth sciences is available through the College of Education.

Along with major requirements, students must also satisfy university general education requirements, and science education students must take professional preparation courses in the College of Education.

The department participates in the honors program.

For more information contact the department office listed above.