The Geology Curriculum - Secondary Education Track leads to a B. S. degree in Geology with special emphasis on course work that helps prepare the student for teaching at the secondary school level in a manner consistent with the UTeach Initiative and Common Core standards. Further coursework and student teaching are required for an education certification. This track also prepares the student for work as a geologist in government or industry, or for further graduate study, although students primarily intending to attend graduate school in geology are advised to choose the Professional Track. Students seeking professional opportunities in secondary education are urged, also, to consult with advisors in the College of Education.
Compared to the professional geology track, the secondary education track, reduces by three the number of upper-level geology requirements, and adds eight credits of education courses along with requirements for an atmospheric and oceanic science and an astronomy course. Further coursework in education (including student teaching) will be required in order to obtain a Maryland State Teaching Certification. The department requires that to receive a degree in Geology, students must have a grade of C- or better in the required geology courses, and a C- average or better in the supporting courses.
REQUIREMENTS EFFECTIVE MARCH 2016
GenEd Program: Minimum 40 credits (for freshmen entering in Fall 2012 and after.)
Or CORE Program: 46 credits
Departmental Requirements: 46-48 credits
Supporting Requirements: 22-23 credits
Education Requirements: 9 credits
GEOLOGY COURSES:
- One of the following: 4 credits
- GEOL 102 - Historical Geology (4)
- GEOL 322 - Mineralogy (4)
- GEOL 341 - Structural Geology (4)
- GEOL 342 - Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (4)
- GEOL 393 - Geology Senior Thesis I: Proposal (3)
- GEOL 394 - Geology Senior Thesis II: Research (3)
- GEOL 423 - Optical Mineralogy (4)
- GEOL 443 - Petrology (4)
- GEOL 490 - Field Camp (6)
- Three courses selected from:
Total credits: 46-48
SUPPORTING REQUIREMENTS
- One of the following:
- ASTR 100 - Introduction to Astronomy (3)
- ASTR 101 - General Astronomy (4)
- One of the following:
- AOSC 123 - Causes and Implications of Global Change (3)
- AOSC 200 - Weather and Climate (3)
- One of the following:
- CHEM 131/2 - Chemistry I - Fundamentals of General Chemistry and laboratory (4)
- CHEM 135/6 - Chemistry for Engineers and laboratory (4)
- MATH 140 - Calculus I (4)
- MATH 141 - Calculus II (4)
- One of the following:
- PHYS 161 - General Physics: Mechanics and Particle Dynamics (3) and PHYS 174 - Physics Laboratory Introduction (1)
- PHYS 171 - Introductory Physics: Mechanics and Relativity (3) and PHYS 174 - Physics Laboratory Introduction (1)
Total credits: 22-23
INTRODUCTORY TEACHING SEMINARS
- TLPL 101 - Introduction to Teaching Seminar (1)
- TLPL 102 - Introduction to Teaching seminar (2)
Total credits: 3
EDUCATION COURSES
Six credits chosen from the following:
- EDCI 488M - Knowing and Learning (3)
- EDCI 488P - Project Based Instruction (3)
- Classroom Interactions (3)
- Reading (3)
- Perspectives Science and Math (3)
Total credits: 6
RESOURCES AND ANCILLARY PROGRAMS