Dec 04, 2024  
2024-2025 Academic Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Geosciences, B.S.

Location(s): Statesboro, Armstrong-Savannah


The Geosciences B.S. Program at Georgia Southern University is committed to cultivating a comprehensive understanding of Earth’s dynamic systems, encompassing both natural and human dimensions.The Geosciences degree includes two concentrations, one in Geography and one in Geology & Environmental Sciences. Students must choose one concentration when declaring a major.

Degree Requirements: 124 Credit Hours


See Core IMPACTS  for required courses in Core IMPACTS and Additional Course Requirements.

General Requirements (Core IMPACTS): 42 Credit Hours


  • Mathematics and Quantitative Skills – Must take MATH 1112 MATH 1113 , or MATH 1441  
  • Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences – Must take STAT 1401 or MATH 1441  if not taken in Mathematics and Quantitative Skills above

Additional Requirements: 4 Credit Hours


Field of Study Requirements: 18 Credit Hours


Major Requirements: 46-50 Credit Hours


Area of Concentration: 24-40 Credit Hours


Students must select one of the following Areas of Concentration:

  • Geography
  • Geology and Environmental Science

See below for specific requirements.

Optional Certificate in Geographic Information Systems: 12 Credit Hours


Students may choose to pursue a certificate in Geographic Information Systems as part of their Geosciences degree.  

General Electives: 10-14 Credit Hours


  • Select 10-14 credit hours of General Electives (must include at least 5 credit hours of 3000-level and above coursework)
  • Students pursuing a concentration in Geology and Environmental Science who also wish to pursue the optional certification in Geographic Information Systems will need to use 8 General Elective credit hours to satisfy certificate requirements.

Total Credit Hours: 124


Areas of Concentration and Optional Certificate


Concentration in Geography (Statesboro and Armstrong-Savannah)


Lower Division Concentration Requirements: 12 Credit Hours

Directed Electives: 12-24 Credit Hours

Geography Concentration students may choose to complete 24 credit hours of Directed Electives or choose to complete 12 credit hours of Directed Electives plus an additional 12 credit hours to fulfill certificate requirements.  

At least 21 credit hours must be GEOG/GEOS 3000+ courses and also may include GEOL 5431 Coastal Geology and/or GEOL 5530 Geomorphology.

Directed Electives also may include up to 6 credit hours of experiential learning activities that include any combination of the following: study abroad, field camp, research, internship, etc. Permission of advisor required.

Total Credit Hours: 24-36


Concentration in Geology and Environmental Science (Statesboro)


Upper Division Directed Electives: 6 Credit Hours

Geology and Environmental Science Concentration students must complete an additional 6 credit hours of upper-division GEOL/GEOS 3000+ level coursework and/or Experiential Learning Activities. Experiential learning activities may include any combination of study abroad, field camp, research, internship, etc. Permission of advisor required. Students completing the Concentration in Geology and Environmental Science are strongly recommended to complete a Geology Field Camp (3-6 credits) experience. May include GEOG 5441 Remote Sensing  and/or up to 2 cr hrs of GEOL 3790 Teaching Internship in Geology . Note: GEOL 5230 Earth Science  and GEOL 5231 General Oceanography  may not be used to fullfill upper-level electives.

Total Credit Hours: 40

Certificate in Geographic Information Systems


Geography students may complete the certificate as part of their concentration requirements. Geology and Environmental Science will need to use General Electives and take GEOG 5441 as one of their Directed Electives in order complete both concentration and certificate requirements.

Total Credit Hours: 12


Other Program Requirements


Geoscience majors must maintain an overall 2.0 GPA across all Geology (GEOL), Geography (GEOG), and Geoscience (GEOS) coursework used in the degree.

Advisement


Undergraduate Academic Advisement at Georgia Southern is provided to all degree-seeking undergraduate students by professional advisors. Academic Advisors are located on all three Georgia Southern University campuses. Students are required to meet with their assigned Academic Advisor at least once a semester. For more information visit the Academic Advisement  catalog page.