Geology Minor

Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus

The Geology Minor is offered in conjunction with the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences Department. It provides a background useful for careers in environmental consulting or geotechnical fields. Interested students should consult with a Geology Minor advisor. Students preparing for the geology minor should take SS 1120  and CHEM 1120 , and have credit for MATH 1007  or higher to fulfill the prerequisites for the required courses in the minor. Depending on chosen elective courses in the minor additional prerequisites may apply. This minor is not open to students in the Earth Sciences’ Geology concentration. For more information about the Geology concentration, please see the Earth Sciences program in the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences Department.

Program Learning Objectives

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of the lithosphere and hydrosphere, Earth history and geologic time, and crustal materials and dynamics in the context of plate tectonics theory.
2. Interpret field and laboratory data presented in tables, graphs, geologic maps, cross-sections, graphical columnar sections, and three-dimensional visualizations, in the context of both academic and applied geologic problems.
3. Work effectively in diverse groups in the field and laboratory to identify minerals, rocks, and soils, and characterize geologic structures and landscapes to solve local and regional scale academic and applied geologic problems.
4. Communicate scientific ideas effectively in a variety of contexts using written, oral, and visual presentations in a manner consistent with accepted professional norms.​

Minor Requirements and Curriculum

• At least half of the units must be from upper-division courses (3000-4000 level).
• At least half of the units must be taken at Cal Poly (in residence).
• No more than one-third of the units will be taken with credit-no credit grading (CR/NC), not counting courses with mandatory CR/NC. Departments may further limit CR/NC grading if desired.
• A minimum 2.0 GPA is required in all units counted for completion of the minor.

¹

A maximum of 3 units may be from either GEOL 3305 or GEOL 4420.

²

A maximum of 2 units may be from GEOL 2206.

³

A maximum of 2 units may be from GEOL 4400.

⁴

Course may be taken if not used to satisfy a requirement listed above.