Geosciences, BS BS
Many students are already familiar with Geosciences through what is commonly called "earth science" in high school. Geosciences covers our Planet Earth - its soil, minerals, climate change, magnetic fields, earthquakes, water, plants, fossils, volcanoes and more.
Students can opt for either a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in geosciences.
The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Geosciences is designed to prepare students to become professional Earth scientists in a wide range of disciplines, as well as to enter graduate programs for further advanced training. The BS curriculum includes more science requirements than the BA and is designed for students who plan professional employment or advanced study in the geosciences. Graduates seek employment with environmental and water resource management; energy and mineral industries; and government agencies.
Geosciences majors at UWM can organize their electives around a particular area of interest if they wish:
- Hard Rock - the study of structural geology, mineralogy, petrology, volcanology and tectonics
- Hydrogeology - the study of water resources
- Paleontology - the study of evolutionary patterns in history
- Sedimentary Geology - the study of rocks, fossils, and the biological and chemical make-up of landforms
Geosciences touches on all aspects of the other natural sciences including chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics, so the ideal student for Geosciences loves all types of science and is curious about how they interrelate. Many Geosciences students also love the outdoors and traveling off of the beaten path.
Required outdoor field work prepares students for jobs with environmental and water resource management; energy and mineral industries; and government agencies.
UWM students often participate in research abroad in places as diverse as Iceland, Turkey, South America, Spain, and New Zealand. Others gain hands-on experience in the dirt of Montana, the hills of South Dakota or the volcanoes of Hawaii.
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
High Demand / High Reward Careers
Jobs related to geosciences are predicted to grow twice as fast compared to other jobs through 2026 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Students who are seeking a hands-on career that often incorporates elements of the outdoors and natural world will find geosciences opens a number of different career pathways. Our alumni go on to work in:
- aerospace and space exploration
- the oil and natural gas industry
- the National Park Service and other state, local or national preservation and conservation organizations
- environmental and engineering consulting firms
- remediation divisions of multinational corporations
- universities and research organizations
Major Requirements
All students who major in Geosciences must complete at least 15 credits in Geosciences courses at the advanced level (numbered 300 or above) in residence at UWM as part of the 36 advanced-level credits required for the L&S degree. The College requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| GEO SCI 100 | Introduction to the Earth | 3 |
| GEO SCI 102 | Evolution of the Earth | 3 |
| GEO SCI 301 | Principles of Mineralogy | 4 |
| GEO SCI 302 | Elementary Petrology | 4 |
| GEO SCI 316 | Introduction to Geophysics | 4 |
| GEO SCI 414 | Structural Geology (satisfies L&S research requirement) | 4 |
| GEO SCI 455 | Field Geology (normally taken over the summer) 1 | 4-8 |
| GEO SCI 511 | Stratigraphy and Sedimentation | 4 |
| Electives | ||
| Select two (6 – 8 credits) of the following: | 6-8 | |
| Water Quality | ||
| Process Geomorphology | ||
| Glacial and Pleistocene Geology | ||
| Physical Hydrogeology | ||
| Chemical Hydrogeology | ||
| Physical Sedimentology | ||
| Terroir: Geology in a Glass | ||
| Field Methods in Hydrogeology | ||
| Principles of Stream Management and Restoration | ||
| Select 10-12 additional credits from Geosciences Department courses at the 300 level or above, for a total of 18 elective credits. | 10-12 | |
| Other Requirements | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 231 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
| Students are encouraged to take the following: | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | ||
| Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry | 5 |
| Students are encouraged to take the following course as well as courses in organic and inorganic chemistry: | ||
| General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis | ||
| Physics | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 5 | |
| Option 1: | ||
| General Physics I (Non-Calculus Treatment) and General Physics Laboratory I (Non-Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| Physics I (Calculus Treatment) and Lab Physics I (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Students are encouraged to take: | ||
| General Physics II (Non-Calculus Treatment) and General Physics Laboratory II (Non-Calculus Treatment) | ||
| OR | ||
| Physics II (Calculus Treatment) and Lab Physics II (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Total Credits | 60-68 | |
- 1
GEO SCI 455 is required but not offered at UWM. Students must enroll in a field course at another university to satisfy the requirement.
Students are advised strongly to increase their scholastic breadth by selecting courses from among several subdisciplines of the geosciences, in consultation with Geosciences Department faculty.
Students who are interested in general geology are encouraged to include courses from among the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEO SCI 409 | Process Geomorphology | 4 |
| GEO SCI 420 | Methods in Paleomagnetism and Environmental Magnetism | 3 |
| GEO SCI 515 | Physical Sedimentology | 4 |
| GEO SCI 520 | Introduction to Paleontology | 4 |
| GEO SCI 545 | X-Ray Analytical Methods | 3 |
| GEO SCI 614 | Advanced Structural Geology | 3 |
| GEO SCI 635 | Volcanology | 3 |
| GEO SCI 638 | Advanced Igneous Petrology | 3 |
| Students are encouraged to consider topics offered under the following: | ||
| GEO SCI 696 | Topics in the Geological Sciences: | 1-3 |
| GEO SCI 697 | Seminar in the Geological Sciences: | 1-3 |
Students who are interested in environmental geology or hydrogeology are encouraged to include courses from among the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEO SCI 400 | Water Quality | 4 |
| GEO SCI 409 | Process Geomorphology | 4 |
| GEO SCI 443 | Glacial and Pleistocene Geology | 4 |
| GEO SCI 463 | Physical Hydrogeology | 4 |
| GEO SCI 464 | Chemical Hydrogeology | 4 |
| GEO SCI 545 | X-Ray Analytical Methods | 3 |
| GEO SCI 562 | Environmental Surface Hydrology | 3 |
| GEO SCI 563 | Field Methods in Hydrogeology | 4 |
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
We recommend that students begin exploring career options when they declare their geosciences major or in their sophomore year, whichever comes first. So, what should you do to start planning for your career?