Geosciences | Bachelor of Science in Geosciences (Applied Geology)
Program Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34 | |
| Major Courses | 12-13 | |
| Technical Geology | 26 | |
| Field Courses | 4 | |
| Cognates | 11 | |
| Open Electives 1 | 26-27 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Open electives are the credit hours required to reach a minimum of 120 total hours and 45 upper division hours. The number listed assumes all courses are completed at FHSU as listed. This number may vary if students transfer courses, or have individual substitutions allowed. Students should speak with their advisor if either situation applies to determine if the number will vary, and to ensure they enroll in a minimum of 45 upper division hours.
Students entering within 1 year of high school graduation will take UNIV 101 Freshman Seminar and may apply that hour in the open elective category.
Program Requirements
General Education
All undergraduate degrees require completion of the Kansas Systemwide General Education.
Courses identified with GE on this page may satisfy a general education requirement in addition to the identified degree requirement. Students who apply a degree requirement to satisfy a general education requirement will typically add an equal number of hours to the university elective category. This flexibility may allow you to complete a minor or certificate within the 120 hour degree. Transfer students are especially encouraged to select these courses in completing General Education requirements to maximize the likelihood of completing the degree with 120 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34-35 | |
Effective in Fall 2025 the math pathway course identified below is required for this degree.
The General Education Math Pathways course identified for this major is MATH 110 College Algebra . All students pursuing this degree program will be required to complete this course or the corequisite support course. Students who place into a higher level math course may be able to satisfy this requirement; consult with your Academic Advisor for additional information.
Placement measures for MATH 110 College Algebra include:
- Math ACT: 22 or higher OR
- Math SAT: 540 or higher OR
- ALEKS PPL: 46 or higher OR
- Accuplacer QAS: 263 or higher OR
- HS GPA and Course Grade: 3.25 cumulative GPA (unweighted) and B- or higher in Second semester Algebra 2 or Integrated Math 3 OR
- Institutional Measure
Students who do not meet any of the placement measures listed above will need to register for the corequisite support course: MATH 105 College Algebra with Review.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core Courses | ||
| GSCI 100 | Exploring Earth GE | 3 |
| GSCI 240 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) One 2, 3 | 3 |
| GSCI 685 | Writing in the Sciences | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Biostatistics and Biostatistics Lab | ||
| Geostatistics and Spatial Data Analysis | ||
| Elements of Statistics GE | ||
| Technical Geology | ||
| GSCI 102 | Exploring Earth Laboratory GE | 1 |
| GSCI 202 & 202L | Evolution of the Earth and Evolution of the Earth Laboratory | 4 |
| GSCI 203 | Introduction to Petroleum Geology | 3 |
| GSCI 290 | Cartography: Theory and Applications 2 | 3 |
| GSCI 315 | Rocks and Minerals 4 | 3 |
| GSCI 330 | Remote Sensing Concepts 2 | 3 |
| GSCI 340 | Humans, Rocks, and the Environment | 3 |
| GSCI 360 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Two 2, 3 | 3 |
| GSCI 625 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Three 2 | 3 |
| GSCI Field Courses | 4 | |
| Select four credit hours from the following: | ||
| Field Trips in Geology | ||
| Cognates | ||
| CHEM 100 | The Chemist's View of the World GE | 3 |
| MATH 331 | Calculus Methods GE | 3 |
| PHYS 111 & 111L | Physics I and Physics I Laboratory GE | 5 |
| Total Hours | 53-54 | |
Suggested General Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 200 | Humans and the Environment 1 | 3 |
| CRJ 355 | Criminal Investigation 2 | 3 |
| CRJ 395 | Crime Analysis 2 | 3 |
| IDS 390 | Technology in Society 1 | 3 |
| ECON 300 | Economic Ideas and Current Issues | 3 |
| LDRS 407 | Global Challenges | 3 |
| BIOL 499 | Global Environmental Issues | 3 |
| GSCI 101 | Earth and Environmental Systems 1 | 3 |
| GSCI 203 | Introduction to Petroleum Geology | 3 |
| GSCI 602 | Exploring Earth's History | 3 |
| GSCI 605 & 605L | Principles of Geomorphology and Principles of Geomorphology Laboratory | 4 |
| GSCI 620 | Advanced Cartography 3 | 3 |
| GSCI 655 | Geographic Information Systems Programming 3 | 3 |
- 1
Sustainability Certificate.
- 2
Crime Mapping and Analysis Certificate.
- 3
GIS Certificate.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All bachelor degrees require: | ||
| GPA of 2.0 on FHSU courses & 2.0 on all coursework (Higher program requirements prevail over the 2.0 when set) | ||
| A minimum of 30 hours earned from FHSU with a grade of D, C, B, or A | ||
| Successful completion of an upper division Writing and Information Literacy course (Most majors contain a course designated) | ||
| A minimum of 45 hours of recognized upper division credit | ||
| A minimum of 120 hours of recognized college credit | ||
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I (SGE010 - English Discipline Area) | 3 |
| COMM 100 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication (SGE020 - Communication Discipline Area) | 3 |
| GSCI 100 & GSCI 102 |
Exploring Earth and Exploring Earth Laboratory |
4 |
| UNIV 101 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| MATH 110 | College Algebra (SGE030 - Math Statistics Discipline Area) | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 102 | English Composition II (SGE010 - English Discipline Area) | 3 |
| GSCI 202 & 202L |
Evolution of the Earth and Evolution of the Earth Laboratory |
4 |
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| PHYS 111 & 111L |
Physics I and Physics I Laboratory (SGE040 - Natural Physical Science Discipline Area) |
5 |
| GSCI 355 |
Field Trips in Geology or Field Trip: Ellis County or Field Trip: Lake Wilson or Field Trip: Rocks and Fossils of Castle Rock or Field Trip: Grand Canyon or Field Trip: Mesa Verde or Field Trip: Cave Geology |
1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GSCI 101 & GSCI 103 |
Earth and Environmental Systems and Earth and Environmental Systems Laboratory |
4 |
| CHEM 100 | The Chemist's View of the World | 3 |
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Personal and Professional Development | 3 | |
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE060 - Arts Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GSCI 240 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) One | 3 |
| GSCI 315 | Rocks and Minerals | 3 |
| GSCI 372 or course to be approved | 3 | |
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE060 - Arts Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| GSCI 355 |
Field Trips in Geology or Field Trip: Ellis County or Field Trip: Lake Wilson or Field Trip: Rocks and Fossils of Castle Rock or Field Trip: Grand Canyon or Field Trip: Mesa Verde or Field Trip: Cave Geology |
1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MATH 331 | Calculus Methods | 3 |
| GSCI 290 | Cartography: Theory and Applications | 3 |
| GSCI 340 | Humans, Rocks, and the Environment | 3 |
| GSCI 360 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Two | 3 |
| GSCI 355 |
Field Trips in Geology or Field Trip: Ellis County or Field Trip: Lake Wilson or Field Trip: Rocks and Fossils of Castle Rock or Field Trip: Grand Canyon or Field Trip: Mesa Verde or Field Trip: Cave Geology |
1 |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GSCI 630 or MATH 250 |
Geostatistics and Spatial Data Analysis or Elements of Statistics |
3 |
| GSCI 625 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Three | 3 |
| GSCI 674 | Aerial Photographs and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GSCI 355 |
Field Trips in Geology or Field Trip: Ellis County or Field Trip: Lake Wilson or Field Trip: Rocks and Fossils of Castle Rock or Field Trip: Grand Canyon or Field Trip: Mesa Verde or Field Trip: Cave Geology |
1 |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GSCI 685 | Writing in the Sciences | 3 |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 1 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Academic Degree Maps are term-by-term sample course plans that specify milestones, courses, and special requirements that are necessary for facilitating on-time completion. Degree Maps are examples and are not prescriptive. Individualized choices such as concentration options, transfer credits, optional minors, advisory programs (certificates), etc. can alter the recommended coursework. Course offerings are subject to change. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional guidance on course planning.
To determine courses to take in the directed choices (often listed as Program Elective Course) and directed elective course blocks see the overview tab for courses. Open electives indicate the student is free to choose courses from any subject, but students should discuss with their advisor how many of these hours must be upper division. To locate approved courses in General Education areas (Undergraduate Programs) see the general education section of the catalog.
The undergraduate course maps typically advise the most efficient route for students to complete the general education requirements. Courses that are required in the major may be listed as fulfilling relevant general education requirements. This will result in more open elective course hours in some maps than is listed on the degree overview page.