Geology, College of William and Mary

Program Design & Assessment

Overview

This curriculum applies to all majors who elect the "geology" option (rather than the "environmental geology" option). This curriculum is one of two availabe to our undergraduates. The other is Environmental Geology, which has the same core requirements, but differs in some of the elective choices.

Strengths of this program

This curriculum, particularly the set of core courses, was designed to give all geology majors a solid foundation in the earth sciences. The electives then provide students some flexibility in pursuing their own interests. The senior thesis requirement provides all students the opportunity to engage in research, and gain experience in formulating a problem, data collection and evaluation, oral and written expression.

Types of students served

Program Goals

The goals of this program are as follows:

Our program is designed to provide each major with a strong, broad background in geology that is sufficiently flexible to allow students freedom to follow their own interests. The major may choose one of two options, either general geology or environmental geology. Ample opportunity is available for independent student research and such research is an integral part of the curriculum regardless of the option chosen. The senior thesis requirement meets one of the College's goals of incorporating undergraduates in research as much as possible.

The learning goals were informed by the following resources:

How program goals are assessed

1. The quality of senior theses, both oral presentations and final written products (these obviously represent a culmination of student-learning throughout the curriculum)
   
2. Feedback from alumni, both those in graduate school and those in the workforce
   

Design features that allow goals to be met

Alumni Careers

Graduation rate

Careers pursued by our alumni

Courses and Sequencing

Diagram of course sequencing and requirements

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Entry into the program

• The Dynamic Earth: Physical Geology
• Earth's Environmental Systems: Physical Geography
• Freshman Seminar in Geology

Capstone

• Senior Research (every major completes a senior thesis)

Core courses

• Investigating the Earth: Intro. Geology Laboratory
• Earth Surface Processes
• Rock-Forming Minerals
• The Sedimentary Record
• Earth Structure & Dynamics
• Introduction to Geological Research
• Senior research (or Honors research)

Electives

• Age of Dinosaurs
• Environmental Geology
• Marine Geology
• Planetary Geology
• Weather, Climate, and Change
• Watershed Dynamics
• Hydrology
• Environmental Geochemistry
• Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology (Rock-Forming Minerals)
• Paleontology
• One advanced seminar (all have prerequisites; various topics; 2 credits)
  
• One 2-credit advanced seminar

Other required courses

• General Chemistry I
• General Chemistry II
• Organic Chemistry I
• General Physics I
• General Physics II

Other key features of this program:

Supporting Materials