Academic
Catalog August 2007 - August 2008 Undergraduate
and Graduate
College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Department of Geology
Frier Hall, room 100
NAU, PO Box 4099, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4099
928-523-4561 or -7174 (fax 928-523-9220)
Department Chair
Larry Middleton
You may pursue the following undergraduate degrees in NAU’s Department of Geology:
B.S. in geology: geographic information systems (extended major)
B.S.Ed. in earth science secondary education (extended major)
content emphasis in earth science (for the B.S.Ed. in elementary education)
In addition, you may pursue a B.S. in environmental science: applied geology if you want to apply geological knowledge to current environmental problems such as global warming or groundwater pollution.
Through our plans in the Department of Geology, we seek to provide you with the educational background and experience you need to enter the professional fields of geology and geophysics; the academic foundation for graduate study in geology, geophysics, engineering geology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, and earth sciences; preparation in earth science if you plan to be a teacher; and information about the earth so you can better understand your heritage and intelligently use the earth’s resources.
The following information applies to all major plans.
If you enter the program with deficiencies in high school chemistry and mathematics, you may need additional time to meet our course and plan prerequisites.
If you don’t declare an extended major in geology until your junior year, it may take you more than four years to complete all requirements.
If you change your major after your junior year, you risk adding more time to your graduation date.
Admission requirements are described below. Next, we describe the requirements for each academic plan individually. Finally, we explain our departmental honors program.
You will be automatically admitted to NAU’s geology program if you:
have completed the course prerequisites for GLG 309 (GLG 101 and 103, MAT 125 or 136, and CHM 151 and 151L) with a grade of C or better in each course
have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5
If you don’t meet these requirements, you must apply to the program by writing a letter of application, supported by current transcripts, before entering GLG 309. Send your application to the chair of the Department of Geology at the address above.
You must be admitted to the program before you can enroll in any of the following courses: GLG 309, 315, 324, 350W, 435, 440C, 441, and 470.
If you earn excellent grades and successfully complete a research project, you become eligible to receive departmental honors when you graduate.
To obtain departmental honors, you must:
have an overall grade point average of 3.5 or better
have a grade point average of 3.5 or better in all GLG courses
complete at least 4 units of GLG 485 with a written research product or complete at least 1 unit of GLG 485 and 3 units of GLG 490 or author an abstract or article in a refereed publication—to the satisfaction of your supervising faculty member and the departmental undergraduate committee
obtain written endorsements prior to graduation from the faculty member who supervised your research and from the departmental undergraduate committee
You should consult with your advisor to plan for departmental honors.
Click here for more information about Geology undergraduate courses and faculty.
You may pursue the following graduate degrees in the Department of Geology:
(extended coursework plan)
(research plan)
(extended coursework plan)
(research plan)
(extended coursework plan)
(research plan)
Our M.S. program in geology is designed to prepare professional geologists for lifetime careers in the geosciences. This program is field based and takes full advantage of the magnificent outdoor lab provided by the southern Colorado Plateau and the adjacent Basin and Range province. We expect you to conduct research leading to a thesis, and many students' projects involve extensive field studies. All of our faculty actively participate in overseeing thesis research. During the past five years, between twelve and fifteen students have completed this degree each year.
Our M.S. in earth science are designed for, although not limited to, students interested in natural resource interpretation or teaching at the community college or secondary school level. NAU awards approximately four of these degrees each year, and coursework is largely confined to summer sessions.
Neither of our master's programs in earth science automatically qualifies you for state teaching certification. To obtain certification, you must also complete the course requirements of either:
the B.S.Ed. in earth science with secondary state certification
post-degree state certification in secondary education (Contact the advising office in the College of Education for additional information.)
Click here for more information about Geology graduate courses and faculty.