Program: Geology, BS Major in - Hofstra University

Mar 16, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Bulletin

The BS degree provides a strong scientific background in the geosciences and is suitable for students who intend to pursue a career in research or graduate study in geoscience.

Students enrolling in this major should meet with the department chair to plan their program of study prior to registering for courses.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 124

Candidates for graduation must fulfill the following requirements:

1. The Successful Completion of at Least 124 Semester Hours

The successful completion of at least 124 semester hours and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in work completed at Hofstra.

2. Liberal Arts

At least 65 semester hours must be completed in the liberal arts, excluding courses in geology.

3. Residence Requirements

Two requirements must be completed in residence at Hofstra: 15 semester hours in the major field of specialization and the last 30 semester hours. The 15 semester hours need not be included within the last 30 hours.

4. General Requirements

Humanities electives - Semester Hours: 6
Social science electives - Semester Hours: 6
(The humanities and social science electives must be satisfied with approved distribution courses, see Distribution Courses .)

WSC 001 - Composition Semester Hours: 3-4
and WSC 002 - Composition Semester Hours: 3
or placement examination. See University degree requirements .

5. Major Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 61-62

a) Geology - Semester Hours: 33

33 semester hours in geology, including

GEOL 001 - (NS) Planet Earth Semester Hours: 3
GEOL 002 - (NS) Historical Geological Science Semester Hours: 3
GEOL 019 - Structural Geology Semester Hours: 3
GEOL 031 - Crystallography and Mineralogy Semester Hours: 3
GEOL 033 - Environmental Geomorphology Semester Hours: 3
GEOL 135 - Sedimentation Semester Hours: 3
Five additional advanced geology courses (GEOL 018 or above) selected with approval of chairperson. (Note: Minimum grade of C- required in all GEOL courses.)

b) Chemistry and Physics Requirements - Semester Hours: 16

CHEM 003A - (NS) General Chemistry I Semester Hours: 3 - 4
CHEM 003B - (NS) General Chemistry Laboratory I Semester Hours: 1
CHEM 004A - (NS) General Chemistry II Semester Hours: 3
CHEM 004B - (NS) General Chemistry Laboratory II Semester Hours: 1
or
CHEM 139 - Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry Semester Hours: 3
CHEM 140 - Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Semester Hours: 1
PHYS 001A - (NS) Elementary Physics Semester Hours: 3
PHYS 001B - (NS) Elementary Physics Laboratory Semester Hours: 1
PHYS 002A - (NS) Elementary Physics Semester Hours: 3
PHYS 002B - (NS) Elementary Physics Laboratory Semester Hours: 1

c) Mathematics - Semester Hours: 6

Two semesters (minimum of six semester hours) of mathematics, including one semester of calculus (MATH 061 , 061A , 071 , 072 , or 073 ) and one course chosen under advisement. Math courses that will not fulfill this requirement are MATH 004A , 004B , 030A ,030B , 040 and 045 . Students without high school calculus should consider taking MATH 050 - (MA) Precalculus and MATH 061 , 061A , or 071 (Calculus). Students are strongly advised to take a course in statistics such as MATH 008 , MATH 137 , or BIOL 124 (may be used to satisfy MATH requirement or BIO requirement, but not both).

d) Choose One Option From - Semester Hours: 6

6 semester hours in computer science, or
6 semester hours in biology, or
3 semester hours in computer science and 3 semester hours in biology.

Recommended Program Sequence - Total Hours: 124

Sample Schedule: Geology, BS (124 Semester Hours)

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