About this Degree The geology minor is intended for students who wish to add background in selected areas of geoscience. The minor is ideal for students pursuing careers in other fields that benefit from additional understanding of earth resources, natural hazards, and the environment, such as biosciences, business, journalism, law, public policy, and education. The Geology Department offers five minors each with a focused on Environmental, Solid Earth Dynamics, GeoEnergy & Mineral Resources, Conservation Paleobiology as well as a Traditional Geology minor. The Environmental Geology minor provides students with a comprehensive understanding of how geological processes effect and are affected by human activities. It covers topics such as natural resource management, environmental hazards, and sustainable practices. This minor equips students to address real-world environmental challenges through the lens of geological science. Total Credit Hours: 15 Required Courses (6-8 hours): GEOL 1121/1121L: Earth Processes and Environment, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1122/1122L: Earth’s History of Global Change, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1250/1250L: Physical Geology, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1260/1260L: Historical Geology, 3 or 4 hours Elective Courses: Choose 3 (9 hours) OR Choose 2 (6 hours) + Research Option: GEOL 4030: Agrogeology, 3 hours GEOL 4110: Principles of Geochemistry, 3 hours GEOL 4130: Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry, 3 hours GEOL 4220: Hydrogeology, 3 hours GEOL 4530: Principles and Environmental Applications of GIS, 3 hours GEOL 4550: Clay Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 3 hours GEOL 4620: Exploration Geophysics, 3 hours CRSS(GEOL)4540: Pedology, 3 hours CRSS (WASR) 4660: Hydrogeochemical Characterization, 3 hours ENVE 4435: Natural Resources Engineering, 3 hours ENVE 4530: Energy and Environmental Policy Analysis, 3 hours ENVM 3060: Principles of Resource Economics, 3 hours ENVM 4800: Water Resources Economics and Management, 3 hours Research Option: One elective course can be replaced with a 3-hour research or senior thesis course. The Solid Earth Dynamics minor will explore the tectonic systems of Earth and other terrestrial planets in our solar system, with the goal of providing students with a better understanding of the physical and chemical processes involved in the deformation of rock and other geologic materials. This minor equips students to analyze and address geological challenges and phenomena which are crucial in environmental and engineering applications. Total Credit Hours: 15 Required Courses (6-8 hours): GEOL 1121/1121L: Earth Processes and Environment, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1122/1122L: Earth’s History of Global Change, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1250/1250L: Physical Geology, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1260/1260L: Historical Geology, 3 or 4 hours Elective Courses: Choose 3 (9 hours) OR Choose 2 (6 hours) + Research Option: GEOL 4330: Geology of North America, 3 hours GEOL 4350: Planetary Dynamics, 3 hours GEOL 4360: Introduction to Rock Mechanics, 3 hours GEOL 4600: Solid Earth Geophysics, 3 hours GEOL 4620: Exploration Geophysics, 3 hours GEOL 4940: Volcanology and Volcano Petrology, 3 hours Research Option: One elective course can be replaced with a 3-hour research or senior thesis course. The GeoEnergy and Mineral Resources minor focuses on the exploration, extraction, and sustainable management of energy resources and minerals. It addresses key areas such as fossil fuels, renewable energy, and mineral deposits while emphasizing environmental sustainability. This minor prepares students to tackle resource-related challenges with a focus on minimizing ecological impact and supporting society in energy transition. Total Credit Hours: 15 Required Courses (6-8 hours): GEOL 1121/1121L: Earth Processes and Environment, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1122/1122L: Earth’s History of Global Change, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1250/1250L: Physical Geology, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1260/1260L: Historical Geology, 3 or 4 hours Elective Courses: Choose 3 (9 hours) OR Choose 2 (6 hours) + Research Option: GEOL 4110: Principles of Geochemistry, 3 hours GEOL 4310: Economic Geology, 3 hours GEOL 4320: Petroleum Geology, 3 hours GEOL 4330: Geology of North America, 3 hours GEOL 4550: Clay Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 3 hours GEOL 4620: Exploration Geophysics, 3 hours GEOL 4640: Geochemical and Geophysical Surveys, 3 hours CRSS (GEOL) 4540: Pedology, 3 hours ENVM (AAEC) 4150: Energy Economics, 3 hours Research Option: One elective course can be replaced with a 3-hour research or senior thesis course. The Conservation Paleobiology minor integrates fossil record data with contemporary conservation practices to address current biodiversity and environmental challenges. The focus is on applying insights gained from past species and ecosystems to guide habitat restoration and species protection efforts. This minor prepares students to apply paleontological knowledge to modern conservation issues and to enhance ecosystem sustainability and their benefits to society. Total Credit Hours: 15 Required Courses (6-8 hours): GEOL 1121/1121L: Earth Processes and Environment, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1122/1122L: Earth’s History of Global Change, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1250/1250L: Physical Geology, 3 or 4 hours GEOL 1260/1260L: Historical Geology, 3 or 4 hours Elective Courses: Choose 2 (6 hours): FANR (WILD) 4820: Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, 3 hours GEOG 4040: Global Environmental Change Past and Present, 3 hours GEOL 4040: Conservation Paleobiology, 3 hours GEOL 4520: Paleoecology, 3 hours Elective Courses: Choose 1 (3 hours): ECOL 4010: Ecosystem Ecology, 3 hours ECOL (FANR) 4220: Foundations of Restoration Ecology, 3 hours ECOL 4080: Principles of Integrative Conservation and Sustainability, 3 hours ECOL 4160: Ecology of North America, 3 hours ECOL (FISH) (WASR) 4310: Freshwater Ecosystems, 3 hours FISH (WILD) 4520: Conservation Decision-Making, 3 hours GENE (ECOL) 4020W: Biotic Responses to Climate Change in the Ocean, 3 hours GEOG (ATSC) 3180: Global Climate Change, Causes and Consequences, 3 hours GEOL 3350: Dinosaurs: Lifestyles of the Big and Famous in the Mesozoic, 3 hours GEOL 4030: Agrogeology, 3 hours GEOL 4220: Hydrogeology, 3 hours WILD 4100: Principles of Wildlife Habitat and Management, 3 hours WILD 4500: Nongame and Endangered Species Management, 3 hours Geology Minor (Traditional) Total Credit Hours: 17 Total Credit Hours: 17 Required - Physical Geology (4 hours): GEOL 1121/1121L: Earth Processes and Environments or GEOL 1121H/1121L: Earth Processes and Environments (Honors) or GEOL 1250/1250L: Physical Geology or GEOL 2350H: Physical Geology (Honors) Required - Historical Geology (4 hours): GEOL 1122 /1122L: Earth's History of Global Change or GEOL 1122H/1122L: Earth's History of Global Change (Honors) or GEOL 1260/1260L: Historical Geology or GEOL 2360H: Historical Geology (Honors) Electives (9 Hours) - Nine Hours of Upper Division GEOL Courses: A minor must contain at least 9 hours of upper division course work. Courses taken to satisfy Core Areas I through V may not be counted as course work in the minor. Courses taken in Core Area VI may be counted as course work in the minor. Geology UNDERGRADUATE ADVISOR CONTACTS Last Names Beginning with A-I: Dr. Rob HawmanProfessor and Undergraduate AdvisorRoom B6, Geography-Geology BuildingEmail: hawman@uga.eduPhone: 706-542-2398 Last Names Beginning with J-Z: Dr. Doug CroweProfessor and Undergraduate AdvisorRoom 301D Geography-Geology BuildingEmail: dcrowe@uga.eduPhone: 706-542-2382
