Geology Major

Total credit requirements for a Geology major: A student who enters Whitman College with no prior experience in geology will need to complete 49 credits with 32 credits in Geology.

• Required Geology Courses
  • One introductory course plus lab, chosen from:
    • Geology 110 and 111
    • Geology 120 and 121
    • Geology 125 and 126
  • Geology 227, 270, 350, 358, 405, 420, and 470
  • One course chosen from Geology 312, 321, or 368
  • At least 3 credits of Geology 480
• Required Supporting Science Courses
  • Mathematics 124, 125, or 126
  • Chemistry 125 and 135; or 140
  • Physics 145 or 155
  • At least 6 credits numbered above 125 in any of the following: Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics, or Physics
• Senior Requirements
  • Geology 470
  • Senior assessment:
    • Four-hour written exam
    • Oral exam, which may be conducted in the field
• Honors
  • Students do not apply for admission to candidacy for honors.
  • Accumulated at least 87 credits
  • Completed two semesters of residency at Whitman
  • Major GPA of at least 3.500
  • Complete a written thesis or research project prepared exclusively for the satisfaction of this program.
  • Earn a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis or project and the honors thesis course.
  • Pass the senior assessment with distinction.
  • Chair of the department will notify the Registrar of students attaining honors no later than the beginning of Week 12.
  • An acceptable digital copy of the honors thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day.
• Notes
  • AP credit may not be used to fulfill the supporting science coursework listed above. Students who have AP credit or who have tested out of any of the required courses in Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics, or Physics should take the next higher course in the department’s sequence.
  • No P-D-F after declaration, except Geology 158.