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Geology
Students interested in the origin, evolution, and future of the Earth, and who wish to obtain a better understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes that affect the development of the Earth System should consider a degree program within the Department of Geological Sciences.
Students who intend to specialize in Geology or exploration Geophysics should pursue a four-year program leading to the B.Sc. Four-year or Honours degree. The four-year programs in Geology and Geophysics meet the minimum requirement for employment in industry, and, if sufficiently high standards are attained, for advancement to postgraduate studies. In most cases graduates will also qualify for registration as Professional Geoscientists in the Province of Saskatchewan. However, students are strongly advised to familiarize themselves with APEGS requirements and to seek advice from an advisor in the Department.
Students intending to work in Alberta or British Columbia are advised to consult the APEGA (Alberta) and APEGBC (British Columbia) standards. Specifically, students must take at least one of GEOL 324.3 or GEOL 325.3 to satisfy Group 2B of APEGA requirements.
Students must take at least one of GEOL 343.3 GEOL 446.3, GEOL 450.3 GEOG 235.3, GEOG 323.3 or GEOG 335.3 to satisfy Group 2B of APEGS requirements, but note that GEOL 450.3 is not recognized in Group 2B of APEGA or APEGBC requirements, hence students planning to work in those provinces should select one of the other courses listed here instead of GEOL 450.3.
Degree Requirements
The Department of Geological Sciences is committed to delivering its courses to all qualified students admitted to its majors to the extent that the Department’s resources will allow. However, depending on resources, the Department may have to restrict access to all senior-level Geology courses. This restriction may be by registration through a departmental permission process. Priority will be given to qualified students in the Department’s majors who require the course(s) as part of their degree program, as set out in the Course & Program Catalogue, and who meet minimum academic standards as defined by the Department.
Therefore, students wishing to enrol in 200-level GEOL courses must have attained a minimum final grade of at least 65% in GEOL 121 and GEOL 122 and meet the progression average of 62.5% for all geoscience courses designated as part of their major. Meeting the minimum averages does not guarantee registration access and may still require the Department, depending on student numbers and averages, to restrict any student’s registration in any course required for their program and, in some cases, to withdraw the student from registration in senior GEOL courses.
Major Average
The major average in Geology programs includes the grades earned in:
- GEOL 121.3, GEOL 122.3
- All senior GEOL and all courses listed in the Major Requirement C6.
Residency Requirements in the Major
To receive a degree in Geology, students must complete at least two-thirds of the following coursework (to the nearest highest multiple of 3 credit units) from the University of Saskatchewan.
- GEOL 121.3 and GEOL 122.3
- Minimum requirements in Major Requirement C6.
See Residency for additional details.
Bachelor of Science Four-year (B.Sc. Four-year) - Geology
C1 Science Requirement (18 credit units)
CHEM 112.3CHEM 115.3GEOL 121.3GEOL 122.3PHYS 115.3PHYS 117.3 or PHYS 125.3 C2 Humanities Writing Requirement (6 credit units)
C3 Social Science Requirement (6 credit units)
Students may choose to take technical geography courses such as GEOG 222.3, GEOG 322.3, or GEOG 323.3 as full or partial fulfillment of this requirement.
- Any senior-level social science course provided that the prerequisite is met and not more than 6 credit units in one subject are used for the Social Science Requirement
- Statistics courses in social sciences are not accepted for credit toward the Social Science Requirement (e.g. ECON 204.6, PSY 233.3, PSY 234.3, SOC 225.3 and SOC 325.3).
- Certain WGST courses may be considered a Humanities and/or Social Science. Refer to the course descriptions.
C4 Mathematics and Statistics Requirement (6 credit units)
C5 General Requirement (6 credit units)
C6 Major Requirement (54 credit units)
Note: Students must take at least one of GEOL 324.3 or GEOL 325.3 to satisfy Group 2B of APEGA requirements.
- GEOL 206.3
- GEOL 224.3
- GEOL 226.3
- GEOL 229.3
- GEOL 245.3
- GEOL 247.3
- GEOL 258.3
- GEOL 282.3 or GEOL 384.3
Choose at least 6 credit units from the following:
- GEOL 308.3
- GEOL 408.3
- GEOL 485.6 or GEOL 487.3
*If GEOL 485.6 is chosen, 3 credit units of this class will count in this section, and the remaining 3 credit units will count as 3 credit units of a Geology class below.
Geosciences
Choose 12 credit units from the following:
Choose 12 additional credit units of senior level geoscience:
- EVSC 220.3
- EVSC 420.3
- GEOE 315.3
- GEOE 375.3
- GEOG 222.3
- GEOG 225.3
- GEOG 235.3
- GEOG 322.3
- GEOG 323.3
- GEOG 325.3
- GEOG 328.3
- GEOG 335.3
- GEOG 351.3
- GEOG 420.3
- GEOG 423.3
- GEOG 427.3
- SLSC 313.3
- SLSC 322.3
- SLSC 232.3 (formerly SLSC 332.3)
- TOX 301.3
- TOX 310.3
C7 Electives Requirement (24 credit units)
Required Cognate Courses
Note: Students should be aware that STAT 244 does not meet APEGS requirements.
Choose 9 credit units from the following:
- BIOL 120.3
- BIOL 121.3
- Any senior BIOL course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 6 credit units of BIOL courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
- BMSC 200.3
- Any senior CHEM course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 3 credit units of CHEM courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
- CMPT 140.3 or CMPT 141.3 or CMPT 113.3 or CMPT 116.3
- CMPT 145.3 or CMPT 117.3
- Any senior CMPT course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 6 credit units of CMPT courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
- Any senior MATH course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 3 credit units of MATH courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
- Any senior PHYS course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 3 credit units of PHYS courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
- STAT 241.3
- STAT 242.3 or STAT 245.3 or STAT 246.3 or PLSC 214.3
- Any 300- or 400-level STAT course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 6 credit units of STAT courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
Open Electives (15 credit units)
Arts and Science courses, or those from other Colleges that have been
approved for Arts and Science credit, to complete the requirements for
120 credit unit Four-year program, of which at least 66 must be at the
200-level or higher
Bachelor of Science Three-year (B.Sc. Three-year) - Geology
The B.Sc. Three-year degree program does NOT qualify students for registration as Professional Geoscientists in the Province of Saskatchewan.
C1 Science Requirement (18 credit units)
CHEM 112.3CHEM 115.3GEOL 121.3GEOL 122.3PHYS 115.3PHYS 117.3 or PHYS 125.3 C2 Humanities Writing Requirement (6 credit units)
C3 Social Science Requirement (6 credit units)
Students may choose to take technical geography courses such as GEOG 222.3, GEOG 322.3, or GEOG 323.3 as full or partial fulfillment of this requirement.
- Any senior-level social science course provided that the prerequisite is met and not more than 6 credit units in one subject are used for the Social Science Requirement
- Statistics courses in social sciences are not accepted for credit toward the Social Science Requirement (e.g. ECON 204.6, PSY 233.3, PSY 234.3, SOC 225.3 and SOC 325.3).
- Certain WGST courses may be considered a Humanities and/or Social Science. Refer to the course descriptions.
C4 Mathematics and Statistics Requirement (6 credit units)
C5 General Requirement (6 credit units)
C6 Major Requirement (24 credit units)
Choose 24 credit units from the following, of which at least 3 credit units must be at the 300-level or higher.
- GEOL 206.3
- GEOL 224.3
- GEOL 226.3
- GEOL 229.3
- GEOL 245.3
- GEOL 247.3
- GEOL 258.3
- GEOL 282.3
- GEOL 308.3
- GEOL 324.3
- GEOL 325.3
- GEOL 330.3
- GEOL 343.3
- GEOL 358.3
- GEOL 384.3
- GEOL 406.3
- GEOL 408.3
- GEOL 413.3
- GEOL 429.3
- GEOL 446.3
- GEOL 447.3
- GEOL 448.3
- GEOL 450.3
- GEOL 451.3
- GEOL 463.3
- GEOL 465.3
It is strongly recommended that students consult the Head of the Department or a Department Advisory for assistance with course selection for this program.
C7 Electives Requirement (24 credit units)
Arts and Science courses, or those from other Colleges that have been approved for Arts and Science credit, to complete the requirements for 90 credit unit Three-year program. Of the 90 credit units required at least 42 must be at the 200-level or higher.
Bachelor of Science Honours (B.Sc. Honours) - Geology
Students interested in entering an Honours program should consult an advisor in the department concerned before registering for their second year. Of the 120 credit units required for the B.Sc. degree, at least 66 credit units must be at the senior level. Application for admission to Honours is not considered until successful completion of at least 60 credit units with a Cumulative Weighted Average of at least 70% overall and at least 70% in the subject of Honours. For further details, please see the Academic Information and Policies section.
Students with appropriate marks will be allowed into the Honours program. The program is identical to the B.Sc. Four-year program, although Honours students are recommended to include either of the research project classes (GEOL 490.3 or GEOL 492.6) as one of their senior level courses.
C1 Science Requirement (18 credit units)
CHEM 112.3CHEM 115.3GEOL 121.3GEOL 122.3PHYS 115.3PHYS 117.3 or PHYS 125.3 C2 Humanities Writing Requirement (6 credit units)
C3 Social Science Requirement (6 credit units)
Students may choose to take technical geography courses such as GEOG 222.3, GEOG 322.3, or GEOG 323.3 as full or partial fulfillment of this requirement.
- Any senior-level social science course provided that the prerequisite is met and not more than 6 credit units in one subject are used for the Social Science Requirement
- Statistics courses in social sciences are not accepted for credit toward the Social Science Requirement (e.g. ECON 204.6, PSY 233.3, PSY 234.3, SOC 225.3 and SOC 325.3).
- Certain WGST courses may be considered a Humanities and/or Social Science. Refer to the course descriptions.
C4 Mathematics and Statistics Requirement (6 credit units)
C5 General Requirement (6 credit units)
C6 Major Requirement (57 credit units)
Note: Students must take at least one of GEOL 324.3 or GEOL 325.3 to satisfy Group 2B of APEGA requirements.
- GEOL 206.3
- GEOL 224.3
- GEOL 226.3
- GEOL 229.3
- GEOL 245.3
- GEOL 247.3
- GEOL 258.3
- GEOL 282.3 or GEOL 384.3
Choose at least 6 credit units from the following:
- GEOL 308.3
- GEOL 408.3
- GEOL 485.6 or GEOL 487.3
*If GEOL 485.6 is chosen, 3 credit units of this class will count in this section, and the remaining 3 credit units will count as 3 credit units of a Geology class below.
Choose at least 3 credit units from the following:
*If GEOL 492.6 is chosen, 3 credit units of this class will count in this section, and the remaining 3 credit units will count as 3 credit units of a Geology class below.
Geosciences
Choose 12 credit units from the following:
Choose 12 additional credit units of senior level geoscience:
- EVSC 220.3
- EVSC 420.3
- GEOE 315.3
- GEOE 475.3
- GEOG 222.3
- GEOG 225.3
- GEOG 235.3
- GEOG 322.3
- GEOG 323.3
- GEOG 325.3
- GEOG 328.3
- GEOG 335.3
- GEOG 351.3
- GEOG 420.3
- GEOG 423.3
- GEOG 427.3
- SLSC 313.3
- SLSC 322.3
- SLSC 232.3 (formerly SLSC 332.3)
- TOX 301.3
- TOX 310.3
C7 Electives Requirement (21 credit units)
Required Cognate Courses
Note: Students should be aware that STAT 244 does not meet APEGS requirements.
Choose 9 credit units from the following:
- BIOL 120.3
- BIOL 121.3
- Any senior BIOL course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 6 credit units of BIOL courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
- BMSC 200.3
- Any senior CHEM course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 3 credit units of CHEM courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
- CMPT 140.3 or CMPT 141.3 or CMPT 113.3 or CMPT 116.3
- CMPT 145.3 or CMPT 117.3
- Any senior CMPT course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 6 credit units of CMPT courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
- Any senior MATH course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 3 credit units of MATH courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
- Any senior PHYS course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 3 credit units of PHYS courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
- STAT 241.3
- STAT 242.3 or STAT 245.3 or STAT 246.3 or PLSC 214.3
- Any 300- or 400-level STAT course as long as the prerequisites are met. If the student desires to satisfy APEGS requirements, only 6 credit units of STAT courses may be taken as part of the required cognate courses.
Open Electives (12 credit units)
Arts and Science courses, or those from other Colleges that have been approved for Arts and Science credit, to complete the requirements for 120 credit unit Honours program, of which at least 66 must be at the 200-level or higher.
If you require further assistance, please contact the Arts & Science Undergraduate Student Office.
Sequence of Courses
The following would be the most appropriate sequence of courses for the first two years to allow access to all geoscience courses in the third and fourth years.
Year 1
- GEOL 121.3
- GEOL 122.3
- CHEM 112.3 and CHEM 115.3
- MATH 110.3
- MATH 112.3 or MATH 116.3
- PHYS 115.3
- PHYS 117.3 or PHYS 125.3
6 approved credit units to fulfill Program Type C requirements
Year 2
- GEOL 224.3
- GEOL 226.3
- GEOL 229.3
- GEOL 245.3
- GEOL 247.3
- GEOL 258.3
6 credit units in another science
6 approved credit units to fulfill Program Type C requirements
Geology - Minor
Students who, in conjunction with an Arts & Science degree in a different subject, take 18 credit units or more of Geology courses will receive a Minor in Geology. At least 3 credit units must be at the 300- or 400-level. Courses listed under the “C6 Major Requirement” of the student’s program Major cannot be used to meet requirements for the Minor.
The Minor average in Geology will be calculated using the grades earned in all courses eligible to be included in the Minor program requirements. Students must complete at least two-thirds of the program requirements (rounded to the nearest highest multiple of 3 credit units) using courses offered by the University of Saskatchewan to meet the Residency requirement.
Geology - Environmental Earth Sciences
The departments of Geography, Geological Sciences and Soil Science have developed an interdisciplinary program in Environmental Earth Sciences. Interested students should refer to the Environmental Earth Sciences section of the Course & Program Catalogue and contact the Chair of the Administrative Committee.
Palaeobiology
The departments of Archaeology, Biology and Geological Sciences have developed an interdisciplinary program in Palaeobiology. Interested students should refer to Palaeobiology in this section of the Course & Program Catalogue and contact the Chair of the Administrative Committee.
