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    * Honours BSc Geology

  Honours BSc Geology

      120 Units

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      * Program Requirements

          Geology is a modern, dynamic and diverse science that involves investigating the composition and evolution of Earth and other planetary bodies.

          Geologists and Earth scientists study the Earth, including its chemical, physical and biological evolution. Our programs teach students how to analyze Earth materials, probe the Earth from surface to core and model the processes that produced and shape its oceans and continents. The Ottawa region is a natural laboratory where students investigate resources (water, metals, minerals, petroleum), hazards (earthquakes, tsunamis, eruptions, landslides) and a variety of geological environments.

          The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers programs in geology and, along with the Department of Physics, a program in geology-physics. These programs balance field-based learning with theoretical and analytical investigations directly relevant to the needs of society. The final year involves an independent research project or equivalent units (credits) in advanced courses in the discipline.

          The honours requirements meet the professional accreditation requirements of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and l’Ordre des géologues du Québec.

          This program is offered in English and in French.

        Co-operative education is available with this program.

        The French immersion stream is available with this program.

        Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2025-2026 calendars for the previous requirements.

      Course List
        Code                                                                                                                                                                  Title                                                                   Units  
        Compulsory Courses at the 1000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                        
        BIO 1131                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Organismal Biology                                      3 Units
        CHM 1311                                                                                                                                                              Principles of Chemistry                                                 3 Units
        EVS 1101                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Environmental Science                                   3 Units
        GEO 1111                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Earth Systems                                           3 Units
        GEO 1115                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Earth Materials                                         3 Units
        MAT 1330                                                                                                                                                              Calculus for the Life Sciences I                                        3 Units
        MAT 1332                                                                                                                                                              Calculus for the Life Sciences II                                       3 Units
        PHY 1121                                                                                                                                                              Fundamentals of Physics I                                               3 Units
        PHY 1122                                                                                                                                                              Fundamentals of Physics II                                              3 Units
        Compulsory Courses at the 2000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                        
        GEO 2020                                                                                                                                                              Field Studies I                                                         3 Units
        GEO 2163                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Mineralogy                                              3 Units
        GEO 2165                                                                                                                                                              Sedimentology and Stratigraphy                                          3 Units
        GEO 2321                                                                                                                                                              Structural Geology and Tectonics                                        3 Units
        Compulsory Courses at the 3000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                        
        GEO 3163                                                                                                                                                              Igneous Petrology                                                       3 Units
        GEO 3164                                                                                                                                                              Metamorphic Petrology                                                   3 Units
        GEO 3165                                                                                                                                                              Advanced Sedimentology and Stratigraphy                                 3 Units
        GEO 3167                                                                                                                                                              Mineral Deposits                                                        3 Units
        GEO 3342                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Hydrogeology                                            3 Units
        GEO 3920                                                                                                                                                              Field Studies II                                                        3 Units
        Optional courses                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                  3 Units                                                               
          CHM 2330                                                                                                                                                            Physical Chemistry: Introduction to the Molecular Properties of Matter         
          CHM 2353                                                                                                                                                            Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry                                                
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                  3 Units                                                               
          GEO 2113                                                                                                                                                            Paleontology                                                                   
          GEO 2166                                                                                                                                                            Oceanography                                                                   
          GEO 2316                                                                                                                                                            Introduction to Climate Science                                                
          GEO 2334                                                                                                                                                            Quaternary Geology and Climate Change                                          
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                  3 Units                                                               
          GEO 2352                                                                                                                                                            Geoscience Data Analysis                                                       
          STA 2391                                                                                                                                                            Probability and Statistics for Engineers                                       
          STA 2392                                                                                                                                                            Introduction to Biostatistics                                                  
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                  3 Units                                                               
          GEO 3191                                                                                                                                                            Applied Geophysics                                                             
          GEO 3382                                                                                                                                                            Geochemistry                                                                   
        One option from the following:                                                                                                                                        9 Units                                                               
        Option 1: Honours Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
          GEO 4010                                                                                                                                                            Honours Project                                                                
        Option 2: Honours Project Substitution                                                                                                                                                                                                      
          3 optional course units in Geology (GEO) at the 4000 level                                                                                                                                                                                
          6 optional course units in Geology (GEO) at the 3000 or 4000 level                                                                                                                                                                        
        12 optional course units in geology (GEO) at the 3000 or 4000 level                                                                                                   12 Units                                                              
        3 optional course units in biology (BIO), chemistry (CHM), mathematics (MAT) or physics (PHY) at the 2000, 3000 or 4000 level                                         3 Units                                                               
        Elective Courses                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
        12 elective course units from the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Social Sciences or the Telfer School of Management 1  12 Units                                                              
        15 elective course units                                                                                                                                              15 Units                                                              
        Total:                                                                                                                                                                120 Units                                                             
        

        Note(s)

        1 A language course at the 1000 or 2000 level is strongly recommended.

        This program can satisfy the academic requirements of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario. Check APGO's website for current eligible courses which can be used for accreditation.

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