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Bachelor of Science in Geosciences, BS Geophysics Emphasis

This is a sample curriculum plan for the Geosciences BS, Geophysics Emphasis within the College of Arts and Sciences at Boise State University.

If you are a prospective student viewing this document, please note curriculum is subject to change and specific per catalog year.

For current students, this plan is intended to be a glimpse at key sequencing within the major and includes some common/important advising notes. Sample plans are meant to provide aid in early, provisional planning. This plan does not replace the advice of academic advisors. Please refer to the Advising Contacts page for information about advising within the College of Arts and Sciences and how to contact advisors within each department.

First Year

First Semester

Subject/Area/CourseTitleCrs
GEOS or GEOL 101Global Environmental Science OR Physical Geology4
MATH 143College Algebra3
MATH 144Precalculus II: Trigonometric Functions2
ENGL 101Intro to College Writing3
UF 100Foundations of Intellectual Life3
TOTAL5 courses15 credits

Second Semester

Subject/Area/CourseTitleCrs
MATH 170Calculus I4
ENGL 102Writing and Rhetoric I3
GEOS 212Water in the West4
CHEM 111General Chemistry I3
CHEM 111LGeneral Chemistry I Lab1
TOTAL5 courses15 credits

Second Year

First Semester

Subject/Area/CourseTitleCrs
GEOS 200Evolution of Western North America4
GEOS 220Seeing the Unseen: An Introduction to Geophysics4
MATH 175Calculus II4
CHEM 112General Chemistry II3
CHEM 112LGeneral Chemistry II Lab1
TOTAL5 courses16 credits

Second Semester

Subject/Area/CourseTitleCrs
MATH 275Multivariable Vector Calculus4
GEOS 313Geomorphology4
COMM 101Fundamentals of Oral Communication3
UF 200Foundations of Ethics and Diversity3
TOTAL4 courses14 credits

Third Year

First Semester

Subject/Area/CourseTitleCrs
GEOS 300Earth Materials4
MATH 333Differential Equations4
PHYS 211Physics with Calculus I4
PHYS 211LPhysics with Calculus I Lab1
FSFoundations of Social Sciences*3
TOTAL5 courses16 credits

Second Semester

Subject/Area/CourseTitleCrs
GEOS 314Structural Geology4
GEOS 357Computation in Geosciences3
MATH 254Statistical Methods3
PHYS 212Physics with Calculus II4
PHYS 212LPhysics with Calculus II1
TOTAL5 courses15 credits

Summer Semester

Subject/Area/CourseTitleCrs
GEOS 422Data Analysis & Geostatistics3
GEOG 360Introduction to GIS3
GEOS 315Sedimentation and Stratigraphy4
GEOS 498 (FF)Senior Seminar3
FAFoundations of Arts*3
TOTAL5 courses16 credits

Fourth Year

First Semester

Subject/Area/CourseTitleCrs
FSFoundations of Social Sciences*3
GEOS 314Structural Geology4
GEOS 343Applied Geophysics3
GEOS 420Geophysical Applications of Digital Signal Processing3
FHFoundations of Humanities*3
TOTAL5 courses16 credits

Second Semester

Subject/Area/CourseTitleCrs
GEOS 482Geoscience Field Studies6
TOTAL1 course6 credits

Comments/Notes

  • Courses listed may require prerequisites. Please view the Undergraduate catalog to view prerequisites
  • The major’s curriculum starts at Math 143. Enrollment in a math course below Math 143 has the potential to extend date of graduation
  • Information Subject to Change.
  • This is not a contract.
  • *Foundational course offerings here.
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