University of Texas at El Paso Academic Catalog

Academic Catalog

Minor in Geological Sciences

Employment projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicate an overall 4.9% increase in geoscience jobs between 2019 and 2029, from 460,242 jobs in 2019 to 482,726 jobs in 2029. For comparison, the projected growth of the U.S. workforce over the same timeframe is expected to be 3.7%. Growth rates for individual geoscience occupations range between 0% and 8.4% for all but geoscience engineering managers (-1%).

Marketable Skills

Students will develop:

  • Communication: Reach mutual understanding through effective exchange of information, ideas, and feelings
  • Critical thinking: Analyze and evaluate issues in order to solve problems and develop informed opinions
  • Problem-solving: Find solutions to difficult or complex issues
  • Research: Be able to search, investigate and critically analyze information in response to a specific research question
  • Teamwork: Participate as an effective, efficient member of a group in order to meet a common goal
  • Writing: Communicate using text in a clear and concise manner

Additionally, students will learn about 3-D spatial thinking, the ability to interpret geological maps, mapping skills, sample collection, and organization skills. 

Degree Plan

Introduction/Principles:
Select one of the following:3-4
Intro to Physical Geology
and Lab for GEOL 1313
Principles of Earth Sciences
and Principles of Earth Sci - Lab
Select one of the following:3-4
Intro to Historical Geol
and Lab for GEOL 1314
Principles of Earth Science
and Laboratory for Geology 1212
Other Requirement:
Select one of the following:3
Mineralogy & Petrology
and Mineralogy & Petrology Lab
Geoscience Processes
and Geoscience Processes Lab
Upper-Division Electives:
Select additional upper-division hours to have a total of eighteen hours:7-9
Igneous/Metamorphic Petrology
and Igneous/Metamorphic Petr. Lab
Geoscience Processes
and Geoscience Processes Lab
Structural Geology
and Structural Geology Lab
Sedimentology & Stratigraphy
and Lab for Sedim & Stratigraphy
Directed Study, Geology
Directed Study, Geology
Paleoclimatology
Topics in Geological Sciences
Geochemistry
Soil Properties & Genesis
Directed Study, Geology
Grndwater Contam and Reclam
General Hydrogeology
Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Research in Geological Science
Intrnshp Geological Sciences
Senior's Thesis
Directed Study, Geophysics
Directed Study, Geophysics
Meteorology
Directed Study, Geophysics
Total Hours16-20