Degrees Offered
Majors
Undergraduates at the Jackson School have eight degree options, anchored by fundamental courses taken by all majors during their first two to three years. Students enter as Geological Sciences entry level or Environmental Science entry level majors and, after completion of freshman requirements, can be admitted to one of the degree options. Faculty and academic advisors work with students to select the best option for them. Consult the short descriptions below for more information, or see the UT Austin Undergraduate Course Catalog.
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Environmental Science
This degree is offered with three majors by three colleges/schools: Geological Sciences (Jackson School of Geosciences), Geography and Environment (College of Liberal Arts), and Biological Sciences (College of Natural Sciences). The three majors share a common academic core, drawing on the expertise of faculty in all three participating colleges/schools. After completing the core, students can elect to pursue the major that best fits their particular area of academic interest. For more information, please visit the Environmental Science Institute.
Degree Plan: 2022-2024 | 2020-2022 | 2018-2020 | 2016-2018 - Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geological Sciences Option I: General Geology
Geological science is a synthetic subject, drawing from geological subjects and concepts of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics. This synthesis is reflected in the list of courses required for the B.S. General Geology degree, which emphasizes competency in the field. Like all of the B.S. options, the B.S. General is intended for professional geologists, teachers, and those planning graduate work. Firms in the energy sector dominate employment opportunities, but students find jobs in a range of areas and may end up working in government agencies, consulting firms, and with service companies aiding the energy and mineral industries.
Degree Plans: 2022-2024 | 2020-2022 | 2018-2020 | 2016-2018 | 2014-2016 - Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geological Sciences Option II: Geophysics
Geophysicists study the dynamics and structure of the Earth and other planets using observational, forward and inverse modeling approaches. Imaging techniques use seismic, gravity, and electro-magnetic signals, which can be either actively generated during surveys from the Earth’s surface and from satellites or passively recorded from naturally occurring phenomena such as earthquakes. In collaboration with other geoscientists, geophysicists study evolving planetary systems and the interactions between the deep Earth and surface environments. Topics include environmental studies, marine processes, hydrology, glaciology, volcanoes, earthquakes, tectonics, impacts, resources, shallow hazards, and convection of planetary mantles. From global studies to microscopic scales, and from processes happening on timescales of seconds to billions of years, geophysicists contribute fundamental insights into physical processes and properties of the Earth. With a geophysics degree, students are well equipped to solve cutting-edge problems in a wide range of disciplines, from fundamental Earth and climate science research to applications in the energy sector, data science and technology, and national security.
Degree Plans: 2022-2024 | 2020-2022 | 2018-2020 | 2016-2018 | 2014-2016 - Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geological Sciences Option III: Hydrogeology
This option is oriented toward solving problems of societal need, especially groundwater retention. It is an increasingly popular option, with students heading to environmental engineering companies, government agencies, consulting and related firms engaged in protecting the environment and remediating environmental problems.
Degree Plans: 2022-2024 | 2020-2022 | 2018-2020 | 2016-2018 | 2014-2016 - Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geological Sciences Option V: Teaching
This option is part of the innovative UTeach program at UT Austin, which prepares a graduate for science certification as a middle school or secondary school teacher in Texas. Students under this option are traditional majors in geological sciences but also take courses in biological science, pedagogy, and student teaching.
Degree Plans (Senior Grades): 2022-2024 | 2020-2022 | 2018-2020 | 2016-2018 | 2014-2016
Degree Plans (Middle Grades): 2022-2024 | 2020-2022 | 2018-2020 | 2016-2018 | 2014-2016 - Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geosystems Engineering and Hydrogeology
Offered jointly by the College of Engineering and the Jackson School, this quantitatively rigorous degree is concerned with the behavior of fluids, both within the Earth and upon its surface. The first two years are spent in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the final two years in the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering. Graduates seek employment with environmental, water resource management, and energy companies in addition to many government agencies. See the educational objectives and program outcomes for this degree.
Degree Plans: 2018-2020 | 2014-2016 - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geological Sciences
This option allows students to complete two majors. It can be tailored to meet interests ranging from musical study or the liberal arts to upper-division math, physics, or biology. While this degree forms an excellent starting point for other endeavors such as business management, environmental law, or medicine, students can also use the major to specialize more deeply in particular areas of the geosciences.
Degree Plans: 2022-2024 | 2020-2022 | 2018-2020 | 2016-2018 | 2014-2016
Minors
Minors for Geosciences Majors
While a minor is not required as part of any geological sciences degree program, students may choose to complete a minor in a field of study other than their major and to which they gain entry.
Minors for Non-Geosciences Majors
The minors offered by the Jackson School of Geosciences promote the understanding of Earth as a system, its resources, and environment, for the lasting benefit of humankind. Any non-geosciences student in good academic standing is encouraged to apply to a JSG minor. Students apply for admission to the minor, have it added to their degree profile, successfully complete all requirements, and apply to graduate for it to appear on their transcript.
Acceptance into the minor does not guarantee a seat in any GEO course. Registration for these courses requires existing prerequisites are adequately met. If unable to obtain a seat in a course for your minor please contact the JSG Advising Office.
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- Computational Geosciences Minor
The Computational Geosciences Minor provides a selection of courses that will establish an understanding of computational methods in geosciences. The courses in this minor emphasize the understanding of geophysical and geochemical laws and their equations. Students completing this minor will gain knowledge on how to solve such equations, both analytically and numerically, to solve specific geoscience problems (e.g., transport in porous media to study pollutant plumes, wave equation to study earthquakes and seismic methods). Students will use high-level programming tools (e.g., MATLAB, Python).
The Computational Geosciences Minor requires 15 credit hours as follows:
Requirements Hours GEO 303 or GEO 401 Introduction to Geology / Physical Geology 3 or 4 GEO 354 Physics of Earth 3 One of the following four courses: 3 Computational Applications in the Geosciences Computational Methods Numerical Modeling in the Geosciences Mathematical Methods in Geophysics Two upper-division GEO courses: 6 or 7 Quantitative Seismic Interpretation Climate System Modeling Geodynamics of the Lithosphere and Mantle Construction and Interpretations of 3-D Stratigraphy Seismic Data Processing Potential Field Applications in Geophysics Seismic Exploration List of additional upper-division course options available on the JSG website.Please Note: Registration for any of these courses requires that existing prerequisite course requirements are adequately met. Petitions to substitute another course to use toward any requirement must be submitted to the JSG Advising Office prior to the start of the semester in question. - Geosciences Minor
The Geosciences Minor provides a selection of courses that will establish an understanding of the Earth’s history, evolution, and its properties. The courses in this minor emphasize the chemical, physical, and biological processes that shape the Earth system. Students completing this minor will gain knowledge in the methods geologists use to characterize geological processes, such as identifying rocks, minerals, and fossils. They will also examine the role of geological processes on geological hazards (e.g. volcanos, tsunami) and water and energy resources. The opportunity to gain skills analyzing data from laboratory and field settings supplement multiple other areas of study such as engineering, education, and business.
The Geosciences Minor requires 16 credit hours as follows:
Requirements Hours GEO 303 or GEO 401 Introduction to Geology / Physical Geology 3 or 4 One of the following three courses: 4 Life through Time Earth Materials Sedimentary Rocks Three upper-division GEO courses: 9 Introductory Field Geology Computational Applications in the Geosciences Continental Tectonics Introduction to Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology Gems and Gem Minerals List of additional upper-division course options available on the JSG website.Please Note: Registration for any of these courses requires that existing prerequisite course requirements are adequately met. Petitions to substitute another course to use toward any requirement must be submitted to the JSG Advising Office prior to the start of the semester in question. - Hydrology Minor
The Hydrology Minor provides a selection of courses that will establish an understanding of the water cycle and associated hydrological processes. The courses in this minor emphasize physical and chemical processes that control the movement of water through the Earth system and water quality. Students completing this minor will gain knowledge in the methods hydrologists use to characterize hydrological processes, including environmental monitoring data and aquifer properties.
The Hydrology Minor requires 16 credit hours as follows:
Requirements Hours GEO 303 or GEO 401 Introduction to Geology / Physical Geology 3 or 4 GEO 346C or GEO 416W Introduction to Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology / Climate, Water, and the Environment 3 or 4 GEO 476K (taught Fall only) Groundwater Hydrology 4 Two upper-division GEO courses: 6 or 7 Geochemical Problem Solving with Atoms and Ions Physical Hydrology Aqueous Geochemistry Hydrogeophysics Applied Karst Hydrogeology List of additional upper-division course options available on the JSG website.Please Note: Registration for any of these courses requires that existing prerequisite course requirements are adequately met. Petitions to substitute another course to use toward any requirement must be submitted to the JSG Advising Office prior to the start of the semester in question. - Sedimentology and Earth Surface Processes Minor
The Sedimentology and Earth Surface Processes Minor provides a selection of courses that will establish an understanding of the processes that shape the Earth’s surface, the rock record results, and interactions with other systems over time. Students completing this minor will gain an understanding of the changing character of the surface environment of the Earth which is critical for understanding the past and future trajectories for life on Earth.
The Sedimentology and Earth Surface Processes Minor requires 16 credit hours as follows:
Requirements Hours GEO 303 or GEO 401 Introduction to Geology / Physical Geology 3 or 4 GEO 416M or GEO 416K Sedimentary Rocks / Earth Materials 4 Three of the following upper-division GEO courses: 9 or 10 Transitions in the History of Life Energy Exploration Quantitative Seismic Interpretation Geodynamics of the Lithosphere and Mantle Construction and Interpretations of 3-D Stratigraphy Geomorphology Process and Form Evolution of Reef Ecosystems List of additional upper-division course options available on the JSG website.Please Note: Registration for any of these courses requires that existing prerequisite course requirements are adequately met. Petitions to substitute another course to use toward any requirement must be submitted to the JSG Advising Office prior to the start of the semester in question.
- Computational Geosciences Minor