Geophysics, B.S.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Geophysics concentrates on the branch of geology that deals with the physics of the earth, including oceanography, seismology, volcanology, and geomagnetism.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate their knowledge of fundamental concepts and laboratory skills in the geosciences by responding to written and laboratory-practical exam questions in at least one of the following GEOL 302, GEOL 325, GEOL 345, GEOL 355, GEOL 531, GEOL 556, GEOL 554, GEOL 555, GEOL 575 and GEOL 582.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of geological field skills by showing a competency at the proficiency level on a geologic field exercise. In the Geophysics courses GEOL 548 and GEOL 554, the field exercise will include a class field project using seismic data and solving a particular geologic problem, such as fault identifications or the presence of sinkholes. For students enrolling in GEOL 500, the field exercise will be a mapping exercise, the Sheep Mountain project.
- Students will demonstrate their preparation for careers or graduate studies in the geosciences.
Admissions
Entrance Requirements
New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to degree programs offered by the college. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another UofSC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements:
- Be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
- Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.00 or higher on a UofSC campus.
Some programs in the College of Arts and Sciences have special admission requirements established by the department or committee that supervises the specific degree program, for example, Cardiovascular Technology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Economics, Environmental Science, the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. These requirements are listed in the sections of this bulletin that describe department and special degree programs.
Degree Requirements (128 hours)
Program of Study
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core | 34-46 |
| 2. College Requirements | 15-18 |
| 3. Program Requirements | 30-45 |
| 4. Major Requirements | 34 |
Founding Documents Requirement
All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers. This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective. Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.
1. Carolina Core Requirements (34-46 hours)
CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
- any CC-CMW courses
ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (8 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)
GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-6 hours)
Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.
It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.
GHS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours)
- any CC-GHS course
GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)
- any CC-GSS course
AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)
any CC-AIU course
CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component¹ (0-3 hours)
any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course
INF – Information Literacy¹ (0-3 hours)
any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course
VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility¹ (0-3 hours)
any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course
¹Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.
2. College Requirements (15-18 hours)
Foreign Language (0-3 hours)
- only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency
Analytical Reasoning (6 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| STAT 509 | Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| or STAT 515 | Statistical Methods I | |
| CSCE 206 | Scientific Applications Programming | 3 |
| or CSCE 207 | UNIX System Administration | |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
History (3 hours)
The College of Arts and Sciences requires one additional GHS course beyond the Carolina Core GHS requirement.
- If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a U.S. history course, the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement must be fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course.
- If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course, the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement must be fulfilled by a U.S. history course.
Please select the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement from the approved list of U.S. and non-U.S. history courses.
Social Science and Fine Arts or Humanities (6 hours)
- Three hours of Social Science
- Three hours of Fine Arts or Humanities
3. Program Requirements (30-45 hours)
Supporting Courses (12 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Introduction to the Earth | ||
| Environment of the Earth | ||
| Observing the Earth | ||
| CHEM 111 & 111L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 112 & 112L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Cognate (13-14 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 241 | Vector Calculus | 3 |
| MATH 242 | Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 344 & 344L | Applied Linear Algebra and Applied Linear Algebra Lab | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Ordinary Differential Equations | ||
| Boundary Value Problems and Partial Differential Equations | ||
| Wavelets | ||
| Mathematical Game Theory | ||
| Numerical Linear Algebra | ||
| Numerical Analysis | ||
| Vector Analysis | ||
| Applied Complex Variables | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 13-14 | |
Electives (4-20 hours)
No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Note: No electives will be needed to reach hours to graduate if completing the Degree with Distinction.
4. Major Requirements (34 hours)
a minimum grade of C is required in all major courses
Major Courses (34 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 302 | Rocks and Minerals | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Surface and Near Surface Processes | ||
| Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Basins | ||
| Igneous and Metamorphic Processes | ||
| GEOL 355 | Structural Geology and Tectonics | 4 |
| GEOL 531 | Plate Tectonics | 3 |
| GEOL 548 | Environmental Geophysics 1 | 4 |
| GEOL 554 | Applied Seismology | 3 |
| GEOL 555 | Elementary Seismology | 3 |
| GEOL 556 | Seismic Reflection Interpretation | 3 |
| GEOL 575 | Numerical Modeling for Earth Science Applications | 3 |
| GEOL 546 | Marine Geophysics | 3 |
| or GEOL 582 | Marine Hydrodynamics | |
| Total Credit Hours | 34 | |
| 1 | An approved field course may substitute as the Capstone Experience. |
Degree with Distinction in Geophysics
Available to students majoring in Geophysics who wish to participate in significant research activities in their major field under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students who successfully fulfill all of these requirements will be awarded their degree with “Distinction in Geophysics” upon graduation. South Carolina Honors College students taking this route would graduate with both Honors in SCHC and “Distinction in Geophysics”.
Requirements:
- A minimum GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.3 overall.
- A written sponsorship agreement from the faculty mentor on file in the department.
- Public presentation of the Senior Thesis research accompanied by a written document approved by the faculty mentor and a second reader that follows the guidelines of the School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment.
- 2 courses (6 hours) in addition to the general major requirements, including:
Major Map
A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.
Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.
Geophysics, B.S.