Geology, Bachelor of Arts College of Letters & Science

Office & Contact Information

“Civilization exists by geological consent—subject to change without notice.” — Will Durant 

Geology is the study of the Earth, and in particular its history, structure, and the processes that have molded our planet and its biosphere. Geology involves the origin of continents & ocean basins, earthquakes & volcanoes, variations in global climate, and how these physical changes impact the evolution of life. All of these planetary processes are viewed through the prism of “deep time,” a perspective unique to geologists and one that  distinguishes geology from most of the other physical sciences.

A significant component of geology is oriented toward the interaction between humans and the Earth. This aspect includes the study of  resources such as minerals, oil, and water; identification & mitigation of Earth hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, and volcanic  eruptions; identification & mitigation of polluted ground water; land use planning; and the study of ancient & modern climate change.

The Program

Students interested in becoming professional geologists or continuing their geological studies at the graduate level should choose the Bachelor of Science degree program. The Bachelor of Arts program is for students interested in an interdisciplinary program of study, or who plan to go into pre-college teaching. The upper division electives are not restricted to geology courses but must be chosen to provide a relevant, coherent, and in-depth program of study. 

Undergraduate Research 

The geosciences span many disciplines at UC Davis, and students have opportunities to participate in undergraduate research in a variety of interest areas. Many students choose to complete a senior thesis to develop their research and writing skills during their senior year. 

Internships & Careers

A degree in Geology provides students with knowledge and practical experience needed to pursue careers in the geosciences (government, private sector, research, teaching). The major program includes flexibility to participate in research, internships, and fieldwork to help prepare students for these career paths. 

Global Learning in Geology

Consider studying or interning abroad through programs available through the Global Learning Hub.

Get Involved

Find your community through clubs, events, seminars, and workshops relating to geoscience. 

Graduation Honors

Students graduating from the College of Letters & Science are eligible for Departmental Honors, depending on their GPA and whether or not they complete a Senior Thesis. Students who graduate with a GPA in the top percentages of their college will automatically graduate with Honors. Students who qualify for Honors at graduation may also be eligible for High Honors or Highest Honors, based upon the quality of their Senior Thesis (course number 194A-194B) or Senior Honors Thesis (course number 194HA-194HB). It is Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences policy that an "A-" grade on the thesis will earn the student High Honors, and an "A" grade will earn the student Highest Honors.

Advising

Visit the staff major advisor for help navigating major requirements and planning for your degree. Visit the faculty major advisors for additional advice on courses, careers, and graduate school.

Faculty Advisors

R. Motani, D. A. Osleger, M. Rudolph.

Visit the College of Letters & Science advisors for help navigating university requirements and college requirements. 

Graduate Study

The coursework, research and internship opportunities, and fieldwork requirements in the Geology major help prepare students to enter graduate programs to continue their studies and prepare for their career. Students should meet with advisors and faculty to build a strong application for graduate school through additional independent research or other co-curricular involvements. 

The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Geology Bachelor of Arts is 79.

Preparatory Subject Matter
Geology
GEL 050Physical Geology (Discontinued for fall 2026) **3
or EPS 050 Physical Geology
GEL 050LPhysical Geology Laboratory (Discontinued for fall 2026) **2
or EPS 050L Physical Geology Laboratory
GEL 053Introduction to Geobiology (Discontinued for fall 2026) **3
or EPS 142 Geobiology & Geomicrobiology
or EPS 003 History of Life
or GEL 003 DISCONTINUED FOR FALL 2026 **
GEL 055 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **3-5
or CHE 002C General Chemistry
or CHE 004C General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering
GEL 060Earth Materials: Introduction (Discontinued for fall 2026) **4
Mathematics
Choose a series:6-8
MAT 016A
& MAT 016B DISCONTINUED FOR SPRING 2025 **

and (Discontinued for spring 2025)
MAT 017A
& MAT 017B
Calculus for Biology & Medicine
and Calculus for Biology & Medicine
MAT 019A
& MAT 019B
Calculus for Data-Driven Applications
and Calculus for Data-Driven Applications
MAT 021A
& MAT 021B
Calculus
and Calculus
Chemistry
Choose a series:10
CHE 002A
& CHE 002B
General Chemistry
and General Chemistry
CHE 004A
& CHE 004B
General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering
and General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering
Physics
Choose a series:8-10
PHY 007A
& PHY 007B
General Physics
and General Physics
PHY 009A
& PHY 009B
Classical Physics
and Classical Physics
PHY 009HA
& PHY 009HB
Honors Physics
and Honors Physics
Statistics
Choose one:4
STA 013
Elementary Statistics
or STA 013V
 Elementary Statistics
or STA 013Y
 Elementary Statistics
STA 032
Gateway to Statistical Data Science
STA 100
Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences
Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal43-49
Depth Subject Matter
Geology
EPS 102Structural Geology3
or GEL 102 DISCONTINUED FOR FALL 2026
EPS 102LStructural Geology Lab2
or GEL 101L DISCONTINUED FOR FALL 2026 **
EPS 103Field Geology4
or GEL 103 DISCONTINUED FOR SPRING 2026 **
EPS 109Sediments & Strata3
or GEL 109 DISCONTINUED FOR FALL 2026 **
EPS 109LSediments & Strata Laboratory2
or GEL 109L DISCONTINUED FOR FALL 2026 **
GEL 107Earth History: Paleobiology (Discontinued for fall 2026) **3
or EPS 107 Paleobiology
GEL 107LEarth History: Paleobiology Laboratory (Discontinued for fall 2026) **2
or EPS 107L Paleobiology Laboratory
GEL 108Earth History: Paleoclimates (Discontinued for fall 2026) **3
or EPS 108 Paleoclimatology
Upper Division Electives
Choose 14 units:14
Choose from courses GEL 130-194 or pre-selected non-GEL courses. Only one of GEL 181/EDU 181 or GEL 183/EDU 183 or GEL 185A or 185B or 186 may be applied toward elective credit. Pre-selected non-GEL courses in related fields: CHE 100, ECI 171/ECI 171L, ECI 175, ESM 100, ESM 186, ESP 152, HYD 144, HYD 146, LED 150/LDA 150/ABT 150, SSC 100, WFC 102. Other courses in related fields must be approved in advance by the major advisor. No more than 3 units of upper division elective credit for courses GEL 115-GEL 120. No more than 6 units of upper division elective credit for GEL 192 or GEL 194A-GEL 194B or GEL 194HA-GEL 194HB. Students who receive approval to do a senior thesis for part of the capstone requirement may not use GEL 194A-GEL 194B or GEL 194HA-GEL 194HB for the upper division elective courses.
GEL 130
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
GEL 131
Risk: Natural Hazards & Related Phenomena (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 131
 Risk, Natural Hazards, & Related Phenomena
GEL 132
Introductory Inorganic Geochemistry (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
GEL 133
Environmental Geochemistry (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 133
 Environmental Geochemistry
GEL 134
Environmental Geology & Land Use Planning (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 134
 Environmental Geology & Land Use Planning
GEL 136
Ecogeomorphology of Rivers & Streams (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 136
 Ecogeomorphology of Rivers & Streams
GEL 138
Introductory Volcanology (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 138
 Introductory Volcanology
GEL 139
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
GEL 140
Introduction to Process Geomorphology (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 140
 Introduction to Geomorphology & Earth-Surface Processes
GEL 141
Evolutionary History of Vertebrates (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 141
 Evolutionary History of Vertebrates
GEL 142
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
or EPS 142
 Geobiology & Geomicrobiology
GEL 143
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
GEL 144
Historical Ecology (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 144
 Historical Ecology
GEL 145
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
GEL 146
Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry & Cosmochemistry (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 146
 Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry & Cosmochemistry
GEL 147
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
GEL 148
Stable Isotopes & Geochemical Tracers (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 148
 Isotopes & Geochemical Tracers
GEL 149
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
GEL/ESP/EPS 150A
Physical & Chemical Oceanography (GEL 150A Discontinued for fall 2026) **
GEL 150B/ESP 150B DISCONTINUED FOR FALL 2026 **
Geological Oceanography (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 150B
 Geological Oceanography
GEL 150C/ESP 150C DISCONTINUED FOR FALL 2026 **
Biological Oceanography (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 150C
 Biological Oceanography
GEL 152
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
GEL 156
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
GEL 160
Geological Data Analysis (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 160
 Introduction to Modeling for Earth & Environmental Science
GEL 161
Geophysical Field Methods (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 161
 Geophysical Field Methods
GEL 162
Geophysics of the Solid Earth (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 162
 Geodynamics
GEL 163
Planetary Geology & Geophysics (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 163
 Planetary Geology & Geophysics
GEL 175
 Advanced Field Geology (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 175
 Advanced Field Geology
GEL/EDU 181
Teaching in Science & Mathematics
GEL 182
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
or EPS 176
 Field Studies in Marine Geochemistry
GEL/EDU 183
Teaching High School Mathematics & Science
GEL 185A
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
GEL 185B
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
GEL 186
Facilitating Learning in STEM Classrooms (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 186
 Facilitating Learning in STEM Classrooms
GEL 190
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
GEL 192
Internship in Geology (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 192
 Internship for Upper Division Students
GEL 194A
Senior Thesis (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 194A
 Senior Thesis
GEL 194B
Senior Thesis (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 194B
 Senior Thesis
GEL 194HA
Senior Honors Project (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 194HA
 Senior Honors Thesis
GEL 194HB
Senior Honors Project (Discontinued for fall 2026) **
or EPS 194HB
 Senior Honors Thesis
CHE 100
Environmental Water Chemistry
ECI 171
Soil Mechanics
ECI 171L
Soil Mechanics Laboratory
ESM 100
Introduction to Water Science
ESM 186
Environmental Remote Sensing
ESP 152
Coastal Oceanography
HYD/EBS 144
Groundwater Hydrology
HYD 146
 (Discontinued for winter 2026) **
LED/ABT 150/LDA 150 DISCONTINUED FOR WINTER 2026 **
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
SSC 100
Principles of Soil Science
WFC 102
Field Studies in Fish Biology
WFC 102L
Field Studies in Fish Biology: Laboratory
Depth Subject Matter Subtotal36
Total Units79-85
**

Course(s) discontinued; see your advisor for course options.