The Geology and Geophysics major offers unusual opportunities to integrate knowledge and technology from chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, space science, and other disciplines to understand processes that have shaped the Earth, its environments, and the life that it has sustained over billions of years. Geoscientists provide insight on surface and groundwater resources and how to protect and preserve them. They probe the causes and potential risks associated with natural hazards including earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, landslides, climate change, and sea level rise. Sustainable exploration and extraction of key mineral resources needed to build and power a resilient and green society depends on well-trained geoscientists. To explore Earth history, develop materials and energy resources, and to take the pulse of a dynamic planet, geoscientists use an extraordinary array of tools, including satellites to measure changes of Earth’s surface, sensitive instruments to detect seismic waves for exploring resources underground, cutting-edge instrumentation to measure the composition of minerals and rocks at microscopic scales, and computational approaches to assemble and interrogate enormous sets of data acquired from rocks and fossils across the globe.
Geology students have a strong interest in the natural environment as it is today and as it has developed over the past 4.5 billion years. The Department of Geoscience challenges students to develop skills in sequential thought, inductive reasoning, and three-dimensional perception. Moreover, students who concentrate in geophysics learn basic physical laws and processes involving gravity, magnetism, heat flow, and seismic wave propagation within Earth. Opportunities also include learning how satellite-based measurements, and computational approaches, are used to measure and monitor geothermal resources, volcanic activity, earthquakes, and groundwater movement.
Geology and Geophysics students prepare for careers in hydrogeology, energy, mining, engineering, and education. Students are exceptionally well-prepared for graduate studies in a broad array of geoscience fields.
How to Get in
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers. |
| Courses required to get in | None |
| GPA requirements to get in | None |
| Credits required to get in | None |
| Other | None |
Students declared in the Geology and Geophysics cannot also declare the Geoscience certificate.
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. Some courses satisfy more than one L&S degree requirement (visit College of Letters & Science: Requirements for details).
This major can be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
| Communication | Complete both:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning | Complete both:
|
| Ethnic Studies | one 3+ credit course with the Ethnic Studies designation |
| Language | the third unit of a language other than English |
| Mathematics | Complete two courses of 3+ credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level in MATH, COMP SCI, or STAT subjects. A maximum of one course in each of COMP SCI and STAT subjects counts toward this requirement. |
| L&S Breadth: Humanities | Complete 12 credits with the Humanities or Literature designation, which must include at least 6 credits with the Literature designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Social Sciences | Complete 12 credits with the Social Science designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Natural Sciences | Complete 12 credits, which must include both:
|
| Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) Coursework | at least 108 credits |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced Coursework | at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
| Total Credits | at least 120 credits |
| UW-Madison Experience |
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| Quality of Work |
|
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their School/College to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
Prospective majors are strongly encouraged to seek assistance from a faculty advisor in order to choose courses appropriate to their interests and career plans. Advisors can also assist students in choosing a pathway that is appropriate for their interests and career goals.
Background Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Calculus | ||
| Complete sequence: | 9 | |
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 and Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2 | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| Complete one sequence: | 5-10 | |
| Advanced General Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| Chemical Principles I and Chemical Principles II | ||
| Physics | ||
| First Introductory Course | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 5-6 | |
| General Physics | ||
or PHYSICS 201 | General Physics | |
or PHYSICS 247 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | |
| Statics and Dynamics | ||
| Second Introductory Course | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 5 | |
| General Physics | ||
or PHYSICS 202 | General Physics | |
or PHYSICS 248 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | |
| Total Credits | 24-30 | |
Geology & Geophysics Core Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Complete all of the following: | ||
| GEOSCI 100 | Introductory Geology: How the Earth Works | 3 |
| or GEOSCI/ENVIR ST 106 | Environmental Geology | |
| GEOSCI 202 | Introduction to Geologic Structures | 4 |
| GEOSCI 204 | Geologic Evolution of the Earth | 4 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 360 | Principles of Mineralogy | 3 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 370 | Elementary Petrology | 3 |
| Advanced Breadth | ||
| Complete one: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Geophysics: The Dynamic Earth | ||
| Principles of Geochemistry | ||
| Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 1 | ||
| Structural Geology | ||
| Total Credits | 20-21 | |
- 1
GEOSCI 430 may be taken to satisfy both Advanced Breadth and Communication requirement, but the credit will only count once towards total credits needed to complete the major.
Geology & Geophysics Communication Requirement
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following: | ||
| GEOSCI 402 | Research and Communication in the Geological Sciences | 3 |
| GEOSCI/ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOG 335 | Climatic Environments of the Past | 3 |
| GEOSCI 430 | Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 1 | 3 |
| GEOSCI 610 | Geochronology, Timescales, and Rates of Geologic Processes | 3 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 629 | Contaminant Hydrogeology | 3 |
| INTEREGR 397 | Engineering Communication | 3 |
- 1
GEOSCI 430 may be taken to satisfy both Advanced Breadth and Communication requirement, but the credit will only count once towards total credits needed to complete the major.
Geology & Geophysics Major Electives
Complete additional upper-level coursework to reach a minimum of 34 credits in the major. GEOSCI courses numbered 300-692, except GEOSCI 331, are considered upper-level.Complete additional upper-level coursework to reach a minimum of 34 credits in the major.
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all GEOSCI and major courses
- 2.000 on 15 upper-level major credits, taken in residence 1
- 15 credits in GEOSCI, taken on campus
- 1
GEOSCI 300-699, excluding GEOSCI 331, are considered Upper Level in the Major
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Geology and Geophysics Major in consultation with the departmental undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the Major: Geology and Geophysics: Requirements
To earn Honors in the Geology and Geophysics Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 University GPA
- Earn a 3.400 GPA in all GEOSCI and major courses
- Complete GEOSCI 681 and GEOSCI 682, for a total of 6 credits, with a grade of B or better.
Learning Outcomes
- Acquire a working knowledge of Earth history and the evidence used to constrain that history.
- Explain how various Earth systems operate and describe the basis for that understanding. Earth systems include the lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.
- Apply field/lab-based methods, spatial reasoning skills, temporal reasoning skills, and/or quantitative approaches to solve problems in geoscience.
- Analyze geological, biological, chemical, and/or physical information to understand Earth processes and the rates of those processes.
- Read the scientific literature and understand the employed methods, results, and emergent interpretations.
- Communicate scientific data, concepts, and models effectively.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 221 (Quantitative Reasoning B) | 5 | MATH 222 | 4 |
| CHEM 103 | 4 | CHEM 104 | 5 |
| GEOSCI 100 or 106 | 3 | GEOSCI 204 | 4 |
| Language | 4 | Comm A (take during first year) | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYSICS 207 | 5 | PHYSICS 208 | 5 |
| GEOSCI 202 | 4 | GEOSCI/G L E 370 | 3 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 360 | 3 | Ethnic Studies (take within first 60 credits) | 3 |
| L&S Breadth | 3 | L&S Breadth | 3 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GEOSCI Elective 300 level and above | 4 | GEOSCI Elective 300 level and above | 3 |
| GEOSCI Elective 300 level and above | 4 | GEOSCI Elective 300 level and above | 3 |
| L&S Breadth | 3 | L&S Breadth | 3 |
| L&S Breadth | 4 | L&S Breadth | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GEOSCI elective 300 level and above | 4 | GEOSCI elective 300 level and above | 4 |
| GEOSCI elective 300 level and above | 3 | L&S Breadth | 3 |
| Comm B / GEOSCI 402 | 3 | L&S Breadth | 3 |
| Elective | 5 | Elective | 4 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
Declare or Cancel This Major
Please follow the process described on the Geoscience website.
Any student interested in the Geology and Geophysics major should meet with the advisor or program manager to discuss steps to complete the necessary coursework for the major.
Careers
More than half of all professional geologists and geophysicists work in hydrogeology, engineering geology, technical consulting, mining, or energy resource industries. The need for energy, environmental protection, and responsible land and resource management is expected to spur future demand for geoscientists. Geoscientists will be involved in discovering and developing next-generation energy and mineral resources (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November, 2022). Such careers involve an unusual breadth of training and personal adaptability, and the MS degree is generally required. About one-fifth of all geoscientists work in state and federal geological surveys or research activities. These positions largely involve problems in geologic mapping, mineral resources, groundwater, and engineering. Geophysics offers opportunities in earthquake studies, seismic verification of nuclear test bans, and rock characterization techniques for waste disposal and groundwater modeling. Many geology students continue on to obtain a PhD degree and become faculty members at colleges or universities. A geology and geophysics major is also appropriate for those interested in careers in elementary or secondary education, environmental policy, or environmental law. Faculty advisors can provide additional information on career opportunities.
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students