Advisor: Dr. Michelle Kominz
Courses from catalog
Earth science minor form
The earth science minor at Western Michigan University is a flexible course of instruction for students desiring a broad understanding of the earth and environmental processes within the geosciences department. The program is interdisciplinary in nature and offers students an opportunity to select earth science and related courses in consultation with the earth science advisor in order to design programs, which will satisfy the students' needs and professional objectives. Thirty-six semester hours are required for the major.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers a two-tiered advising system for undergraduates. Students receive major/minor specific advising through the faculty or staff expertise within the department and general advising regarding university and general education requirements as well as pre-professional advising through the College of Arts and Sciences Office of Undergraduate Advising.
As a student with a major within the College of Arts and Sciences, you will need to meet reqularly with both a departmental and college advisor to ensure you have met all requirements for graduation.
| Required Courses | Course Number | Credit Hours |
| Geoscience Requirements | GEOS 1300 | 4 |
| Physical Geology | GEOS 1310 | 4 |
| Historical Geology | GEOS 2320 | 3 |
| Integrated Earth System Studies (requires 1 semester chem.) | GEOS 3010 | 4 |
| Minerals and Rocks (requires 1 semester chem.) or Mineralogy (requires 1 semester chem.) | or GEOS 3350 | 4 |
Geology Electives (Seventeen (6) hours must be selected in consultation with the advisor. A minimum of six (3) elective hours for the major must be taken in the Geosciences Department. These may include, but are not limited to:
| Geology of National Parks GEOS 3120 3 | GEOS 3120 | 3 |
| Ocean systems | GEOS 3220 | 3 |
| Structural Geology | GEOS 4300 | 3 |
| Geomorphology | GEOS 4320 | 3 |
| Sedimentation and Stratigraphy | GEOS 4350 | 4 |
| Field Studies in Geology | GEOS 4380 | 3 |
