Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
2011-12
The GES Major Curriculum
The purpose of the undergraduate program in Geological and Environmental Sciences is to provide students with
(1) a broad background in the fundamentals of the Earth sciences and (2) the quantitative, analytical, and
communications skills necessary to conduct research and think critically about questions involving the Earth. The
major provides excellent preparation for graduate school and careers in geological and environmental consulting,
land use and planning, law, teaching, and other professions in which an understanding of the Earth and a
background in science are important.
GES CORE COURSES (28-30 units)
All of the following:
GES 1a, b, or c Introduction to Geology
4-5
GES 4
Extinction and Evolution: An Introduction to
Historical Geology
4
GES 90 Introduction to Geochemistry
3-4
GES 102 Earth Materials: Introduction to Mineralogy 3
GES 102L Introduction to Mineralogy Lab
1
GES 103 Rocks in Thin Section
3
GES 104 Earth Materials: Introduction to Petrology
3
GES 104L Introduction to Petrology Lab
1
GES 105 Introduction to Field Methods (September) 3
GES 150 Senior Seminar (WIM)
3
Advanced Field Research 4+ weeks*
* The field research requirement is usually fulfilled
by taking GES 190 twice. With approval, up to 2
weeks may be satisfied by other mentored
undergraduate field research projects.
MATHEMATICS (5-15 units)
Either of the following equivalent series (10 units)
Math 19, 20, 21 Calculus
or Math 41, 42 Calculus
or a score of 4 or 5 on the Calculus BC exam
AND at least one of the following:
Math 51 Linear Algebra & Differential Calculus of
Several Variables
Math 52 Integral Calculus of Several Variables
Math 53 Ord. Diff. Equations with Linear Algebra
BIOLOGY OR PHYSICS (8-10 units)
EITHER
Bio 41
Genetics, Biochem. & Molecular Bio.
AND one of the following
Bio 42
Cell Biology & Animal Physiology
or Bio 43 Plant Biology, Evolution, and Ecology
OR
Any of the following three series
Physics 21
Mechanics and Heat
Physics 22
Mechanics and Heat Lab
Physics 23
Electricity and Optics
Physics 24
Electricity and Optics Lab
or
Physics 41
Mechanics
Physics 43
Electricity and Magnetism
Physics 44
Electricity and Magnetism Lab
or
Physics 41
Mechanics
Physics 45
Light and Heat
Physics 46
Light and Heat Lab
5
5
5
3
1
3
1
4
4
1
4
4
1
GES BREADTH (23-29 units)
5
5
5
Choose seven upper-level courses; one from each of the
following groups. Courses with a * are offered every other
year.
8
4
Environmental geology and surface processes
GES 130
Soil Physics and Hydrology
GES 131
Hydrologically-driven
Landscape Evolution
EESS 155
Science of Soils
GES 170
Environmental Geochemistry
CHEMISTRY (3-11 units)
Chem 31A, B Chemical Principles I & II
or Chem 31X Chemical Principles (accelerated)
or a score of 4-5 on the Chemistry AP exam
AND one of the following
GES 171 Geochemical Thermodynamics
Chem 135 Physical Chemical Principles
Chem 171 Physical Chemistry
Students may choose between introductory sequences in
biology and physics. This choice should be made after
discussion with an advisor and based on a student’s
interests.
3
3
3
Structural geology and tectonics
GES 110
Structural Geology and Tectonics
GES 111
Fundamentals of Structural Geology
3
3
4
3
5
3
For more information: visit http://ges.stanford.edu
or contact Professor Dennis Bird (dbird@stanford.edu) Director of Undergraduate Studies, Green Earth
Sci. 229
or Richard Nevle (rnevle@stanford.edu) Undergraduate Program Director, Bldg 320-112, 724-0984
Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
GES 107
Earth materials and geochemistry
GES 163 Introduction to Isotope Geochemistry
*GES 180 Igneous Processes
*GES 185 Volcanology
2011-12
Journey to the Center of the Earth
3
4
4
GES BREADTH IN THE MAJOR (continued)
Geospatial statistics and computer science
EarthSci 211
Computer Programming in C++ for Earth Scientists and Engineers
Energy 125
Modeling and Simulation for Geoscientists and Engineers
Energy 160
Modeling Uncertainty in the Earth Sciences
EESS 161
Statistical Methods for Earth and Environmental Sciences: Geostatistics
EESS 164
Fundamentals of Geographic Information Science (GIS)
Geophys 112 Exploring Geosciences with MATLAB
Geophys 140* Introduction to Remote Sensing
3
3
3
3-4
4
3
3
Sedimentary systems
GES 151
Sedimentary Geology and Petrology (Win)
4
Biogeosciences
*GES 123
Introduction to Paleobiology
4
Geophysics
Geophys 110
3
Earth on the Edge: Introduction to Geophysics
DEPTH IN THE MAJOR
Students must take 10 units of electives primarily drawn from the list above and other upper-level courses in
GES (including graduate-level courses). Additional courses in Geophysics, EESS, and ERE may be counted
towards the elective units if they allow a student to pursue a topic in depth; these options should be discussed
with an advisor. A maximum of 3 of the elective units may be fulfilled by GES 192, 197, 198, or advanced
seminars. Honors research (GES 199) may fulfill up to 4 elective units.
The GES Minor Curriculum
The minor in Geological and Environmental Sciences is appropriate for students with a wide range of interests
and backgrounds. To accommodate the variety of students who are interested, the minor program consists of a
three-course core broadened by 12 units of electives. All students pursuing a minor in GES are encouraged (but
not required) to participate in the Introduction to Field Methods (GES 105) which takes place in September, and
the GES Senior Seminar (GES 150).
CORE REQUIREMENTS (14-15 units)
GES 1a, b, or c
GES 4
GES 102
GES 104
An Introduction to Physical Geology
Extinction and Evolution: An Introduction to Historical Geology)
Earth Materials: Introduction to Mineralogy
Earth Materials: Introduction to Petrology
4-5
4
3
3
For more information: visit http://ges.stanford.edu
or contact Professor Dennis Bird (dbird@stanford.edu) Director of Undergraduate Studies, Green Earth
Sci. 229
or Richard Nevle (rnevle@stanford.edu) Undergraduate Program Director, Bldg 320-112, 724-0984
3
Department of Geophysics
2011-2012
Expanding the discipline: Electives
Students must take a minimum of 12 additional units drawn from the “Breadth in the Discipline” list in the GES
major. Up to 3 units of Stanford Introductory Seminar courses in GES may be used to fulfill elective units for
minors. A majority of units must be from classes within the GES department.
For more information: visit http://geo.stanford.edu/GP
or Professor Simon Klemperer (sklemp@stanford.edu) Director of Undergraduate Studies, Mitchell 353
or contact Richard Nevle (rnevle@stanford.edu) Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Bldg 320-112,
724-0984