Western Illinois
University
Department of Geology
Geology Minor
A Geology minor can benefit students
with majors in the following areas:
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Biology
Chemistry
Forensic Chemistry
Geography
Physics
Influences from geology can be found in all aspects of
human society. This includes crop growth, safe drinking water, natural disaster recovery, infrastructure
and goods, international trade, and consumer goods.
Many courses in geology do not require a student to
have taken math, physics, or chemistry beyond those
required by their major.
Is Geology just for those in Science?
The answer to this question is no. Students in any major
can benefit from a minor in geology, especially students
in the following majors:
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Construction Management
Agriculture
Recreation, Parks & Tourism
Emergency Management
Engineering
City Planning
Education
Actuarial Science
Military Science
Law Enforcement
Education
Political Science
Biology
Why Choose a
Geology Minor?
Geology provides the knowledge about the
environment and habitat that is required to fully
understand any form of life. Geologic knowledge is
also used for controlling pollution, preserving water
resources, and remediation of hazardous waste sites.
A proper understanding of Earth history and Earth
processes is critical for the study of evolution.
Emergency Management
Geology can be particularly important for Biology and
Forensic Chemistry majors. Additionally it is beneficial to
students in Agriculture, Construction Management and
Emergency Management. Knowledge of the processes of
the Earth is critical to many areas in these subjects.
Forensic Chemistry
Crimes rarely take place in a chemistry lab. Many crime
scenes are outside and knowledge about the environment
in which the crime took place can be important to solving
the case. The number of cases being solved based on soil
evidence is greatly increasing as the importance and
knowledge of geology to criminal investigations is
increasing. Being a geology minor will give you the
advantage in solving crimes because of your knowledge in
the key areas such as soils, mineralogy, and polarized
microscopy.
Agriculture
Proper understanding of soil types, erosion, and rock
strength are critical in agriculture and engineering.
Different soil types have different elements necessary for
plant growth. Knowledge of how these soils form, behave,
and how they are affected by erosion can be especially
useful in Agriculture.
Construction Management
Understanding how rock can support structures and
knowledge of the underlying geologic processes, such as
faults, can greatly affect Engineering and Construction
locations. From being able to affordably provide the
material to build roads to providing salt and sand to keep
them safe in winter weather, geology plays a major role in
transportation and construction. Being able to identify
rocks and minerals in the field for these positions can
greatly impact one’s career. A region’s geology also has a
tremendous impact on building codes, and understanding
the forces of the earth at play can make the difference
between the creation of a safe structure or one that
endangers lives in a disaster.
Understanding natural geologic disasters can have an
impact on evacuations and emergency planning.
Knowledgeable reactions in the event of earthquakes,
tsunamis, volcanic events, sink- holes, landslides, and
floods are important to law enforcement, emergency
management, city planners, and government officials.
A background in geology can help locate available
safe drinking water for communities as well as allow
cartographers and planners to prepare maps for
evacuation plans, property values, and insurance
rates.
Minor in Geology: 18 s.h.
1. GEOL 110 Introduction to the Earth, 4 s.h.
(General Education/Natural Sciences)
GEOL 112 History of the Earth, 4 s.h.
(General Education/Natural Sciences)
2. Departmental Electives chosen from among: 10 s.h.
GEOL 200 Mineralogy
GEOL 301 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
GEOL 310 Geologic Field Methods
GEOL 320 Structural Geology
GEOL 330 Paleontology
GEOL 340 Stratigraphy and Sedimentology
GEOL 375 Environmental Geology
GEOL 380 Hydrogeology
GEOL 420 Geomorphology
GEOL 421 Glacial Geology
For More Information
Department of Geology
115A Tillman Hall
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455 USA
(309) 298-1151