A Bachelor of Science degree typically includes fewer core classes in order to make room for more classes in the major. For example, at Indiana University, students must only complete six classes to fulfill the fundamental skills and distribution requirements. Other courses are taken in the major, such as geological sciences, chemistry, physics and mathematics. At Arizona State University, some classes in geological sciences include mineralogy, petrology, sedimentology, hydrology, geochemistry and paleontology. The curriculum varies from program to program, but students can expect to find a similar distribution of requirements, with the majority of time spent studying geological and other physical sciences.
Students who wish to complete their program in less than four years may be able to do so by taking on additional credit hours each semester. Most programs consider a full-time schedule to include 15 credit hours, or five classes. However, students may be able to take 18 credit hours, or six classes, each semester to finish their program earlier. They may also be able to take summer classes to accelerate the program. Students who took Advanced Placement courses in high school may be able to gain credits for some of their core classes, such as English or a foreign language, which can also help them to complete their program earlier.
Students who earn a bachelor of science in geology have a number of career options. They may be able to become geoscientists, who conduct fieldwork and research on the earth's composition, structure and natural processes. Graduates with a BS in geology may also be able to become geological engineers, who help design mines for the safe removal of minerals such as coal, or geological technicians, who provide support to scientists and engineers working in the field, usually to extract natural resources. Graduates may also choose to become teachers at the post-secondary level or to go on to complete graduate level work for other career opportunities.
Depending on the job that graduates hope to get with their degree, there is a good job market for geology majors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs for geoscientists are expected to grow 21 percent between 2010 and 2020, which is faster than average for other industries. Jobs are only expected to grow about 10 percent for geological engineers in that same time frame, and about 15 percent for geological technicians, both of which are about as fast as average for other industries.