BA Geology at University of Alabama

Programme overview

Geology often draws students with interest in the outdoors and travel, and concern for environmental and energy issues, as well as those pursuing careers in geosciences-related industries. Geology applies chemistry, physics, mathematics, and sometimes biology to understanding earth processes, so students take a broad array of ancillary science classes. Additionally, majors train in the specialized laboratory and field skills required by professional geologists.

Faculty: J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Geology | Study mode: full-time | Location: Tuscaloosa, AL, United States

What you will study

Courses in the listed curriculum include GEO 101 The Dynamic Earth, GEO 201 Foundations of Earth Science.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students are expected to formally declare a major no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or at 61 semester hours for transfer students). Students can declare a major by meeting with an academic advisor and requesting the major be added to their academic record. Prerequisites for all GEO courses must be passed with a minimum grade of C-. Geologists have broad career options. Common fields of employment include environmental assessment and remediation, water resources, geotechnical consulting, energy, earth materials, hazard assessments, academic research, and education. Some examples of employers would be environmental and geotechnical firms, energy and mining companies, public utilities, building material suppliers, and state and federal government. University-level freshman admission (not programme-specific): 4 units English, 3 units mathematics, 3 units natural sciences (two with labs) and 10 other academic units; ACT or SAT is required if the cumulative high school GPA is below 3.0 for 2027 entry (all applicants for 2028 entry).

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer (the admissions page lists Spring, and Summer/Fall priority deadlines).

First-year priority deadlines: November 2 for Spring entry and December 4 for Summer/Fall entry. Applications are accepted through the UA Undergraduate App, and first-time freshmen may also apply through the Common App.

Transfer priority deadlines: October 1 for Spring entry and March 1 for Summer/Fall entry. The application fee is $50 (nonrefundable); Alabama residents applying via the UA Undergraduate App pay no fee.

First-year applicants for a 2027 entry term must submit an ACT or SAT score if their cumulative high school GPA is below 3.0; all students applying to enroll in 2028 must submit test scores.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.ua.edu/apply/

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