BS Geology and Geophysics at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Programme overview

The Geology and Geophysics major offers unusual opportunities to integrate knowledge and technology from chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, space science, and other disciplines to understand processes that have shaped the Earth, its environments, and the life that it has sustained over billions of years. Geoscientists provide insight on surface and groundwater resources and how to protect and preserve them. They probe the causes and potential risks associated with natural hazards including earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, landslides, climate change, and sea level rise.

Faculty: College of Letters & Science | Department: Geoscience | Duration: 120 credits | Study mode: full-time | Location: Madison, WI, United States

What you will study

The degree requires 120 credits in total. Courses listed in the requirements include CHEM 109 Advanced General Chemistry; PHYSICS 207 General Physics; PHYSICS 208 General Physics; GEOSCI 100 Introductory Geology: How the Earth Works; GEOSCI 202 Introduction to Geologic Structures; GEOSCI 204 Geologic Evolution of the Earth.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applies to College of Letters & Science, not specific to this major: No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers. Courses required to get in None GPA requirements to get in None Credits required to get in None Other None Students declared in the Geology and Geophysics cannot also declare the Geoscience certificate.

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.

First-year entry terms: Fall (Early Action and Regular Decision) and Spring. Transfer entry terms: Fall (Priority and Regular Decision) and Spring.

First-year Fall Early Action: application deadline November 1, materials deadline November 9, decision on or before January 31. Fall Regular Decision: application deadline January 15, materials deadline January 22, decision on or before March 31. Spring Regular Decision: application deadline October 1, materials deadline October 15, decision on or before December 31. First-year fall and spring applications open August 1. Early Action is non-binding.

Transfer Fall Priority: application deadline February 1, materials deadline February 16, decision on or before March 31. Fall Regular: application deadline March 1, materials deadline March 15, decision on or before April 30. Spring Regular: application deadline October 1, materials deadline October 15, decision on or before December 31. Fall transfer applications open December 1; spring transfer applications open August 1.

Apply via the Common Application or the Universities of Wisconsin Application. The application fee is $80 US and is non-refundable; fee waivers are available for applicants with financial hardship. ACT and SAT scores are optional for students applying for admission through the spring 2028 term (application deadline October 1, 2027).

Explore more study programmes

Engineering