Planning your GEL Major

Required major courses

• Required major courses in Geology
• GEL 50/50L - taught Fall, Winter, Spring
  GEL 53 - taught every Winter
  GEL 55 - not taught in 2023-2024 (take CHE 2C instead)
  GEL 56 - not taught in 2023-2024 (take PHY 7C or 9C instead)
  GEL 60 - taught every Fall
  GEL 101/101L - taught every Winter
  GEL 103 - taught every Spring
  GEL 105 - taught every Winter
  GEL 107 - taught Fall 2022, Spring 2023 , Summer Session 1 2023, Summer Session 2 2023, Fall 2023, Winter 2024
  GEL 107L - taught Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Winter 2024
  GEL 108 - taught every Spring
  GEL 109/109L - taught every Fall
  GEL 110A - taught every Summer Special Session (during Summer Session 1 dates), approximately mid-June to early July. Students can take GEL 110A and 110B in the same summer. 
  GEL 110B - taught every Summer Special Session (during Summer Session 1 dates), approximately mid-July to the end of July. Students can take GEL 110A and 110B in the same summer. 

Upper Division Electives

The upper division electives are not restricted to geology (GEL) courses but must be chosen to provide a relevant, coherent, and in-depth program of study. 

• Choose from courses GEL 130-194 or pre-selected non-GEL courses.
• Only one of GEL/EDU 181 or 183 or 185A or 185B or 186 may be applied toward elective credit.
• No more than three units of upper division elective credit for courses GEL 115-120.
• No more than six units of upper division elective credit for GEL 192 or 194A-B or 194HA-HB.
  • Students who receive approval to do a senior thesis for part of the capstone requirement may not use 194A-B or 194HA-HB for the upper division elective courses.
• Pre-selected non-GEL courses:
  • CHE 100 – Environmental Water Chemistry (3 units). Offered every Winter.
  • ECI 171+171L – Soil Mechanics (5 units). Offered Winter and Spring.
  • ECI 175 – Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (4 units). Offered every Fall.
  • ESM 100 – Principles of Hydrologic Science (4 units). Offered every Fall.
  • ESM 186 – Environmental Remote Sensing (5 units). Offered every Winter.
  • ESP 152 – Coastal Oceanography (3 units). Offered Summer Session 2 at Bodega Marine Lab (application required).
  • HYD 144 – Groundwater Hydrology (4 units). Offered every Fall.
  • HYD 146 – Hydrogeology and Contaminant Transport (5 units). Rarely offered.
  • LDA 150/ABT 150 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (4 units). Offered every quarter.
  • Cross-enrollment online class at UCLA: Geography 168 – Intermediate GIS (4 units) (this course counts as UC Davis’ LDA/ABT 150, so students cannot take both).
  • SSC 100 – Principles of Soil Science (5 units). Offered every Fall.
  • WFC 102+102L – Ecogeomorphology (1 unit) / Lab (6 units). Offered some Spring quarters.
  • Other courses in related fields must be approved in advance by the major advisor.

Upper Division Electives list:

• Academic Year 2021-2022 Upper Division electives
• Academic Year 2021-2022 (pdf; updated 12/14/2021)
  Fall 2021
  • GEL 131 – Risks and Natural Hazards (3) Rundle
  • GEL 140 – Introduction to Process Geomorphology (4) Pinter
  • GEL 181 – Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 – Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 – Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 – Seminar (1) Vermeij
  Winter 2022
  • GEL 133 – Environmental Geochemistry (3) Mukhopadhyay
  • GEL 141 – Evolutionary History of Vertebrates (3) Motani
  • GEL 150B – Geological Oceanography (3) McKinley
  • GEL 160 – Geological Data Analysis (3) Rudolph
  • GEL 181 – Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 – Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 – Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 – Seminar (1) Stewart
  Spring 2022
  • GEL 116N – Oceanography (3) McKinley
  • GEL 120 – Big Bang to Today (3) Osleger
  • GEL 136 – Ecogeomorphology of Rivers & Streams (5) Pinter
  • GEL 144 – Historical Ecology (3) Vermeij
  • GEL 150A – Physical & Chemical Oceanography (4) Gaylord
  • GEL 181 – Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 – Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 – Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 – Seminar (1) Osleger
  Summer 2022
  • GEL 150C – Biological Oceanography (4) Hill
    
    Updated December 2022
• Academic Year 2022-2023 Upper Division electives
• Academic Year 2022-2024 (pdf; updated 07/18/2022)
  Summer 2022
  • GEL 150C - Biological Oceanography (4) Hill
  Fall 2022
  • GEL 131 - Risks and Natural Hazards (3) Rundle
  • GEL 163 - Planetary Geology and Geophysics (3) Stewart
  • GEL 181 - Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 - Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 - Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 - Seminar (1) Rudolph
  Winter 2023
  • GEL 141 - Evolutionary History of Vertebrates (3) Motani
  • GEL 148 - Stable Isotopes and Tracers (3) Atekwana
  • GEL 150B - Geological Oceanography (3) Griffin
  • GEL 162 - Geophysics of the Solid Earth (3) Rudolph
  • GEL 181 - Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 - Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 - Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 - Seminar (1) Mukhopadhyay
  Spring 2023
  • GEL 116N - Oceanography (3) Griffin
  • GEL 120 - Big Bang to Today (3) Osleger
  • GEL 134 - Environmental Geology and Land Use Planning (3) Oskin
  • GEL 146 - Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry (3) Yin
  • GEL 161 - Geophysical Field Methods (3) Billen
  • GEL 181 - Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 - Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 - Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 - Seminar (1) Pinter
    
    Updated December 2022
• Academic Year 2023-2024 Upper Division electives
• Academic Year 2022-2024 (pdf; updated 07/18/2022)
  Summer 2023
  • GEL 150C - Biological Oceanography (4) Hill
  Fall 2023
  • GEL 131 - Risks and Natural Hazards (3) Rundle
  • GEL 140 - Introduction to Process Geomorphology (4) Pinter
    GEL 144 - Historical Ecology (3) Grettenberger
  • GEL 181 - Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 - Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 - Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 - Seminar (1) TBD
  Winter 2024
  • GEL 116N - Oceanography (3) Hill
  • GEL 133 - Environmental Geochemistry (3) Mukhopadhyay
  • GEL 141 - Evolutionary History of Vertebrates (3) Motani
  • GEL 146 - Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry (3) Yin
  • GEL 160 - Geological Data Analysis (3) Rudolph
  • GEL 181 - Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 - Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 - Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 - Seminar (1) TBD
  Spring 2024
  • GEL 120 - Big Bang to Today (3) Osleger
  • GEL 136 - Ecogeomorphology (5) Pinter
  • GEL 150A - Physical and Chemical Oceanography (4) Gaylord
    GEL 150B - Geological Oceanography (3) Griffin
  • GEL 181 - Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 - Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 - Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 - Seminar (1) TBD
    
    Updated December 2022
• Academic Year 2024-2025 Upper Division electives (tentative)
• Academic Year 2022-2024 (pdf; updated 07/18/2022)
  Summer 2024
  • GEL 150C - Biological Oceanography (4) Hill
  Fall 2024
  • GEL 131 - Risks and Natural Hazards (3) Rundle
  • GEL 140 - Introduction to Process Geomorphology (4) Pinter
  • GEL 150B - Geological Oceanography (3) Griffin
  • GEL 163 - Planetary Geology and Geophysics (3) Stewart
    GEL 181 - Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 - Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 - Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 - Seminar (1) TBD
  Winter 2025
  • GEL 116N - Oceanography (3) Griffin
  • GEL 136 - Ecogeomorphology (5) Pinter
    GEL 141 - Evolutionary History of Vertebrates (3) Motani
  • GEL 181 - Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 - Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 - Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 - Seminar (1) TBD
  Spring 2025
  • GEL 120 - Big Bang to Today (3) Osleger
  • GEL 134 - Environmental Geology & Land Use Planning (3) Oskin
    GEL 144 - Historical Ecology (3) TBD
  • GEL 146 - Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry (3) Yin
  • GEL 161 - Geophysical Field Methods (3) Billen
    GEL 181 - Math and Science Teaching – Middle School (2) Salim
  • GEL 183 - Math and Science Teaching – High School (3) Pinter
  • GEL 186 - Learning Assistant Seminar (1) Stevenson
  • GEL 190 - Seminar (1) TBD
    
    Updated December 2022

Summer Field

• Visit the classes page for details about Summer Field classes

Additional Coursework

• Mapping courses to careers
• Read about recommended coursework that aligns with different career paths within the geosciences: link coming soon.
• Other courses to consider
• ABT 060—Introduction to Unmanned Aerial Systems for Agriculture & Environmental Science (4 units)
  ABT 182—Environmental Analysis Using GIS (4 units) 
  ECI 016—Spatial Data Analysis (2 units) Teaches CAD and GIS. No prerequisites. Offered in Spring.
  ECS 032A—Introduction to Programming (4 units) Designed for non-majors. Introduction to programming and problem solving in Python. Usually offered F, W, Sp.
  ECS 032B—Introduction to Data Structures (4 units) Designed for non-majors. Design and analysis of data structures using Python; trees, heaps, searching, sorting, and graphs. Usually offered F, W, Sp.
  ECS 032C—Implementation of Data Structures in C (4 units) Designed for non-majors. Programming in the C language. Use of basic UNIX tools. Writing good programs of increased complexity and efficiency. Implementation of data structures in C. Offered Fall.
  ECS 034—Good for students who want more programming experience. Uses C/C++ and UNIX. 
  ECS 036 series—Only open to CS majors. 
  ENG 006—Engineering Problem Solving (4 units) – appropriate for non-engineering majors. A good introduction to programming and MATLAB.
  PHY 040—Introduction to Physics Computation (3 units). Assumes no prior knowledge of programming. Introduction to programming using C++ with examples from computational physics. Introduction to modern tools used for scientific analysis, including Scientific computing with Python and either SymPy or Mathematica. Offered each Fall. 
  PHY 045—Computational Physics (4 units). Algorithms and programming techniques of computational physics with applications from introductory physics (PHY 9 series). Taught in C++; algorithms; no OOP. Offered each Winter
• General Education courses to consider
• GE Chart for Geology majors
  
  ESP 174—Environmental Justice Policy & Practice (4 units) GE credit: SS, DD, WE
  ESP/ARE 175—Natural Resource Economics (4 units) GE credit: SS
  HIS/STS 002—Introduction to the History of Science & Technology (4 units) GE credit: AH, SS, SL, WC, WE
  HIS 108—Global Environmental History (4 units) GE credit: AH, SS
  HIS 157—Business, Biomes & Knowledge: Latin American Environmental History (4 units) GE credit: SS, WC, WE
  HIS 178—Water in the West: Environment & Politics in America's Arid Lands (4 units) GE credit: AH, ACGH, WE
  HYD 150—Water Law (3 units) GE credit: ACGH, SS.
  NAS 161—California Indian Environmental Policy I (4 units) GE credit: ACGH, DD, SS, WE. No prerequisites. Offered Spring of odd-numbered years.
  NAS 162—California Indian Environmental Policy II (4 units) GE credit: ACGH, DD, SS, WE. No prerequisites.
  PHI 030 — Introduction to Philosophy of Science (4 units) GE credit: AH, SE, SL, WE
  PLS 021—Application of Computers in Technology (3 units). Teaches Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other useful technologies.
  POL 012B—Climate Change & Politics (4 units) GE credit: SS, WE
  POL 107 — Environmental Politics & Administration (4 units) GE credit: SS, ACGH, QL, WE
  POL 171 — The Politics of Energy (4 units)
  SAS 009 — Crisis in the Environment (3 units)
  SAS 010 — Water, Power, Society (3 units)
  SAS 018—GIS & Society (3 units) GE credit: QL, SE, SL, SS, VL
  SAS 025 — Global Climate Change: Convergence of Biological, Geophysical, & Social Sciences (4 units)
  SAS 042 — Earth, Water, Science, Song (3 units)
  SOC 160 — Sociology of the Environment (4 units)
  STS 001—Introduction to Science, Technology & Medicine Studies (4 units) GE credit: SS, WE. Learn how society and science affect each other
  STS 011—Science on Trial: Law, Science, & Technology in the United States (4 units) GE credit: ACGH, SS. An introduction to law and science in America.
  STS 101—Data & Society (4 units) GE credit: QL, SS. Learn to analyze and visualize data about some of today's most challenging social problems. Add data analysis to your portfolio of skills.
  UWP 049 — Writing Research Papers (4 units)
  UWP 104E—Writing in the Professions: Science (4 units)
  UWP 111C—Specialized Topics in Journalism: Science Journalism (4 units)