GEOLOGY AT USA: PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Geology program at the University of South Alabama prepares graduates to enter the scientitic workforce or to continue their studies at graduate school. Our program is justifiably well known for its integration of education and research opportunities. Many courses offer field trips that permit hands-on experience with some of the theoretical concepts discussed in lectures. In the past few years, field trips have been conducted to Texas (igneous/metamorphic petrology), northern Alabama (structural geology), central Alabama (stratigraphy), western Alabama (sedimentary petrology) and central Florida (mineralogy). Additional trips have been taken to Newfoundland and western Canada, the Grand Canyon, Central America, Mexico, Ireland and New Zealand. Our courses also take advantage of the University of South Alabama's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. We are located less than an hour away from some of the World's most spectacular modern depositional environments (e.g., barrier islands, Mobile Delta, Mobile Bay). Several of the faculty conduct research in this area (and elsewhere) and invite undergraduates to participate with them.

The information on this page is presented only as a quick overview of Geology at the University of South Alabama. If you are interested in talking to a geology faculty member about the program or geology in general, please contact us. Our email addresses can be found throughout our pages or click here to jump to them now.
 

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN GEOLOGY (From the 2008-09 USA Bulletin)

Students should complete a minimum of 44 semester hours in geology. GY 111 and GY 112 are prerequisites for most upper-level geology courses. The core requirements for a degree in Geology are listed below:

Core requirements for a geology major

Additional requirements from other disciplines

*The Geology degree requires a minimum of 8 hours of Physics (algebra/ trigonometry-based; PH 114 and PH 115), or calculus-based ; PH 201 and PH 202). Students can elect to substitute GY 305 for PH 115/PH 202 and/or substitute GY 420 for MA 126; however, those intending on pursuing graduate study are encouraged to complete a full year of calculus and physics at the University of South Alabama.

Additional information for Majors
A program in related sciences has been approved as an acceptable minor for Geology majors, but it is recommended that the student seek a traditional minor. Students seeking a minor in related sciences should be aware of the University requirement that all students must complete 32 resident hours in 300/400 level courses.

A Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be obtained simultaneously with a BS in Geology if the student elects to minor in Geography. Contact the Department of Earth Sciences for information concerning the GIS certification program, the related sciences minor, Geology elective courses, and Departmental Honors opportunities in Geology. An overall GPA 2.0 is required for the major.

Recommended Geology Major Curriculum

Total hours 128 to 138 (Assumes student will pass placement tests for CH 131, MA 125 and CIS 150)

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN GEOLOGY (From USA Bulletin)
A student must take a minimum of 20 semester hours of Geology courses including GY 111, GY 111L, GY 112, GY 112L and a minimum of two courses from the following list: GY 301 (Geomorphology), GY 302 (Crystallography and Mineralogy), GY 304 (Stratigraphy), GY 401 (Paleontology), GY 425 (Hydrology). Any GY courses numbered 300 and higher may be used to satisfy the remainder of the 20 hour requirement. A geology faculty advisor is recommended for planning an appropriate minor curriculum past the initial introductory sequence.

GRADUATE COURSES 
Although the Department of Earth Sciences has no graduate degree program, courses are offered at the graduate level for students enrolled in Marine Sciences and others who need such course work. Current graduate courses (500-level) are listed below.  Contact the Department for scheduling.

Geology Graduate Courses

*Taught through the Department of Marine Sciences

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
The Department of Earth Sciences offers many awards for academic excellence in Geology. For some awards (see description), students need not be declared geology majors. Most of our awards are made on an annual basis and are derived through endowed funds managed through the USA Foundation. For further information about the awards (including donations to the endowement accounts) please contact Dr. D. Haywick (Geology Scholarships Co-ordinator) or Dr. M. Fearn (Departmental Chair) in the Department of Earth Sciences.

1997-1998 Award Winners
1998-1999 Award Winners
1999-2000 Award Winners
2000-2001 Award Winners
2001-2002 Award Winners
2002-2003 Award Winners
2003-2004 Award Winners
2004-2005 Award Winners
2005-2006 Award Winners
2006-2007 Award Winners
2007-2008 Award Winners

Freshman Prizes (winners need not be Majors)
These awards, consisting of rock hammers, are made to freshman students with the best academic performance in the GY 111/111L and GY 112/112L sequence of courses. One or more prizes will be awarded per year. Students are generally nominated by those Geology faculty members who teach the freshman level geology courses. 

James Denmark-Wayne Isphording Geology Award
The fund was established in July 1986 as a scholarship account for the Department of Earth Sciences, named in honor of a Geology Major who was killed in an automobile accident. The initial contribution was made by Alfred R Denmark, a 1971 USA graduate and brother of the student. His contribution as an alumnus was matched by the University. In 2007, the Department of Earth Sciences in conjunction with the Denmark family renamed the award the James Denmark-Wayne Isphording Award to acknowledge Professor Wayne Isphording for 40 years of service to the Department and the University of South Alabama. Prof. Isphording retired in May 2007. The cash award of approximately $250.00 to $300.00 per year is made to the student with the highest grades in GY 302 and GY 303. Students are generally nominated for this award by faculty who teach those classes (Haywick and Allison); however, students may nominate themselves for this award.  

William E. Wiggs Award for Excellence in Paleontology (winner need not be a geology major)
This cash award award (presently valued at $100.00) was first presented in the spring of 2001. It is made to the geology major with the best overall academic performance in Paleontology (GY  401). Students are nominated for this award by paleontologist Murlene Clark; however, students may also nominate themselves.

Sedimentology Book Prize (winner need not be a geology major)
This award, first presented in the spring of 2001, is made to the student with the best overall performance in sedimentary petrology (GY 402). Students are nominated for this award by sedimentologist Doug Haywick; however, students may also nominate themselves.The award consists of the American Geological Institute’s Glossary of Geology reference book ($120.00). The award honors Elsie Haywick, an avid reader who died in 2000.

Elliott Hagler Award
This award was first presented in the Spring of 2004. It is in honor of Elliott Hagler, a Geology graduate who was tragically killed in a traffic accident in 2002. The award is made to the most deserving Geology Major in order to financially assist them in attending the Department's summer field school (GY 480). The cash award in 2008 was $500.00. The endowed fund was established following generous donations from friends of Elliott and his parents.

John Faggard Geology Award
The fund was established in memory of Mr. John Faggard, a rock and gem collector who was an important benefactor of the Department of Earth Sciences. He and his wife Ruth donated hundreds of rock and mineral samples to the University, some of which are on permanent display in the Life Sciences Building. The initial contribution was donated in his memory by his wife Ruth in 1991. In 1994, this scholarship was combined with the Denmark Scholarship in order to produce a single award. In 1996, a separate Faggard Scholarship was established to award the student with the highest academic standing in Geology courses who is within one year of graduation. The cash award in 2008 was $1200.00. Students can be nominated for this award by any Geology faculty member, however, students may also nominate themselves. The winning student will be decided on the basis of voting by all Geology faculty. Only students majoring in geology at the University of South Alabama are eligible for the Faggard Scholarship.

Desk and Derrick Award
The fund was established in 1996 following a major donation to the University of South Alabama by the Desk and Derrick Club, a petroleum geology affiliated organization. The cash award in 2008 was $500.00 and was made to the student(s) majoring in geology with the highest academic standing in geology planning a career or graduate study in petroleum geology or a related field.  Students are nominated for this award by Geology faculty who teach GY 304 and GY 402, courses relevant to the petroleum industry (Haywick, Clark); however, students may also nominate themselves.

Eco-Systems, Inc. Environmental Geology / Hydrogeology Award
This annual cash award of $300 was first made in the spring of 2007. The award is made to the geology major judged to have the best overall aptitude and qualifications for pursuit of a career in either environmental geology or hydrogeology. USA’s environmental geology or hydrogeology instructors nominate students for this award. A designated Senior Principal Eco-Systems, Inc. then makes the final selection of the award winner from those nominated.

Eco-Systems Website.

Mobile Rock and Gem Society Field School Award 
This award was initiated by the members of the Mobile Rock and Gem Society in 1999 as a mechanism by which to reward excellence in field work by Geology majors. The 2008 award was $500.00. It is awarded to the student who is judged the best overall field geologist by Dr. David Allison following the Department's GY 480 Field School course. 

Mobile Rock and Gem Show Website

George Lamb Award
The fund was established in 1994 in honor of Professor George Lamb, Emeritus Professor of Geology for the University of South Alabama. Professor Lamb is a former Chair of the Department of Geology and Geography and up until his retirement in 1993, was the Assistant to the President of the University of South Alabama. This award consists of a Brunton-style compass and is presented to the highest ranked Geology graduating student.  Additional consideration will be made for overall academic performance at the University of South Alabama and service to the Department of Earth Sciences (including service to the Earth Science Club). 

In addition to these awards, University of South Alabama students majoring in geology are eligible for the following external scholarships and awards:

Alabama Geological Society Newton Award ($500.00, yearly)
Alabama Geological Society Winnefordner Award ($800.00, yearly)
Mayo Fellowship ($500.00- $2000.00, yearly)
Goldwater Fellowships (variable, yearly)

Selection criteria vary for each of the above awards. Contact the department for details.

STUDENT ADVISING AND CONTACT INFORMATION
Arts and Sciences students must be advised yearly to avoid registration blocks. In Geology, we STRONGLY encourage our students to be advised before the start of each semester. The advising period for each semester is published through the University of South Alabama well in advance, so there should be no reason to miss advising at any time. For your convenience, you may contact your Geology advisor through email. Don't know who that is? Contact Ms. Sherall Cornwell in the office for help.
 

Department of Earth Sciences This page is maintained by Dr. D. Haywick. Please feel free to email him if you have any questions concerning it. url: http://www.usouthal.edu/geology/index.html Last Modified: 12/04/2008