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Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Geology

View/download the Minimum Requirements for a BSc in Geology (PDF)

LevelPapersPoints
100-level

EAOS 111 Earth and Ocean Science
GEOL 112 Dynamic Earth: A New Zealand Perspective

One of

MATH 120 Mathematics for Scientists
MATH 130 Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics 1
MATH 140 Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics 2
COMO 101 Modelling and Computation
STAT 110 Statistical Methods
STAT 115 Introduction to Biostatistics

18 points from BIOL, BTNY, CELS, CHEM, ECOL, or PHSI papers

18
18



18
18
18
18
18
18

200-level

GEOL 251 Minerals and Rocks
GEOL 252 Field Studies and New Zealand Geology

One further 200-level GEOL paper

One further paper from 200-level GEOL or 200-level Geology Degree paper taught by another department

18
18

18

300-level

GEOL 302 (or GEOL 304) Independent Project

GEOL 344 Advanced Field Studies

GEOL 353 Tectonics

One further 300-level GEOL paper

One further paper from  300-level GEOL or 300-level Geology Degree paper taught by another department

18

18

18

18

18

 

126 further  points (usually 7 papers); must include 36 points (usually two papers) at  200-level or above.
Up to 90  points may be taken from outside Science

126
Total   360

Minor Subject requirements for Geology

View the Geology Minor subject requirements on the Geology subject page

Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Geology

Papers

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science (PGDipAppSc) in Applied Geology

Papers

Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Geology

  • Students planning to go on to do a BSc(Hons) in geology should check the entry requirements (which consist of higher than average grades and completion of GEOL302 as an additional paper to the BSc degree).
  • Geology 400-level Courses
Papers

Master of Science (MSc) in Geology

An MSc is usually a two year degree with an initial “papers” year followed by a year of research. It is possible to undertake a one-year MSc by thesis alone if the student already has the equivalent of an Honours degree or PGDipSci in the same (or related) field.

YearPapers
1st Year
  • GEOL 401 Current Topics and Advanced Methods in Geoscience (or GEOL402 and GEOL403)

  • GEOL 495 Master's Thesis Preparation;

  • Six other 400-level GEOL papers;

2nd Year Thesis: GEOL 5.

Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

Master of Science (MSc) in Geophysics

An MSc is usually a two year degree with an initial “papers” year followed by a year of research. It is possible to undertake a one-year MSc by thesis alone if the student already has the equivalent of an Honours degree or PGDipSci in the same (or related) field.

YearPapers
1st year
  • GEOL 401 Current Topics and Advanced Methods in Geoscience (or GEOL402 and GEOL403)

  • GEOL 495 Master's Thesis Preparation;

  • Three-Six other 400-level papers from GEOL, MATH, PHSI, or SURV;

2nd Year
  • Thesis: GEPX 5.

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

Master of Applied Science (MAppSc) in Applied Geology

Papers
  • GEOL 401 Current Topics and Advanced Methods in Geoscience (or GEOL402 and GEOL403)
  • Six  other 400-level GEOL papers;
  • Three further approved papers at 400-level;
  • APPS 597 Supervised Independent Study.

Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)

The Diploma for Graduates is an academically integrated course of study, designed for graduates and others with equivalent qualifications or experience, who require additional training or training in another discipline, without the necessity to undertake another full degree course; or who wish to extend their knowledge of an area of study or bring it up to date; or who wish to satisfy the requirements for a second major subject additional to the one included in the first degree.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Candidates for this degree must have qualified with the degree of Master of Science, or with the degree of Bachelor of Science with First or Second Class Honours, or with the Postgraduate Diploma in Science with Credit (i.e. at the standard of First or Second Class Honours) or, in the case of graduates of other universities, have reached a standard deemed to be equivalent to one of these qualifications. Candidates for PhD are required to pursue a course of full-time advanced study and research for at least two and a half years, or part-time work (combined perhaps with demonstrator duties) for a rather longer time period. In practice, candidates in geology seldom complete in less than three years.

Course-related terminology used at the University of Otago

Course: The collection of papers for which a   student
is enrolled in a particular semester or year.

Paper: The smallest individual academic   components of a course (and thus of a Programme).
Papers are characterised   by:
1. being recorded as separate entities on an academic record
2. having   some form of result attached to them
3. generating a definable portion of the   tuition fees payable.
Thus the Otago term 'paper'    is equivalent to the US term   'course'.

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