Field Geology  (Certificate)


Are you interested in geology-related careers, internships or graduate school opportunities? Enhance your prospects with this program that emphasizes necessary field-based geologic skills.



Program Description

The certificate program in field geology prepares undergraduate students with the core knowledge base and field experience to identify, describe, collect and interpret a variety of types of geological field data.



Certificate Map

Major/Certificate Map archive


At a Glance: program details

  • Location: Tempe campus
  • Additional Program Fee: No
  • Second Language Requirement: No


Program Requirements

Additional enrollment requirements include completion of the following courses or their equivalencies with a "C" or better (scale is 4.00 = "A"):

GLG 101 Introduction to Geology I (Physical) and GLG 103 Introduction to Geology I Lab or
SES 121 Earth, Solar System and Universe and SES 123 Earth, Solar System and Universe Lab
AND GLG 321 Mineralogy and GLG 451 Field Geology I.

A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded prior to the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.



Required Coursework

The certificate requires a minimum of 15 credit hours. At least 12 credit hours must be completed in upper-division coursework and at least nine credit hours must be completed at ASU. At least six upper-division hours in the certificate must be completed in courses offered by The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. A grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or higher is required for each course used to fulfill a certificate requirement.

Required Courses -- 9 credit hours

GLG 310: Structural Geology (3)

GLG 452: Field Geology II (L) (3)

GLG 455: Advanced Field Geology (3)

Electives (choose two) -- 6 credit hours

GLG 362: Geomorphology (3)

GLG 420: Volcanology (3)

GLG 424: Petrology (3)

GLG 435: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (3)

GLG 489: Field Geochemistry (L) (3)

Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.

Courses not completed at ASU must be approved for use in this certificate.





Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly.