Upon graduation, geology majors must be able to:

1. Read topographic maps.
2. Construct profiles from topographic maps.
3. Read geologic maps.
4. Make a geologic map.
5. Construct cross sections from geologic maps.
6. Identify common rock-forming minerals.
7. Interpret the conditions of formation of sedimentary rocks based on composition, texture
and/or internal structures.
8. Determine the type of stress responsible for forming various structural features.
9. Use a Brunton compass.
10. Measure and describe a stratigraphic section in the field.
11. Know the ages of the Earth and important geologic features and events in the Earth’s history.
12. Know the large-scale internal Earth processes and the features produced by them.
13. Identify common fossils and their ages as well as the conditions under which they lived.
14. Understand the relationships between physics and structural geology.
15. Use aerial photographs in geological investigations.
16. Make a surficial geologic map.
17. Distinguish between various types of surficial sedimentary deposits.
18. Create and describe a section of unconsolidated surficial deposits.
19. Interpret and create graphs of quantitative data.
20. Collect and evaluate three-dimensional geologic data.
21. Infer environments of deposition from sedimentary structures.
22. Explain how and why the Earth has changed over time.
23. Collect and evaluate structural geologic data.
24. Define and distinguish between various structural features.
25. Communicate observations and interpretations orally to fellow students and faculty.
26. Communicate observations and interpretations in written format.