Academic Accelerator - Bachelor of Science - Geology - Environmental Geology

The Academic Accelerator Program (AAP) is a balanced first-year program for international students with strong English-language skills. It supplements immersive classes taught in English with just the right amount of support.

As a student in the Academic Accelerator, individuals will receive:

The Bachelor of Science in Geology program curriculum prepares undergraduates for graduate study in geology and geophysics and related fields, as well as a variety of professional careers such as teaching, research, resource exploration and development, and environmental management and remediation. The undergraduate curriculum includes three areas of concentration: Geology, Environmental geology, and Geophysics.

Students in the Geology and Environmental Geology concentrations follow the same basic curriculum during the first five semesters of study. They receive a solid foundation in mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, and sedimentology, along with basic courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The emphasis for all concentrations is on fundamental geologic processes operating on and within the earth. Laboratory and field studies are integrated into the curriculum at all levels, including a six-week field geology course at the department’s permanent field camp in the Colorado Front Range.

The curriculum is intentionally designed to allow students more flexibility in the final three semesters of study. With guidance and approval from the department, students can develop a program of advanced coursework tailored to their area of concentration and career goals. Students in the environmental geology concentration take physical hydrogeology.

All three areas of concentration aim to provide students with a strong foundation in basic geology and prepare them for entry into a graduate program or directly into a professional career.