Dec 15, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Geology Minor

The Geology minor is designed to provide students from a variety of majors with a science-based understanding of the planet Earth, including earth materials and processes, the history of the planet, and the evolution of life. This minor may be particularly relevant to majors including education, archeology, environmental studies, engineering, and other majors including those within the Colleges of Sciences, Education, Liberal Arts, Business, and Engineering. The minor requires completion of 24 credits in geography and geology courses.

Please see the UNLV College of Sciences Department of Geoscience web page at geoscience.unlv.edu/ for information about department programs, faculty and facilities.  Degree worksheets are available at www.unlv.edu/degree/minor-geology.

Learning Outcomes

  • Acquire a solid understanding of the field of Geology.
  • Be able to apply scientific reasoning to a variety of geological topics.
  • Be able to apply geological principles to solve geologic problems relating to natural hazards or resource availability.
  • Gain a thorough understanding of the evidence for Earth’s geologic and life history.

Advising

Please see advising information at the UNLV College of Sciences Advising Center.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

University Graduation Requirements

To obtain this minor, you must be a degree seeking undergraduate student pursuing an approved UNLV bachelor’s degree. Please see Graduation Policies  for complete information.

Geology Minor - Total Credits: 24

The Geology minor is tailored to the needs of students within the Colleges of Science or Engineering, or is for other majors with a scientific emphasis.

Required Courses - Credits: 12

Elective Courses - Credits: 12

Choose at least 12 credits from GEOL and GEOG courses numbered 300 or above. 

Notes

  1. No more than 12 credits taken for the minor may be used to satisfy requirements in a student’s major.
  2. At least 9 of the upper-division (300-400 level) credits required for this minor must be completed at UNLV.
  3. All courses counting towards the minor must be completed with a grade of C or better.