NC State has discontinued the environmental geology Bachelor of Arts degree. However, lack of funding or interest did not fuel the degree’s discontinuation.  

The degree is not completely being thrown away. The geology Bachelor of Science degree is being updated to make the program more efficient and compensate for the loss of the environmental geology B.A. degree.  

“The requirements for the geology B.S. were recently modified so that students wanting to take the courses under the B.A. in environmental geology can now take the same courses and receive a B.S. degree in geology,” said Walt Robinson, head of the NC State Department of Marine, Earth, & Atmospheric Sciences. “In short, the environmental geology B.A. has been discontinued because it duplicates opportunities available to students in the B.S. program.”

The primary difference between the geology B.S. major and the environmental geology B.A. major lied in the math requirements, according to Robinson. 

An old version of the geology B.S. major dictated that students take calculus-based physics and calculus for science majors and engineers. Back when these classes were required, the two programs were actually quite distinct. 

Although more rigorous math and physics courses may have been essential to students succeeding as geologists outside of college in the past, they aren’t as crucial anymore, according to Robinson.

“So they changed those requirements,” Robinson said. “It was then realized that at that point, there was essentially no difference between the B.A. degree and the B.S. degree.”

As a result, the department eliminated the environmental geology B.A. 

“The university likes us to not keep superfluous programs on the books,” Robinson said. 

In regard to why the geology B.S. program involved engineering-based math in the first place, Robinson said, “Historically, our geology program did initially develop out of engineering.  Continuing to require the more advanced classes had a lot to do with legacy.”

The geology B.S. degree modifications allow students to take MA 131 and MA 231 (Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A and B) if they would prefer to opt out of MA 141 and MA 241 (Calculus I and II), which are based on principles of engineering. 

Additionally, students in the program are now offered the option of choosing either PY 211 (College Physics I) or PY 205 (Physics for Engineers and Scientists I) to take their sophomore year. 

“Our new requirements are more consistent with what people need to become a geologist today,” Robinson said.

These modifications will not affect the students already enrolled in the environmental geology B.A.

“The students currently in the geology B.A. and the environmental geology B.A. can continue on in their respective programs and get their degrees,” Robinson said. “All in all, no changes will be made to their required classes.”

As for what this means for the revised major itself, Robinson said, “The updated geology B.S. degree encompasses many possibilities. It is very flexible and is becoming increasingly popular. It’s a good field now in terms of employment.”  

According to Robinson, the modifications should also make it considerably easier for students in the program to adopt double majors, as they provide a bit more flexibility. 

Julia LaFond, a sophomore in the geology B.S. program, said the revisions might increase the number of students enrolling in the program, but she does not foresee larger changes beyond that.

“Honestly, I do feel like taking the higher-level calculus and physics isn’t actually necessary for the major,” LaFond said. “I’m glad that the option to take the higher levels is still available. The program will be more inclusive this way.”

For those interested in pursuing geology, the subject itself provides a compelling reason, according to LaFond.

“Geology rocks,” LaFond said. “Get it? Rocks?”