Data-Informed Decisions

Curriculum Changes due to student exit interviews and assessments, Regent's external review, and input from our Advisory Board and Industry Council.

Paleontology Certificate program
In response to student exit interviews and stated interest, a Paleontology Certificate program was developed, which leverages connections to the USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum, our Museum of Geology, and the USU Museum Studies program. Effective Fall 2024

Professional degree emphasis
In response to student feedback and interest in more practical training toward employment with a Bachelor’s degree, we developed the Professional emphasis in the Geology major with an increased focus on professional skill development. This included development of three new courses:  Geology 3800 Geoscience Workforce Techniques, Geology 5210 Geoprofessional Practicum, and Geology 5570 Engineering Geology. Effective Fall 2021

Prerequisite changes for Geology 3550 and Geology 3700
Students indicated that prerequisites for Geology 3550, Sedimentation & Stratigraphy, and Geology 3700, Structural Geology, impacted their scheduling and delayed graduation. Prerequisites for these courses were modified accordingly.  Effective Fall 2018

Splitting the Geology 3200 laboratory section from the lecture section
In response to the expansion of our Statewide programs and student exit interviews, the laboratory section of Geology 3200, Earth through Time, was split from the lecture section. This provides students with flexibility to comple the laboratory in a later semester at the Logan campus if they become Geology majors.  Effective Spring 2017.

Development of new course, Geology 3400
In response to student and faculty assessment results, a new course, Geology 3400, Communicating Geoscience, was added to help our students refine their communications skill set.  Course was first taught in Spring 2016.  This became a required course for all Geology majors starting Fall 2017.