Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Geology

B.A. to M.S. GIS Professional Concentration 

This accelerated program gives outstanding bachelor’s degree students in the Geosciences a “fast-track” option to pursue their Master of Science Geographic Information- Professional Concentration degree. Students accepted into an accelerated undergraduate program may take departmentally approved graduate coursework as part of their undergraduate curriculum.  These credits will count towards both their bachelor's and master's degrees and can fulfill major requirements, upper-division requirements, and/or free electives.  For details on accelerated programs at Idaho State University, please see (Degree Requirements). 

Students accepted into the accelerated program may take up to 12 credit hours of 5000-level courses during the last two semesters of their bachelor’s program that will apply to both the bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements. Students have to meet all requirements for both the bachelor’s degree and master’s degree. Once accepted into an accelerated degree program, it is strongly recommended for students to stay in close communication with their advisor regarding pursuit of acceptance into the Graduate School and the master's degree program at Idaho State University. Acceptance into an accelerated program during the bachelor's degree program is the first step in the admissions process. A separate application to the Graduate School is necessary for all accelerated programs. For more information regarding application and admission to the Graduate School at Idaho State University, please see the Graduate Admissions section of the graduate catalog (http://coursecat.isu.edu/graduate/graduateadmissions/).

Additional requirements for students in this program are:

Students must earn at least a “B” (3.0) in each graduate-level course counted for the program.

Eligibility for this program:

1. Completion of at least 64 undergraduate credits applicable to the Bachelor of Arts in Geology at the time of application.

2. Overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.

Application Process to take undergraduate and graduate courses in a student’s senior year: Students who wish to enroll in this program should apply no later than the end of the second semester of the year prior to their intended undergraduate degree conferral.

Applications should be sent to geology@isu.edu  with the following:

1. A letter of intent to express how this accelerated program will enhance your academic and professional pathways to success 

2. 2 letters of recommendation 

3. Include “Accelerated BS to MSGIS” in the subject line of the email

Graduate School Application Process: Students will apply to the graduate school to become a MSGIS student during the year prior to their intended undergraduate degree conferral.

* Meeting these eligibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the accelerated master’s degree.

¹

"P” courses are equivalent to the original course.

 Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CHEM 1111 & 1111L	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab (Partially satisfies General Education Objective 5) 1	5
Choose one of the following:		5
MATH 1143 & MATH 1144	Precalculus I: Algebra and Precalculus II: Trigonometry (Satisfies General Education Objective 3)
MATH 1147	Precalculus
GEOL 1107	Real Monsters (Satisfies General Education Objective 7) 2	3
GEOL 2204 & 2204L	Fluid Earth and Fluid Earth Lab	4
GEOL 2205 & 2205L	Solid Earth and Solid Earth Lab	4
GEOL 3310	Geologic Field Methods	3
GEOL 3313	Earth Materials I	4
GEOL 3315	Evolution of the Earth's Surface	4
GEOL 3392	Geosciences Careers Seminar	1
GEOL 4403 & 4403L	Principles of Geographic Information Systems and Principles of GIS Laboratory	3
GEOL 4421	Structural Geology	4
GEOL 4452	Sedimentation-Stratigraphy	4
GEOL 4456	Geology of Idaho	2-3
or GEOL 4458	Geology of North America
Plus at least one other upper division geoscience class to equal 40 GEOL credits.
In the last 2 semesters of their Bachelor’s Degree, students may take up to 12 credits of coursework listed in the core and elective sections of the MSGIS program.
Total Credits		50

¹

MATH 1143, MATH 1147, or equivalent,  is required for CHEM 1111; MATH 1143 and MATH 1144 or MATH 1147, or equivalent,  is required for GEOL 4421.

²

Transfer students may substitute other appropriate courses for GEOL 1107 with the permission of the Geosciences Department Chair or Geosciences Undergraduate Advisor.

Degree Totals

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Program Admission Requirements		0
General Education		38
Major Requirements (Required General Education credits removed)		39-40
Upper Division Free Electives		15
Free Electives		27-28
Total Credits		120

ISU Degree Requirements

ISU General Education

Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Master of Science in Geographic Information Science