Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Geology in Geology

Catalog Year 2026-2027

Based on VCCS Curriculum for GEOLOGY

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission to University of Mary Washington

• Earn a transfer associate degree.

• Earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 for your associate degree.

• Earn grades of "C" or higher in all your courses for the associate degree to be eligible to transfer those credits.

• All science labs must be completed in person (virtual labs are not accepted at UMW).

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: https://www.umw.edu/admissions/transfer/

• Register Intent to Transfer: After the first 15 credits, complete this form and submit to admit@umw.edu to receive an application fee waiver: https://www.umw.edu/admissions/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021//01/Lette.... Additional details are available at TransferVirginia.org.

• Admission Application: Apply by October 15 for spring admission, March 1 for summer admission, and April 1 for fall admission. Additional details and a transfer checklist are available at https://www.umw.edu/admissions/transfer/

• Financial Aid: https://www.umw.edu/financialaid/

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: Apply by April 1 to ensure you receive the maximum aid for which you are eligible. FAFSAs will still be accepted after the April 1 deadline. The required forms are available at studentaid.gov

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year. For help, see Transfer Steps and Resource Center at www.TransferVirginia.org

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and the University of Mary Washington within your first year. College Connect available in your account at www.TransferVirginia.org

• UMW requires proficiency in a second language as part of the general education requirements. This can be satisfied in several ways, including completing four years of the same language in high school, transferring credits from a community college, or completing a sequence of language courses through the 201 level at UMW. American Sign Language is accepted as a second language. All the options for satisfying this requirement can be found in the UMW Catalog.

• Laboratories must be completed in person for all lab-based science courses (e.g., biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, and physics) taken at community colleges. UMW does not accept labs that were completed virtually as this is a safety hazard.

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• Are you fascinated by Earth processes, such as the eruption of volcanoes or earthquakes generated along faults? Do you want to help manage Earth's resources (water, minerals, energy) responsibly? Do you enjoy lab work as well as the outdoors? If so, a major in Geology may be just what you are seeking.

• Our curriculum provides a solid foundation in geology that will prepare you for graduate school or immediate employment. Many of our courses involve fieldwork and/or independent projects, with an emphasis on building communication and teamwork skills. Our students learn to convey science to a range of audiences through coursework and independent research.

• All majors in EESC require completion of an introductory GIS course (GISC 200 or GISC 250 at UMW). Additionally, since GIS skills are important in virtually all environmental careers, many of our environmental science majors choose to complete UMW's GIS Certificate.

• The EESC department also offers a minor in Environmental Sustainability, designed for students from any major (including Geology) who are passionate about preserving Earth's resources and want to help build a sustainable future.

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: Transfer students with a VCCS AS or AAS degree have completed the UMW general education requirements except second language competency, digital intensive (DI), diverse and global perspectives (DGP), after Mary Washington (AMW), and beyond the classroom (BTC) general education requirements. Except for second language proficiency and DGP, the DI, AMW and BTC requirements can be completed within the Geology major at UMW.

• Dual Enrollment – Completion of Associate Degree in HS: Students participating in dual enrollment programs are considered to be freshman applicants. Dual enrollment courses taken at the high school are treated as identical to the same course when taken on a college campus; dual enrollment status does not affect the transferability of the course.

• Credit for Prior Learning: UMW accepts credit for AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, and other qualifying previous coursework. Equivalencies are provided here: https://academics.umw.edu/registrar/transfer-information/transferring-cr...

• Catalog Year: Students must complete general education requirements associated with the academic year that they enroll at UMW. Students complete major requirements associated with the academic year in which they declare their major.

Is This College Right For Me?

• Home is precisely what UMW will come to feel like. Our campus is gorgeous and full of opportunity. Join a club sports team. Audition for a musical. Lead the way in Student Government Association. Train with our esports team. Or sit back, relax, and take it all in from the cozy comfort of Ball Circle.

• UMW is a small university located in suburban Fredericksburg, VA. We offer small class sizes, and all courses (including labs) are taught by faculty committed to student learning and success. We get to know our students well, so when you ask for a letter of reference, we can say a lot about you.

• UMW offers high impact experiences beyond the classroom. Faculty are committed to collaborating with students on research projects and outreach experiences.

• UMW is centrally located between Washington, DC and Richmond, VA in the largest technology corridor in Virginia. UMW students enjoy a multitude of internship opportunities where they can apply their academic knowledge while gaining professional experience. UMW students receive support with building resumes and conducting job searches from the Department and University's career center, and can earn academic credit for qualifying internship experiences.

• Learn more about our college at www.TransferVirginia.org

Did You Know That…

• UMW has a co-enrollment agreement with Germanna Community College, which allows Germanna students to take up to five courses at UMW to transfer back to their Germanna associate degree program. This allows students to receive UMW course experiences at Germanna tuition rates. Students must submit a letter of intent after completing 15 credits at Germanna: https://www.umw.edu/admissions/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/05/German...

• Completing your associate's transfer degree satisfies most lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree.

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at the University of Mary Washington.

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• Explore possible careers, salaries, and job outlook at www.TransferVirginia.org

• Our Geology major prepares students for careers in the energy industry (oil, gas, mining), mineral and water resource industries, environmental consulting with private or government agencies, the geotechnical industry (construction), science education (universities, K-12, museums, parks), or with research organizations.

• Geology majors at UMW earn a BS in Environmental Science and Geology, and are highly sought after in the mid-Atlantic region. Our graduates are well prepared for further study in master's and doctoral programs in Geology and other related fields.

• Check out our departmental website to learn more about our programs at https://cas.umw.edu/ees/

Program Successes & Highlights

• Graduates in Geology have secured jobs with a variety of private and government agencies, including: Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas, GEOLOG (Houston, TX), Geo-Technology Associates, Fitchburg State University, Ridgeline Minerals (Las Vegas), SLR Consulting, Smithsonian Natural History Museum, Stafford County Public Schools, US Army Corp Engineers, US Navy, and Virginia Dept. of Energy.

• Geology graduates have excellent success rates for admission to graduate programs for further study in geology and other related fields. Graduates have been accepted at schools such as: Colorado State University, Oregon State University, University of Alberta, University of Georgia, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Texas-Austin, Virginia Tech, Western Washington University, and the University of Richmond's Law School.

• Motivated students who work well independently typically have the opportunity to conduct research with faculty members. Each year, several students publish and present their work at regional and national conferences. Conference registration fees, transportation costs, and lodging are generally fully funded by the Department and/or University. Students are competitively selected to participate in the 10-week UMW Summer Science Institute, for which students receive room and board and are paid to conduct research with a faculty member.

• Our Jepson Science Center is well equipped with state-of-the-art lab instruments and an extensive array of field equipment (incl. a 20 ft. research boat). Unlike larger universities, our equipment is routinely available to our science students, all of whom are undergraduates.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• With an associate's degree and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, you may qualify for UMW's Guaranteed Admissions Agreement with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and Richard Bland College. Additional details are available here: https://www.umw.edu/admissions/transfer/our-commitment/guaranteed-admiss...

• Each fall, UMW enrolls approximately 300 students from the Virginia Community College System and other schools inside and outside of Virginia.

• Learn more about applying at www.TransferVirginia.org

Do More With Your Degree!

• Most students complete an internship at some point during their years at UMW. The University and EESC Department support students in their internship and job searches through individual advising, campus job fairs, and our EESC 465 Senior Portfolio and Career Preparation 1-credit course (major elective and AMW Gen Ed course at UMW).

• Students who plan to pursue a graduate degree commonly complete one or more research experiences (EESC 491 Individual Study) and often participate in our Summer Science Institute.

• Our highest-achieving students may earn Departmental Honors by completing a year-long senior thesis, which includes an oral defense.

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• Students must earn at least 30 credits at UMW as a degree-seeking student (not including physical education credits). Half of the major credits must be taken at UMW.

• Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 in both the major and overall coursework to complete their degree.