This option provides the most flexibility, preparing students for a full range of technical careers in geoscience and for advanced studies in graduate school. It can be specialized toward different branches of geosciences by the appropriate choices of elective courses. The B.S. Honors Program is available for this option. The Department of Geological Sciences focuses on teaching the fundamentals of Earth science, including the scientific method, the ways in which these Earth systems interact with each other, and how humans are currently affecting these systems. Our faculty strive to incorporate current scientific problems into the curriculum, including courses on natural hazards (i.e., earthquakes, wildfire and landslides) and paleoclimatology, in addition to core courses in geology and geophysics. Most courses involve either field or laboratory components and utilize the most recent geochemical, field and modeling techniques. We strive to prepare our students for a diversity of careers, including resource management, education, geotechnical engineering, environmental remediation and energy production, as well as postgraduate study.