The Department of Geology and Geophysics (GG) is dedicated to the scientific study of the exterior and interior of the Earth and other planetary bodies. Sub-disciplines within GG are many, and offer rich opportunities for multidisciplinary study of problems of great intellectual and practical importance. Coastal geologists study processes such as sedimentation and beach erosion, reef growth and degradation, and sea level change. Hydrologists and Hydrogeochemists study the cycling of fresh water between the atmosphere, land, and ocean. Of particular emphasis is how climate change impacts this cycle, how fresh water supplies are impacted by human activities, including land-use practices and the introduction of contaminants into surface and groundwater, and how climate, hydrologic, and terrestrial processes impact the ocean and its ecosystems by way of surface water and submarine groundwater discharge. Structural geologists study the physical features produced in rock units by deformational processes such as mountain building, rifting, and earthquakes. Engineering geologists provide geotechnical recommendations affecting the design, construction, and operation of engineering projects based on Earth material properties, geological structures, and processes such as faulting, landslides, erosion, and flooding.The BA degree in geology is appropriate for students interested in Earth Science but not necessarily intending to pursue graduate school. It is more flexible than the BS program and has two tracks: Environmental Earth Science and Earth Science Education. The BA degree requires completion of 120 credit hours of course work, the equivalent of four years of full-time study. A minimum grade of C (not C-) must be achieved in each class in the major and in all support classes.