Enrollment in this minor will be available in Fall of 2025!

The Minor in Geophysics administered by the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences provides interdisciplinary training for students interested in applying physical properties of the Earth and Earth materials to planetary and environmental problems.

The minor is available as an elective to students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. However, at least 6 credits counted towards the requirements for this minor must be unique. Unique credits must not be used to fulfill another university, college, or major requirement in the student’s program.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Geophysics Minor Requirements

The minor requires a minimum of 27 credits selected according to the following rules.

All of the following courses (12 credits)

• MTH 234 Multivariate Calculus (4 credits)
• PHY 183 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (4 credits)
• PHY 184 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (4 credits)

One of the following courses (3-4 credits)

• CMSE 202 Computational Modeling Tools and Techniques (4 credits)
• MTH 235 Differential Equations (3 credits)
• MTH 314 Matrix Algebra with Computational Applications (3 credits)

One of the following courses (3-4 credits)

• GLG 201 Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences (4 credits)
• GLG 203 Geology of the Great Lakes Region (3 credits)

Three of the following courses (9-12 credits)

• GLG 411 Hydrogeology (3 credits)
• GLG 445 Planetary Science (3 credits)
• GLG 470 Principles of Modern Geophysics (3 credits)
• GLG 471 Applied Geophysics (4 credits)