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Geochemistry Minor (IU)

Offered by: Department of Earth Sciences Geochemistry is a state-of-the-art science that studies the abundance of elements and their movement through the Earth’s crust, atmosphere, oceans, lakes, and streams.

Why choose a minor in geochemistry?

This minor is ideal for Geology and Environmental Science students who have an interest in geochemistry, chemistry and chemical biology students who would like practical application of the chemical skills they have learned as part of their major, students in Forensic & Investigative Sciences who want to learn geochemical approaches, and Biology students who want to develop a broader environmental context for their research. Knowledge of the chemical and biological reactions that mobilize and transform elements within the environment is fundamental to a broad range of disciplines including geology, climate science, environmental science, microbiology, ecology, forensics and chemistry. 

See Earth Science minors and certificates

Minor requirements

The Geochemistry Minor will consist of five courses (15-18 Credit Hours): 

  •  Students must complete the five courses with a minimum GPA of 2.00.
  • Credit will not be honored for courses completed with a grade lower than a C.

Download the check sheet and application for the Geochemistry Minor

Choose five of the following courses (15-18 Credit Hours):

  • A minimum of which three courses (9 credit hours) must be GEOL-G courses:
    • GEOL-G406 Introduction to Geochemistry
    • GEOL-G482 Environmental Microbiology
    • GEOL-G483 Isotope Geochemistry
    • GEOL-G486 Soil Biogeochemistry
    • GEOL-G488 Global Cycles
  • And a maximum of two (2) courses/course sequences (6-9 credit hours) may come from the list below.
    • CHEM-C310 Analytical Chemistry and CHEM-C311 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
    • CHEM-C341 Organic Chemistry I
    • CHEM-C360 Elementary Physical Chemistry
    • CHEM-C361 Physical Chemistry of Bulk Matter
    • CHEM-C410 Principles of Chemical Instrumentation and CHEM-C411 Principles of Chemical Instrumentation Laboratory
    • BIOL-K411 Global Change Biology

Apply for a minor

A decision to minor in geology should be made in consultation with a department undergraduate advisor. Students interested in the Geology or Geochemistry minor should complete the minor check sheet and application and send it to Jennifer Nelson, Earth Sciences Undergraduate Advisor. Once the requirements for the minor has been completed, the minor will be noted on the student's transcript. 

“I hope to use my knowledge of science to help solve some of the environmental issues that we are currently facing and will continue to fight against in the future.”

Elliot Boyle Environmental Science, Undergraduate

Department of Physics

Physics LD154 | 402 N Blackford St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-274-6900
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