Earth Sciences
Discover geology and uncover the mysteries of planet Earth
The North's Advantage
Built on the Canadian Shield, Laurentian University’s campus in Sudbury provides a unique setting for field-based learning and research. Located on the southern rim of the world’s second-largest meteorite impact site, close to many mines, and a large variety of rock types, Sudbury’s geology provides exceptional opportunities for field instruction, pure, and applied research.
This includes the exploration of ore deposits, understanding geological processes in the Earth’s interior and on its surface, and the study of other planets.
The Harquail School of Earth Sciences and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) are housed in the Willet Green Miller Centre, in Sudbury, Ontario, the world’s largest mineral exploration and mining-service cluster. Uniquely situated in Northern Ontario within close proximity to Manitoulin Island, Timmins, Noranda and Bancroft, students have a setting for field-based learning and research that cannot be duplicated elsewhere.
Program courses and admission requirements can be found below. To learn more about the faculty, current projects, research areas, and student and alumni experiences, visit the Harquail School of Earth Sciences website!
Academic Advisor
Dr. Pedro Jugo
Telephone: 705-675-1151 ext 2106
Email: PJugo@laurentian.ca
Office: Science Building, B-8021
Positioning students for employment and success
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Small Classes: Take advantage of small class sizes that provide an open and hands-on learning environment with a focus on field-based instruction.
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Award-winning Faculty: Faculty are proven leaders in their fields, recognized through international and national awards, including Duncan R. Derry Medal winners, the highest Canadian economic geology award.
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Employment Opportunities: Located in the Willet Green Miller Centre, one of the largest earth science resource centres in North America, our School provides ample opportunities for students to network and find employment within their field. Leading government organizations such as the Ontario Geological Survey, the Ontario Geoscience Laboratories (Geo Labs), and the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, are co-located with us.
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Laurentian is the leading Canadian university in Economic Geology research funding. The Harquail School of Earth Sciences has by far the highest level of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI) funding in economic geology in Canada. Our largest project, Metal Earth, is a $104-million collaborative research and development project led by the Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC). This exploration research program provides undergraduate students with valuable hands-on field experience. Findings from Metal Earth will be transferable around the world and position Canada as an authoritative leader in the global quest for metals.
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Analytical Facilities: The Harquail School of Earth Sciences and MERC are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and analytical instruments, allowing students and researchers to conduct cutting-edge research. We are co-located with the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS), offering students access to a wide array of analytical instrumentation. The OGS’ Geo Labs are one of the largest and most advanced geoscience analytical facilities in North America.
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Backyard Geological Laboratory: The region’s geological environments include Archean volcanic/sedimentary belts, a Proterozoic sedimentary/volcanic belt, Grenville metamorphic terrains, and lower to middle Paleozoic sequences. The School constitutes an unparalleled learning environment in ore deposits, mineralogy, igneous and metamorphic petrology, structural geology, geophysics, geochemistry, paleontology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, and planetary geology.
- Graduate Studies: Students may continue their studies with the Harquail School of Earth Sciences in the MSc Geology program and the PhD in Mineral Deposits and Precambrian Geology program.
Professional Accreditation
The four-year B.Sc. in Earth Sciences is designed to meet the minimum knowledge (academic) requirements for registration as a professional geoscientist (P.Geo.) with Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO). Registration with the PGO will significantly enhance career prospects of Environmental Geosciences students.
Students Travel Opportunities
Not only do students at the Harquail School have the opportunity to travel to nearby places in Northern Ontario, they also are presented with international field trip opportunities. Most recently, students travelled to Colombia (2020), Southwestern USA (2019), Ireland (2018), Peru, South Africa, Chile, Hawaii, and Mexico. Read about the 13-day road trip through Southwestern USA in 2018, and check out new posts on the Harquail Instagram page.
Meet our Graduates
Our alumni find rewarding careers around the world in industry, government, and research. Explore some of their stories and imagine how studying at Harquail School of Earth Sciences could be your start to an exciting life in geoscience.
Visit the Harquail School of Earth Sciences for more information
Ontario High School Applicants
Program Prerequisites:
- 1 grade 12 English U/M course; 1 grade 12 4U Advanced Functions; 2 grade 12 U Science courses or 1 Science + 1 Math; 2 other grade 12 U/M courses (Chemistry, Physics and Calculus recommended)
- A minimum overall average of 70% in the 6 best grade 12 U/M courses
Additional information for applicants who have completed Advanced Placement courses.
Additional information for applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate.
Applicants from outside an Ontario High School
Canadian High School Applicants from outside Ontario
Canadian Applicants
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you must complete your application through the Ontario Universities Application Center (OUAC).
For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: Undergraduate Studies page.
Apply Now as a Domestic Applicant
International Applicants
If you’re an international applicant, you must fill out the International Application Form.
For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: International Students page.
Apply Now as an International Applicant
The degree options listed below are for the upcoming academic year, not the current academic year. If you are a current student looking for which courses to take in order to complete your degree options from a previous academic year's curriculum, please consult with an academic advisor.
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Earth Sciences
Students must follow these regulations in order to meet graduation requirements for the BA or B.Sc.
Specialization in Earth Sciences
Total: 120 credits (with a minimum of 66 credits of GEOL courses plus 27 credits of foundation science plus electives)*
* B.Sc. students are required to take at least 12 cr from outside the Faculty of Science and Engineering. No more than 72 cr can be taken from any one subject area.
The four-year B.Sc. in Geology is designed to meet the minimum knowledge (academic) requirements for registration as a professional geologist (P.Geo.) with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO).
1st year
CHMI 1006E General Chemistry I
CHMI 1007E General Chemistry II
GEOL 1006E Introductory Geology I
GEOL 1007E Introductory Geology II
MATH 1036E Calculus I
PHYS 1006E Introductory Physics I or PHYS 1206 - Physics for the Life Sciences I
PHYS 1007E Introductory Physics II or PHYS 1207 - Physics for the Life Sciences II
+ electives (9 cr) (6 cr of foundation science* and 3 cr of Arts are recommended)
* A foundation science is a course in biology, chemistry, computer programming, mathematics, physics or statistics at the first year level or higher (remedial secondary school level or transitional courses will not be accepted for credit).
2nd year
GEOL 2006E Field Geology I
GEOL 2126E Mineralogy I
GEOL 2127E Optical Mineralogy
GEOL 2237E Sedimentary, Igneous & Metamorphic Rocks
GEOL 2406E Paleobiology I
GEOL 2807E Geochemistry I
STAT 2246E Statistics for Sciences
+ electives (9 cr) (3 cr of foundation science and 6 cr of Arts are recommended)*
* CHMI 2526 is strongly recommended for students focusing on mineral exploration, igneous or metamorphic petrology, geochemistry or mineralogy.
3rd year
GEOL 3006E Field Geology II
GEOL 3206E Igneous Petrology
GEOL 3207E Metamorphic Petrology
GEOL 3217E Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
GEOL 3306E Structural Geology
GEOL 3607E Ore Deposits & Their Geological Environment
GEOL-3807E Geochemistry II
+ electives* (9 cr) (3 cr of Arts are recommended; GEOL 3056 - Computer Applications in the Geosciences or GEOG 3056 - GIS Application is recommended)
4th year
GEOL- 4506E Tectonics, Petrogenesis and Metallogenesis
+ 9 credits from:
GEOL 4016E Precambrian Geology
GEOL 4026E Field Geology III
GEOL 4127E Advanced Mineralogy
GEOL 4206E Advanced Igneous Petrology
GEOL 4307E Polyphase Metamorphism & Deformation
GEOL 4607E Ore-Forming Processes
+ 6 credits from:
GEOL 4217E Carbonate Sedimentology
GEOL 4226E Pleistocene & Glacial Geology
GEOL 4956E Mineral Exploration Geophysics
+ electives* (12 cr)
* Up to 6 credits may be GEOL 4005 - Thesis or two 3-credit GEOL courses not already taken above or from the additional Geoscience course list below. Students must ensure their overall degree requirements are met.
Additional geoscience courses eligible for APGO credit:*
BIOL 4076E Ecosystem Ecology
CHMI 3326E Aquatic Chemistry
CHMI 4197E Environmental Analytical Chemistry
ENSC 3716E Environmental Impact Assessment
GEOG 2037E Introduction to Remote Sensing
GEOG 2126E Climatology I
GEOG 3036E Air Photo Interpretation
GEOG 3056E GIS Application
GEOL 2066E Near-surface Geophysical Methods
GEOL 3056E Computer Applications in the Geosciences
GEOL 3397E Introductory Soil Science
GEOL 3417E Oceanography
GEOL 4005E Thesis (6cr)
GEOL 4037E Applied Remote Sensing
GEOL 4706E Hydrogeology
GEOL 4416E Global Change - The Geologic Record
GEOL 3146E Physics of the Earth
GEOL 4946E Seismic Methods
* Courses may have prerequisites not listed here.
Bachelor of Science (General) in Earth Sciences
Students must follow these regulations in order to meet graduation requirements for the BA or B.Sc.
Concentration in Earth Sciences
First year
CHMI 1006E General Chemistry I*
CHMI 1007E General Chemistry II
GEOL 1006E Introductory Geology I
GEOL 1007E Introductory Geology II
PHYS 1006E Introductory Physics I OR PHYS 1206E Physics for the Life Science I
PHYS 1007E Introductory Physics II OR PHYS 1207E Physics for the Life Science II
6 credits from MATH at the first year level
6 elective credits#
* Students lacking grade 12 4U Chemistry must first take CHMI 1041.
Second Year
GEOL 2006E Field Geology I
GEOL 2126E Mineralogy I
GEOL 2127E Optical Mineralogy
GEOL 2237E Sedimentary, Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks
GEOL 2406E Paleobiology I
GEOL 2807E Geochemistry I
12 elective credits#
Third Year
GEOL 3006E Field Geology II
12 credits from:
GEOL 3206E Igneous Petrography
GEOL 3207E Metamorphic Petrography
GEOL 3217E Sedimentary Facies
GEOL 3306E Structural Geology
GEOL 3807E Geochemistry II
15 elective credits#
# Students must include a minimum of 12 credits from the Humanities and/or Social Sciences.
Note: Students may not exceed 48 credits at the 1000 or 9100 level in their degree program.
Minor in Geology
GEOL 1006E Introduction to Geology I
GEOL 1007E Introduction to Geology II
15 credits from the following (at least 6 credits must be from 3000/4000 level
GEOL 2237E Sedimentary, Igneous & Metamorphic Rocks
GEOL 2126E Mineralogy
GEOL 2021E Geology of Earth Resources
GEOL 2022E The Dynamic Earth
GEOL 2406E Paleobiology I
GEOL 2046E Natural Disasters
GEOL 2106E Introductory Geomorphology I
GEOL 3217E Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
GEOL 3312E Introduction to Earth Structures
GEOL 3811E Chemistry of Earth Materials
GEOL 4226E Pleistocene and Glacial Geology
GEOL 4416E Global Change
GEOL 4706E Hydrogeology
GEOL 4956E Geophysics
3 credits from the following list
COMM 1206E Business communications
ENGR 1016E Engineering Communications
ENGL 1706E Intro to writing English studies I
COST 2446E The Dynamics of Interpersonal Communications I
COST 2447E The Dynamics of Interpersonal Communications II
ENGL 3536E Environmental Communications
ENGL 3556E Principles and Practices of Workplace Communications
SCOM 4006E Communicating Research