Geology, B.S.

Choosing a career focus

Many different career opportunities are open to students in the geosciences. Students complete a core of geology courses to solidly prepare them for careers in the geosciences. Additional electives are chosen to focus on a particular career path and best prepare the student for employment or graduate school. Students may focus in one of five career paths or select electives from two or more career paths, depending on their interests.

GEOL focus areas include:

• Environmental Geology:  protection and management of natural resources.  Graduates may work for environmental firms, or could do environmental work for petroleum and mineral companies.  Many government agencies also hire graduates with these skills.
• Geospatial Technology:  managing spatial data using GIS, GPS, and remote sensing.  Graduates may work in traditional petroleum, mining, or environmental companies, for government agencies, or within the geospatial industry that provides and manages maps and imagery to the world.
• Mineral Resources:  exploration and development of mineral resources.  Graduates may explore for and assist with extracting these resources.
• Paleontology:  study of ancient organisms and environments.  Graduates in this focus area will often attend graduate school to develop research and teaching careers, but career opportunities also are available in museums, governmental agencies, or with consulting firms that survey and preserve fossil resources.
• Petroleum Geology: exploration and development of both conventional and unconventional petroleum systems. Graduates may become employed in oil and gas exploration and extraction, including work in established fields, coal bed methane, or oil shale provinces.

Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their advisor in selecting a career path and electives.

Recommended Electives

Professional Development

The senior year culminates in an individual research project (GEOL 464, GEOL 465) in which the student practices the professional accomplishments of project planning, organization, scientific research, time management, and oral/written communication.

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in professional societies active on campus, including the AAPG Student Chapter, Tech Geological Association, the Society of Economic Geologists and the Paleontology Club.  Students interested in paleontology and mineralogy may have opportunities to volunteer or work on collections, archives, educational outreach and/or research projects through the Museum of Geology.  Internships in industry and government are commonly available and highly recommended.

Advanced Degrees

The B.S. in Geology can provide a pathway to professional careers in teaching, law, or medicine.  For careers in science education, students should consult teaching programs at other colleges for auxiliary education courses that would be needed for teacher certification.  With some adaptation, this degree can provide a foundation for professional graduate degrees such as in medicine or law.

Graduate programs, both master’s and doctoral, are available and involve additional specialization in geology or paleontology and incorporate original research leading to the completion and defense of a thesis or dissertation.  Completion of graduate degrees leads to higher-level professional employment including college-level instruction.

Geology/Paleontology Curriculum/Checklist

It is the student‘s responsibility to check with his or her advisor for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog. When planning coursework, students are advised that the courses GEOL 212/212L , GEOL 341/341L , GEOL 322/322L  and GEOL 410  form a critical sequence that must be taken in the order listed.