Geological Sciences is the study of the Earth and includes understanding of the dynamic processes that influences the Earth’s surface, solid Earth, life, and climate. Geoscience majors utilize fundamental concepts in chemistry, physics, and biology to examine the dynamics of the Earth system that is to understand the interaction between biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and the solid Earth. Apart from regular lectures, geology majors get the opportunity to explore the Earth in its natural elements through a rigorous field-work training. The students also have the opportunity to pursue summer research or research related to their major dissertation through, field and laboratory research in geochemical analysis, experimental geophysics. Students will have access to various research facilities housed across the main campus and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Recent alumni with a geology major degree have had distinguished careers in academia, industry, and government.
Geological work consists of collecting data and measurements from field observations, from indirect sensing devices, from laboratory experiments and from systematic evaluations of these data and measurements.
The curriculum also includes courses in chemistry, physics, and calculus. A six week summer field course is required. To allow optimal flexibility in planning upper-division programs, the mathematics and chemistry requirements should be started in the freshman year.
Prospective jobs include geologist, geochemist, earth scientist, geophysicist, marine geologist, hydrologist, oceanographer, environmental consulting, paleontologist with prospective employers in mining companies, petroleum companies, consulting firms in environmental sciences, U.S. agencies (Geological Survey, Bureau of Mines, Dept. of Agriculture, EPA, Nuclear Regulatory Commission), state agencies (state geological survey, department of energy/power etc.).
Geology Minor Requirements:
The minor in geology requires a minimum of 12 hours in geology, including ESC 3100 and the associated lab (prerequisite of GLY 2010), and at least 4 credit hours must be at the 3000 level or higher.”