About this Degree The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program involves a broad curriculum that prepares students for employment immediately after graduation or for more advanced graduate study in the geosciences. For those students that pursue advanced degrees in geoscience, the undergraduate major prepares them for a wide range of fields, including hydrology and environmental geology, geochemistry and biogeochemistry, igneous and metamorphic petrology, structural geology and tectonics, stratigraphy and sedimentary geology, paleontology, economic geology, geophysics, and archaeological geology. Because many of the requirements are the same for the B.S. and A.B. degree, if a students starts in the A.B. program and decides at a later time to switch to the B.S., this is generally easy to do. Lab and Field Exercises Core classes involve extensive lab work that provides crucial hands-on experience. Field exercises are standard in most core classes and form an indispensable link between lectures and real world observations and analyses. Students may examine coastal processes and organisms on Georgia's barrier islands, the outstanding mineral assemblages at Grave's Mountain in the Inner Piedmont, major fault systems in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the rich fossil assemblages and ancient depositional environments preserved in rocks of the Valley and Ridge and Cumberland Plateau. Summer Field Courses Summer Field Courses - Some courses take place entirely in the field, including the department's six-week summer field school (required for the B.S. and the A.B. degree), based in Canon City, Colorado. Projects include field mapping in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, pollution monitoring of streams in the Colorado Plateau, and field trips to Utah and New Mexico. Students gain valuable experience with traditional and computer-based mapping tools, with GIS, and with geochemical analyses. Other, optional, field programs include the Interdisciplinary Field Program (IFP), a summer semester domestic field study program in Geology, Ecology, and Anthropology that travels coast-to-coast. Apply Now What you will learn The Geology Department offers a broad curriculum that prepares students for more advanced graduate study in the Earth Science (Geosciences) and for employment immediately after graduation. Our undergraduate program is hands-on, with opportunities for field work and undergraduate research. For many students, the highlight of their undergraduate experience is the department's six-week summer field school based in Canon City, Colorado. MAJOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS Other Information about Degree or Program The Department of Geology offers three degree tracks, the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, the Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) degree, and the Geology Minor. The Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) program is designed for students who desire a more flexible program of study than is provided by the B.S. degree. It may be used by those seeking a more liberal education or a background in geology for use in other fields. It is also a popular choice for students wishing to pursue Geology as a second major. The A.B. degree is not intended to prepare a student for professional or graduate work in geosciences unless the student takes the additional courses in mathematics, chemistry, and physics required for the B.S. degree. Because many of the requirements are the same for the B.S. and A.B. degree, if a students starts in the A.B. program and decides at a later time to switch to the B.S., this is generally easy to do. The geology minor is intended for students who wish to supplement their major field with additional background in selected areas of geoscience, depending on the interests of the student. The minor is ideal for students pursuing careers in other fields that benefit from additional understanding of earth resources, natural hazards, and the environment, such as anthropology, biosciences, business, education, geography, journalism, law, or public policy. Geosciences, or Earth Science, is the study of Earth and its interconnected systems (solid Earth, oceans, atmosphere, life) using tools from chemistry, physics, biology, and math, encompassing fields like geology, oceanography, meteorology, and paleontology to understand natural resources, hazards, climate, and planetary processes, with careers in research, environmental consulting, resource management, and technology. Education & TrainingRequires a strong foundation in science, typically leading to Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. degrees in Geology, Earth Science, Environmental Science, or related fields, often involving fieldwork, lab analysis, and computational modeling. ImportanceGeosciences are crucial for understanding our planet's complex systems, managing natural resources, mitigating risks from natural disasters, addressing climate change, and informing sustainable development for societal well-being. Department of Geology Research Groups: Economic Geology Geophysics Sedimentary Geology Structural Geology and Tectonics Environmental Geosciences Geoarchaeology Geochemistry GeoHealth Geomicrobiology Paleobiology Petrology and Volcanology Planetary Geology Geology Career Paths Environmental Geoscientist: Focuses on pollution, conservation, and sustainability. Geologist: Studies rocks, minerals, and Earth's structure for resource exploration or hazard assessment. Hydrologist: Manages water resources, studying freshwater and oceans. Paleontologist: Studies fossils to understand past life and environments. Seismologist/Volcanologist: Researches earthquakes and volcanoes. Oceanographer: Studies marine environments and ocean processes. Geophysicist/Geomatician: Uses physics and GIS/remote sensing for Earth's structure and mapping. Employment Information Employers: Environmental Geoscientist: Focuses on pollution, conservation, and sustainability. Geologist: Studies rocks, minerals, and Earth's structure for resource exploration or hazard assessment. Hydrologist: Manages water resources, studying freshwater and oceans. Paleontologist: Studies fossils to understand past life and environments. Seismologist/Volcanologist: Researches earthquakes and volcanoes. Oceanographer: Studies marine environments and ocean processes. Geophysicist/Geomatician: Uses physics and GIS/remote sensing for Earth's structure and mapping. Possible Job Titles: Geologists study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. Geologists integrate physics, mathematics, and core geological principles for practical applications like finding energy/minerals, managing groundwater, and solving environmental issues such as waste disposal and land reclamation, using techniques like seismic analysis (physics) and data modeling (math) to understand Earth's subsurface and processes for resource management and hazard mitigation. Geologists may study the Earth's internal composition, atmosphere, oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces.
