Geology - B.A. and B.S. Download to print

The Bachelor of Arts in Geology graduates have excellent opportunities for employment in a wide variety of careers where an understanding of the natural sciences is useful or critical for success. Geology can be a strong background for advanced study or career development in areas such as business, city management, regional development, planning, law, journalism and science writing. Requirements include courses concerning minerals, rocks, landforms, fossils, structural geology, geochemistry and field mapping. 

The Bachelor of Science in Geology is designed for those interested in a professional career in the field. Students must complete 51 credits of geology courses focusing on minerals, rocks, landforms, fossils, structural geology, geochemistry and field mapping, among others. Supplemental courses include introductory chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics. Students also select several upper-division geology electives that allow specialization in a variety of applied or theoretical areas of the science. The program features a 6-credit capstone summer field course in the Black Hills, South Dakota.

Within the Bachelor of Science, the Environmental Geology Concentration provides students with specialized training for careers in the well-established and growing field of environmental geology. Students must complete 51-52 credits of geology courses focusing on minerals, rocks, fossils, structural geology, geochemistry and field mapping. Students choose upper-division electives from a menu of courses focusing on hydrology, hydrogeology, engineering geology and environmental monitoring techniques. The program features a 6-credit capstone summer field course in Black Hills, South Dakota.

The Bachelor of Arts
In the coming decade, the need for energy, environmental protection and responsible land and water management is expected to increase employment demand within the geosciences, including employment in management, scientific and technical services, for which the B.A. in Geology provides academic preparation. Between 2008 and 2018, employment growth of 18 percent is expected for geoscientists and hydrologists, growth of 29 percent is expected for environmental science and protection technicians, and growth of 15 percent is expected for natural science managers.

The Bachelor of Science
Geoscientists held about 33,600 jobs in 2008, while another 8,100 were employed as hydrologists. Many more individuals held geoscience faculty positions in colleges and universities, but they are classified as college and university faculty.

About 23 percent of geoscientists were employed in architectural, engineering, and related services and 19 percent worked for oil and gas extraction companies. State agencies such as State geological surveys and State departments of conservation employed another 9 percent of geoscientists. Eight percent worked for the Federal Government, including geologists, geophysicists, and oceanographers, mostly within the U.S. Department of the Interior for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and within the U.S. Department of Defense.

Among hydrologists, 26 percent were employed in architectural, engineering, and related services, and 19 percent worked for management, scientific, and technical consulting services. The Federal Government employed about 27 percent of hydrologists, mostly within the U.S. Department of the Interior for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and within the U.S. Department of Defense.

Within the Bachelor of Science, the optional Environmental Geology Concentration prepares students for careers that apply geology to environmental problems, including natural resource extraction, water supply, pollution, waste disposal, and geologic hazards. Environmental geologists are employed on projects such as remediation of water and soil contamination, mitigation of geologic hazards, mining and extraction of oil, gas, and water, and analysis of data pertaining to environmental quality. Over the next decade, jobs within this field are expected to increase faster than average, growing by 18-28%.

(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

General Admissions for Freshman Students: Admission Requirements at the Kent Campus: The freshman admission policy at the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon the following: cumulative grade point average, ACT and/or SAT scores, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends.

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago. For more information on admissions, visit the admissions website for new freshmen.
 

For more information about admission criteria for transfer, transitioning and former students, please visit the admissions website.

Minimum 120 total credit hours and  42 upper-division credit hours. Minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA and 2.000 major GPA.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Understand and communicate to others: a. the nature of scientific investigation and evidence, b. the complex interrelationships of the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and the lithosphere through geologic time.
2. Understand Earth materials and interpret geologic and environmental processes.
3. Synthesize geologic information to understand and solve geologic and environmental problems.
4. Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills and be able to work as a geologist in the field and in the laboratory.