Understanding the natural world
People in the Geology & Environmental Science department have a reputation for knowing what’s going on in the natural world, and for knowing why. We prepare students by building their ability to see what’s really there, to describe it and develop analytical skills to help them understand the natural processes.
The result is a small, professionally active faculty and a dynamic nucleus of students in a vibrant learning community. We offer two degrees. The first, a bachelor’s degree in Geology, focuses on that discipline with strong support from other sciences and mathematics. The more interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science has support from physical and life sciences and from engineering.
Being field-based science curricula, both programs have abundant experiential learning opportunities. These occur as labs and field trips, and as extracurricular programs such as annual spring trips to the American Southwest, field camps and National Science Foundation (NSF) summer opportunities.
We also have a strong commitment to student research, with opportunities available both inside and outside the U.S. during summer months. Many of our students have worked with faculty on research projects in Greece, Portugal and Italy.
We encourage students to seek teacher licensure, and have designed the degree programs to make this career path attractive. We also encourage graduates to continue their education, often after a military career, by finding the right graduate school.