Opportunities for practical field experience exist throughout the curriculum, from 200 level to 400 level, and required coursework is capped by electives in specialized topics and a recommended four-week-long summertime field course that takes place in the western US.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of:

• Understanding basic scientific principles and concepts, including the importance of geology in society, geologic time, and geologic history, as well as rudiments of mathematics, chemistry, physics and statistics with applications to geology.
• Laboratory and field practice in identifying minerals, rocks, soils, structures, stratigraphy and fossils, and using best practices to design and implement tests using modern methods and techniques.
• Developing approaches for collection and analysis of information.
• Critical thinking, hypothesis formulation and testing; i.e., demonstrating use of the scientific method independently and collaboratively, with hypothesis formulation, testing, analysis, interpretation and evaluation of observations.
• Demonstrating skill in scientific communication — oral, written and technological.
• Graduates will have the depth of knowledge and skill to interpret and create geologic products.