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, such as numerical modeling, GIS map construction, and literature searches.
• 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 observation.
• Demonstrating skill in scientific communication — oral, written and technological.
• Exhibiting an appreciation of scientific values and professionalism concerning ethical conduct in science, in ownership of ideas and research, and awareness of contemporary social and ethical issues related to geology.
• Graduates will have the depth of knowledge and skill to interpret and create geologic products; these products include interpreting geologic structures, landforms, and maps and creating field and laboratory notebooks and geologic maps.