Students in this  major at  are well prepared both for employment opportunities in a wide variety of geosciences and geotechnical fields, and for subsequent graduate training that includes geophysics, seismology, geodynamics, energy exploration, environmental geophysics, space sciences, and resource management.

Potential Occupations

Many opportunities exist for geology graduates in the private and public sectors in a wide range of societally important and satisfying careers. Energy resources, water resource and management, industry service, mining , power generation, computer software, and many other companies employ geoscientists in exploration, development, production, communications, management, and research. Federal agencies employ geoscientists for resource mapping and assessment, oil-gas-coal-groundwater-geothermal resource evaluation and development, resource and environmental water studies, leasing and conservation, resource restoration and rehabilitation, hazards assessment and mitigation, regulatory activities, national defense, and research. State and local governments also employ geoscientists for geologic and soils mapping and resource management, natural resource and hazards evaluation and mitigation, public information activities, consulting, management, and communications. Environmental, engineering, and groundwater firms further employ geoscientists for mapping, restoration and rehabilitation planning, monitoring and evaluation of geologic hazards, and in site feasibility evaluation and implementation of construction projects, water management and reuse evaluation, groundwater pollution assessment and remediation, and contaminant prevention. Schools, colleges, universities, national laboratories, and private research firms employ geoscientists in a variety of teaching, research, and administrative positions.