UCR’s Department of Earth Sciences focuses on research and education about Earth’s dynamic nature and history. Students and faculty investigate geological processes operating at a wide range of spatial and temporal scales and our research interests span many disciplines within the Earth Sciences.

Graduate education in the Geological Sciences emphasizes general geology combined with specialization in fields such as evolutionary paleobiology, invertebrate paleontology, active tectonics, applied geophysics, earthquake processes and geophysics, deep crustal and mantle processes, organic geochemistry, geohydrology, mineral deposits, stratigraphy, sedimentology, sedimentary geochemistry, basin analysis, landscape ecology, fire ecology, and natural resource conservation.