The Department of Earth Sciences provides field trips and research opportunities which take our students throughout South Dakota, across the rugged western U.S., and around the world. A close relationship with the South Dakota Geological Survey provides additional internship and research possibilities.

Some of our graduates go on to graduate school, others go right into the workforce. They go on to excel in graduate programs around the country. In the job market, people with the knowledge and skills to find solutions to issues related to the earth and its limited resources are in great demand. Earth Sciences grads go on to work in local, state and federal government agencies, in environmental consulting, in extraction industries such as oil and mining, in national parks and museums, in education and more.

The Earth Sciences course from the University of South Dakota offers you a solid foundation in geology, with additional coursework in meteorology and oceanography prepares students for a career in a wide range of employment sectors.