Students will learn about interactions between the solid earth, the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere continually reshape the Earth. Geoscientists investigate these interactions using interdisciplinary approaches to address questions related to how the Earth formed, how it evolved over geologic time, and how its continued evolution affects the environment in which we live. Understanding the Earth?s many linked systems is increasingly important if we are to make informed decisions about the many critical environmental issues facing humanity, including global climate change, sea-level rise, shortages of drinking water, health hazards posed by materials in our urban environment, and mitigation of threats from earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods and other natural hazards.

The Department of Geosciences offers courses on the nature and history of the Earth, the processes that shape the Earth, the impacts those processes have on human populations, and our ability to live sustainably. Student research opportunities complement the program of study.

Goals for the Major

The Department of Geosciences seeks to educate majors in the following bodies of knowledge and to develop in them the following skills:

• A knowledge and understanding of the internal structure and composition of the Earth, the history of the Earth, and the internal and surficial processes that shape its evolution;
• A knowledge and understanding of how earth systems interact to produce the environment in which we live;
• The cognitive and analytical reasoning skills needed to frame and solve interdisciplinary scientific problems;
• The written, oral, and visual/spatial communication skills needed to communicate scientific knowledge.

Why study the earth?

• We all live on and depend on the earth's environment for food, shelter, water, and other essentials of life. Every person should understand the fundamental basis for the resources which permit modern civilization to exist.

• Geoscientists study the workings of the atmosphere, oceans, and solid earth and their dynamic interactions. A basic knowledge of the earth's systems, resource development, environmental health, climate change, water supply, and energy sources are essential in making wise policies to guide society. Our research interests are in solving some of the interdisciplinary problems in these areas.

• The Geosciences Department offers courses with traditional geological perspectives on earth materials and earth history, as well as courses focused on modern settings like wetlands or polluted industrial sites where humans and nature collide. We offer training in the use of modern analytical instrumentation to solve a complex range of problems in the geosciences. Course work is complemented by research opportunities grounded in both approaches.