Geologists deal with environmental issues such as groundwater resources and shoreline development, geohazard issues such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, economic issues such as the exploration for and production of energy and mineral resources, and basic research into the origin and evolution of the Earth and other planets.

Geology is both an outdoor and laboratory science, with opportunity to concentrate on either or both.

Students in the curriculum may elect one of the following options: general geology, environmental geology, geophysics, petrology, hydrogeology, or sedimentary geology.

REQUIREMENTS
All students admitted to the University of Rhode Island are eligible to major in Geosciences. The curriculum is designed as a foundation for careers in the earth and environmental sciences.

Prospective majors should take GEO 103- Understanding Earth in their freshman year.

The major in Geosciences is designed as a foundation for careers in earth sciences. The federal government identifies GEO 210, 240, 320, 321, 370, 450, and supporting sciences as a minimum background for geologists.

The Department of Geosciences is implementing a new undergraduate curriculum designed to increase dramatically the experiential and inquiry-based components of our students’ educational experience. This is accomplished through integration of project-based instruction with field and laboratory experience at all levels of the curriculum.

The program requires:

GEO 103 –Understanding Earth
GEO 150 – Deep Time (new course for Spring 2003)
GEO 210 – Landforms: Origin & Evolution
GEO 32X – Earth Materials & Geologic Processes (new course - Fall 2002)
GEO 370 - Structural Geology
GEO 450 – Sedimentary Geology
GEO 483 – Hydrogeology
GEO 4XX – Capstone Field Experience: Colorado Plateau (new course - Spring 2003)
An approved field experience

Students must also complete supporting course work:

2 semesters each of chemistry, physics, biological science, and calculus
1 semester of computer science or statistics

A total of 126 credits is required for graduation.

ACADEMIC OPTIONS
Hydrogeology Option
Emphasizes the study of ground water. This option includes all of the hydrology and supporting science courses recognized by the federal government as a minimum background for hydrologists.

In addition to the requirements outlined above, students selecting this option are required to complete:

GEO 484 – Environmental Hydrogeology
4 approved electives

Geohazards Option
Emphasizes the study of geology as it pertains to the environment, including recognition and reduction of effects of geologic hazards.

In addition to the requirements outlined above, students selecting this option are required to complete:

GEO 3XX – Geohazards (new course - Spring2004)
4 approved electives

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Geoscientists are employed by private enterprise, government (federal, state, and local), and academia (junior and senior high school and college level).

Many opportunities currently exist with private companies in aspects of environmental protection and management. Recently, the petroleum industry has begun to hire a significant number of geologists. There is much demand at present for both B.S. and M.S. graduates and job prospects should remain good over the coming years.

Government jobs are available at the local, state and federal levels. Local governments (environmental coordinators) employ B.S. graduates, while state governments employ at both the B.S. and M.S. level.

Federal government jobs are available at the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. level with the U.S. Geological Survey, and other agencies within the Departments of Interior, Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce. The best prospects in the public sector at present are at the state level in environmental protection fields.

Universities and colleges employ geologists at all three levels, although a Ph.D. degree is mandatory for professional positions. B.S. and M.S. graduates are employed in lab and field staff positions by all major research-oriented universities.

There is a shortage of qualified earth-science teachers at the secondary level; prospects are good for qualified B.S. graduates and better for those with M.S. degrees

FURTHER STUDIES
Because of the importance placed on advanced degrees in geology, graduate programs are offered at all state universities in the United States and at many private universities and colleges.

The Department of Geosciences and the Graduate School of Oceanography at URI offer both the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.

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