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The following QUESTIONS have been created from similar questions we
receive of this type. The ANSWERS have been obtained from websites of
Universities in the Pacific Northwest. Please note that many Colleges and
Universities around the United States and around the world have similar programs,
courses, websites, and degrees,
and are very good choices for educational studies.
-- Webmaster, Cascades Volcano Observatory, July 1999
Q:I like geology and volcanoes, but I would like to know more about the field. What type of careers are available?A:Geology is the study of the Earth, its composition, structure, origin and evolution. Virtually every aspect of modern life is in some way dependent on the science of geology. For example it is the geologist's job to discover new reserves of energy and raw materials, evaluate groundwater quality and quantity for drinking water supply, assess geologic hazards in land-use planning and unravel the mechanisms of continental drift and biological evolution.-- courtesy Washington State University Website
Geology is the study of the materials, processes,
and history of the solid earth and its fluid envelopes.
Geology is an integrative field, drawing on mathematics,
chemistry, physics and biology to understand the
interactions of the lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere
and hydrosphere. Studies in geology commonly
combine observations and measurements from field,
laboratory, and computational studies. Geology
plays an important role in decisions about resource use,
slope stability and the safety of building projects,
natural hazards standards, mineral exploration and extraction,
the basic workings of the earth, and the
understanding of the effects and rates of natural and
human-induced change in the environment.
Study in geology provides students with the background
necessary to pursue a variety of careers
including resource exploration and extraction;
environmental assessment and remediation; research in
volcanology, earthquakes, hydrogeology and diverse
geologic disciplines; engineering geology; and
resource planning and study for governments at the local,
State and Federal levels. A geology degree is
also an excellent background for students
interested in environmental law, earth science and
environmental policy, and secondary
education in the physical sciences.
Q:What type of background should I have to pursue a career in geology or volcanology?A:High school students planning to major in geological sciences should include in their high school program algebra, geometry, trigonometry, geography, and science (physics, chemistry, biology, or earth science).-- courtesy University of Oregon Website
Students interested in geology should begin to develop
a solid background in mathematics, chemistry, and
physics as soon as possible. The minimum recommended
background in those subjects for an
undergraduate degree is mathematics through integral calculus,
one year of college chemistry, and one
year of college physics, preferably calculus-based.
Students who transfer following two years of college work
elsewhere should have completed a year of general
chemistry, a year of general physics, and a year of
calculus. If available to the student, a year of
general geology with laboratory is recommended. In
addition, transfer students should have completed
as many as possible of the university requirements for
undergraduate degrees.
Q:What are some examples of classes I would be taking?A:Introduction to Geology: The Dynamic Earth, The Face of the Earth, The Evolving Earth, with Introductory Geology Laboratory, or General Geology: Earth's Interior Heat and Dynamics, Earth's Surface Processes and Morphology, Evolution of the Earth, General Biology I,II,III: Cells, Organisms, Populations, or General Physics, or General Physics with Calculus, Introductory General Chemistry, or General Chemistry, Calculus I,II,III, Mineralogy I: Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, Mineralogy II: Systematic Mineralogy, General Petrology, Field Geology-- courtesy University of Oregon Website
Q:What about graduate work?A:Career opportunities for geologists are best for students holding advanced degrees. A variety of professional positions are open to students with master of science degrees, including work in applied geology with petroleum and mining companies, environmental consulting firms, and state and federal agencies. Geologists and geophysicists with doctor of philosophy degrees have opportunities in university and college teaching as well as research positions in federal agencies and private industry. Students are therefore advised to obtain a graduate degree for most professional positions. Graduates with bachelor's degrees can qualify for positions as laboratory technicians or field assistants and for limited professional positions as junior geologists or geophysicists.-- courtesy University of Oregon Website
Q:What type of undergraduate background should I have for graduate work?A:The Geophysics Graduate Program requires a strong foundation in basic mathematics and physics prior to beginning work on a graduate degree. To enable entering students to judge their need for supplementary work, the following general background requirements are listed. Students who do not have these prerequisites at entrance will substantially slow down their progress. We strongly urge that students endeavor to take as many of these courses prior to graduation as possible. Students in physics, mathematics, computer science, statistics and most fields of engineering will meet the mathematics requirements in their undergraduate curricula. Students outside of physics or electrical engineering may require additional physics courses in their first year of the Geophysics Program. Students in fields such as geology may also require extra undergraduate mathematics courses and will spend a substantial part of their first year completing supplementary course work. Most U.S. universities have equivalent courses. EARTH SCIENCE: We strongly suggest that all students contemplating studying solid earth geophysics take a one quarter course in physical geology for geology majors prior to graduation. There are not specific recommendations for undergraduate earth science courses for students contemplating other fields of geophysics, such as space science or fluid dynamics. MATHEMATICS: Students must have a full year of calculus with analytic geometry, plus at least a quarter each of ordinary differential equations, introductory linear algebra and vector differential calculus. Students are expected to complete a one year upper division sequence in applied mathematics if they have not done so prior to entrance. PHYSICS: Students must have a full year of physics with lab. A sophomore level classical mechanics course, a sophomore level thermodynamics course, and a one year sequence in electromagnetism are strongly recommended.-- courtesy University of Washington Geophysics Program's Website |
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