Science Degrees Online

The Earth Science Concentration takes advantage of our unique environmental setting in southern Oregon to emphasize study in climatology, geological hazards, and water resources. Our nationally recognized geology and hydrogeology summer field course serves as the undergraduate capstone for students in the Earth Science Concentration. Faculty members in the Earth Science Concentration offer a close and unique mentor-student relationship defined by a high level of contact and practical research experience. Faculty members and students are involved in key research projects that focus on climate change, slope stability, and water resources tied to local, state, and federal agencies. Students in the Earth Science Concentration working on applied projects have the opportunity to present their research at professional conferences.

The Geology program at SOU is field-oriented natural science, using the “outdoor laboratory” as well as standard indoor workplaces. Field observations inspire indoor investigations, which again lead outdoors, to new field discoveries. Field study must be taught, and SOU is perfectly situated, with the sunny southern climate, as well as the proximity of Oregon’s old metamorphic rocks. A great variety of rocks (granitoid plutonic rocks, volcanic rocks of most compositions, low to high grade metamorphic rocks, clastic sedimentary rocks) lie within a short driving distance.

At some universities, the faculty are primarily interested in research together with their graduate students. Since we do not have a graduate program in geology, we emphasize teaching and research training for undergrads. Faculty teach not only lecture courses but the laboratories as well.

Undergraduates in the Geology program have access to sophisticated equipment, including GPS Receivers, X-Ray Fluorescence, Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Detector, Petrographic Microscopes, Thin-Section Lab, and Computer Labs.

Additionally, the Geology program offers a focus on water resources. The need for fresh water is growing throughout the world (even in Oregon!). Fresh groundwater is an important resource, for geologists to find and to interpret. In many areas, ancient groundwater is being “mined” and becoming depleted. The Geology program at SOU focuses on these issues, providing student with the necessary skills to succeed in this specialized area of study.

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With funding from organizations such as the U.S. Departments of Defense and Energy and the National Science Foundation, Earth Sciences has achieved international recognition in the research areas of seismology, geothermal studies and paleoclimatology. Recently, an Earth Sciences faculty member helped develop a pilot project on setting up a seismic network on the Moon. Learn more about our faculty and our research.

Earth Sciences was one of the University’s first Ph.D.-granting departments. SMU grants undergraduate degrees in geology, geophysics, environmental geology, environmental sciences and environmental studies, and in geology, geophysics and applied geophysics at the graduate level. Learn more about our undergraduate programs and our graduate programs.

The Geology Department at SIUC consists of 11 faculty members plus instructors, support staff, and about 70 enthusiastic undergraduate, MS, and PhD students. A recent external review characterized us as “a very good to excellent mid-sized geology department.” Our faculty and students are active in Illinois, across the U.S., and worldwide, with current projects on 5 continents.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large, research-oriented institution situated in a pleasant small-town setting southeast of St. Louis. Abundant field and recreational opportunities exist in the nearby Shawnee National Forest. Our summer field program, based in the Beartooth Range near Red Lodge, Montana, has been taught annually since 1970 and draws students from many different universities across the U.S. and worldwide.

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The Mission of the Deptartment of Geology and Geological Engineering is to train professional geologists and geological engineers with exceptionally strong technical backgrounds and superior field expertise, well-prepared to live and work in a diverse global environment, through participation in an active research program focused in the fields of energy, water, mineral resources, environmental studies, and paleontology.

Strengths of the department are:
Proximity and diversity of geology in the Black Hills allowing for practical, field-based education.
Emphases in vertebrate paleontology, resources (ground-water, energy, mineral), and environmental studies.
Twelve teaching faculty members (and 3 emeritus professors with Ph.D. degrees from major universities.
Strong reputation with universities and companies for quality programs and graduates.
Outstanding placement of graduates in career positions.
Close collaboration with industry and government organizations.
Access to over 300,000 fossil and mineral specimens from the School of Mines Museum of Geology research collections.
Attracts students from 23 states across the USA.
Ranks in 90th percentile of North American departments by student enrollment.
Opportunities for international education through annual spring break field trips, summer field camps, and research collaborations.
The M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs with an emphasis in geological engineering are each one of only a dozen such programs in the United States. The M.S. program in Paleontology is a unique degree–There is no other paleontology master’s degree in the Unites States.

Rapid City (population 60,000,elevation 3240 feet) is situated on the eastern flank of the Black Hills, a Laramide uplift exposing rocks from latest Archean to Tertiary. Cenozoic sedimentary rocks bearing mammalian fauna are in the Big Badlands 30 miles east.
Majestic Mount Rushmore and the emerging sculpture of Crazy Horse are both in the Harney Peak granite, around which approximately 10,000 pegmatites have been emplaced. The Homestake mine produced 40 million ounces of gold between 1976-2001 from iron-formation-hosted veins, and is one of two finalists for a national deep underground science laboratory. The drill core, paper and digital archives are available for research, and will be supplemented by underground access as the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) comes online at Homestake.
Within a 60 mile radius of Rapid City, there are abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation, including skiing (downhill and cross-country), mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, camping, spelunking, and snowmobiling.

Geology is the study of the materials, structures, processes, and history of the Earth. It advances our understanding of the formation of rocks and minerals and how they can be used to reconstruct the history of the Earth’s biological, climatic, and tectonic evolution across enormity of geologic time. If you have an interest in rocks, fossils, mountains, rivers, and working outside, the Geology department may be the right fit your SSU degree.

Our Department is committed to undergraduate training that includes a well-balanced treatment of geologic principles with an emphasis on field studies. Students take a fundamental curriculum that concentrates on the analysis of rocks and minerals, earth surface processes, earth history and evolution, geophysical and GIS datasets, structural deformation, and geologic mapping.

The curriculum emphasizes field-based observation and inquiry. Core courses include Advanced Principles of Geology, Mineralogy, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Sedimentary Geology, Structural Geology, Paleontology, and Hydrology. Information on specific courses is available in the University Catalog or through the Department Administrative Coordinator.

Students may choose from major programs that lead to either the BA or BS professional degrees. Teaching Credential preparation and Minors in Geology and Paleontology are also available.

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GEO 1220 Historical Geology S (3:3:0)

Introduction to the principals involved in deciphering the earth’s past including the study of fossils. A study of the major events in the physical and biological history of the earth’s past as indicated by the geological record. Designed for majors and others interested.
Field trip required.
Prerequisites: GEOL1010 or GEOL 1110, ENGL 1010, MATH 1050, BIOL 1010 or permission of instructor.
Co-requisite: GEOL 122L.
Fee: $20.00

GEO 1225 Historical Geology Lab S (1:0:2)

Students will learn to apply the basic principals of historical geology, rock identification, sedimentology, relative and absolute dating, fossil identification, geologic map interpretation. Corequisite: GEOL 1220
Lab Fee: $20.00

GEO 1997, 1998, 1999 Cooperative Education Experience (1st Year) TBA (1-6 Cr.)

An opportunity for majors to apply knowledge and techniques learned in the classroom to an actual job experience.
Classroom instruction must precede the job experience, or the student must be registered for courses at the same time the student is enrolled in the work experience.

GEO 2100 Evolution of the Earth S (2:2:0)

An introduction to geology by means of its historical development as a science. The readings and discussion will focus on significant controversies both past and present. Field trip may be required.
Prerequisites: Acceptance in the Honor’s Program or permission of instructor.

GEO 2500 Geology Field Studies FS (1:0.5:3)

A study of the geology of specific areas in the field. The students will also be introduced to some of the basic skills required of a field geologist. The course will consist of a few short meetings and a three or four day field trip. Designed for majors and others interested. Field trip is required.
Prerequisites: GEOL 1010 or GEOL 1110 or concurrent enrollment.
Repeatable up to four credits.
Fee: $30.00 - $50.00 depending on trip.

GEO 2980 Special Projects TBA (1-2 Cr.)

Involves a special project where there is a demonstrated need which cannot be met through enrollment in a regularly scheduled course. Also could include special projects of unusual merit in furthering a student’s professional goals. Student must be able to sustain and complete independent learning projects. Provides a framework for developing and enhancing student abilities to do lucid thinking.
Requires approval of advisor, division dean and curriculum committee.

GEO 2997, 2998, 2999 Cooperative Education Experience (2nd Year) TBA (1-6 Cr.)

An opportunity for majors to apply knowledge and techniques learned in the classroom to an actual job experience.
Classroom instruction must precede the job experience, or the student must be registered for courses at the same time the student is enrolled in the work experience