Department of Geology
Mission Statement

Geology is the scientific study of the Earth and its past, including evolution and extinction, with a goal to provide firm insight into the geological forces operating today in order to help predict the geologic future of Earth and other solid planetary bodies. Geology studies the evolution and extinction off all aspect of the Earth including organisms and ecosystems. At the core to the Department of Geology’s mission is understanding how subtle or dramatic changes on or within the Earth, either by intrinsic or extrinsic forces, will affect human lives and all of society. We are the only geology department in the world built around an on-campus, world-class fossil site. At the Jean and Ric Fossil Park, our students are constantly immersed in meaningful, hands-on education. This unparalleled resource provides our geology majors with advantages found nowhere else. We meet our core mission through excellence in research, field and laboratory studies, teaching, and outreach. We emphasize the importance of excellent communication skills in all aspects of the department’s activities, including our curriculum. Our students learn to build excellent communication skills with a goal of addressing complex issues in geology to a wide audience using precise language founded in science. The Department of Geology will begin offering a BS in Geology (with three concentrations to choose from: General Geology, Applied Geology, and Paleontology) and the BA in Geology in fall of 2017.