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Career
Opportunities
Career opportunities are more diverse than ever before
in
geology because
of the national concern with dwindling natural resources, urban
expansion,
and environmental problems. Geological employment is currently strong
in
water resources, engineering geology, and environmental geology.
The largest employer of geologists is the environmental
industry
including areas of exploration for resources; siting of engineering
structures
and facilities; monitoring of environmental pollution; and remediation
of problems when they occur. Environmental work is found primarily in
hydrogeological,
environmental, and engineering geology companies as well as state and
federal
agencies. Other major employers are petroleum and mining companies,
railroads,
chemical, cement, and utility firms, real estate developers, and
banking
and investment firms.
The federal government employs many geologists for work in
such agencies
as the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service, the
Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
For additional information on Geology and Earth Science
Careers, visit GeoTimes,
a publication of the American Geological Institute. You can also
check out our alumni
website to see how our graduates are employed.
There are many
types of careers that you can pursue with a
Geology
or Earth Science degree.
- Environmental Geology: You can be involved in
water and
soil
testing
and remediation, assessment of sites for pollution types and amounts,
clean-up
of toxic chemicals from the water and/or soil.
- Engineering Geology: Engineering geologists work
with
other
professionals
to oversee the planning and construction of buildings, bridges, roads,
dams, landfills, and tunnels. Geological engineers are experts in
rock strength, stability of slopes, and the mechanics of soils.
- Geological Education: You can specialize in
Middle
Childhood or
Secondary Education, bringing the Earth Sciences to children of a broad
spectrum of ages. Teaching at the college/university level
requires
a Ph.D. at most institutions.
- Petroleum Geology and Economic Geology: This
involves
searching
for and helping to mine or exploit Earth’s resources, including ore
minerals,
oil, natural gas, and coal.
- Field Geology: You can make maps, assess areas for
geological activity,
and monitor environmental remediation.
- Science Writing and Editing: With a combination of
English
or Journalism
coursework, you can write or edit science articles, manuals, and other
texts.
- Environmental Law: With background in the earth
sciences,
you can
go on to study and litigate various aspects of the impact of humans on
the physical environment.
- Graduate School. You can enter graduate school to
specialize
in
a specific area of geology or an allied field. Geologists who
specialize
in the following areas typically have a Master’s Degree or a Ph.D:
- Paleontology–the study of
ancient
life
and ecosystems
- Volcanology–the study of
volcanoes
- Seismology–the study of
earthquakes
- Hydrogeology–the study of
groundwater, its
flow,
and its pollution and remediation
- Hydrology–the study of surface
water
flow
- Geochemistry–the study of
geochemical
reactions
in rocks and water
- Geophysics–the study of the
physics of the Earth (e.g. paleomagnetism, plate
tectonics, earthquakes)
- Structural Geology–the study
of
mountain
building
and the folding and faulting of rocks
- Paleoclimatology/Paleooceanography–the
study
and modeling of past oceans and climates
- Oceanography–the study of coastal
processes,
sediment transport, construction of harbors, ocean circulation, and
other marine aspects
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