Geology Program Home
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. The mission of the Geology Program is to provide integrated and process-oriented curricula, based on fundamental scientific principles and processes that enable graduates to pursue challenging careers and maintain lifelong learning. In addition, our program is designed to serve majors from geographic information science, environmental science, as well as science students in other fields who are interested in adding to their knowledge of the Earth and planetary system.
Members of the geoscience faculty provide majors with a broad overview of geology and planetary processes while offering the opportunity to pursue specialized knowledge in selected areas of geoscience in preparation for graduate study and careers in government, industry, or academia.
.
Geology, in the widest sense of the term, is the study of the Earth, synonymous to Earth- or Geoscience. Commonly, geology refers to the study of processes in the subsurface and at the Earth's surface. Such processes include the flow of groundwater, the formation of oil and gas accumulations, the rupture of earthquakes, eruptions of volcanoes, or mountain building, just to name a few. Some related disciplines are geophysics, geochemistry, hydrogeology, geobiology, paleontology, engineering and environmental geology, marine geology, and planetary geology. Most geoscientists start their career with a geology or geoscience degree, although some enter the field with their major college degrees in physics, chemistry, mathematics, or biology.
A geology degree provides you with a broad background in the natural sciences, typically with an equal foundation in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology, in addition to the geology-specific courses. For this reason, geologists are often hired for positions that require a broad science background such as science journalism and science education. Unique skills of geologists are their capabilities to apply a variety of analytical and numerical methods to solve applied problems and to reconstruct processes that have occurred in the past. Unlike experimental physics and chemistry, but similar to forensic scientists, geologists frequently study and reconstruct processes over which they have no or little experimental control--processes that may have occurred millions of years ago or that occur only infrequently, like earthquakes and floods. Another skill that geologists train for is in three-dimensional visualization and conceptualization on a large range of scales in both space and time.
None, really, other than a genuine interest in natural sciences, some inborn curiosity to figure "things" out, and, as in any technical profession, a good portion of perseverance and motivation. Many geologists like the outdoors, but a lot of geoscience is done in the lab, on the computer, on board of a ship, or using remotely operated tools such as satellites and the rovers on planet Mars. Because science is also about effective communication, it helps to have a certain talent for technical writing and public speaking.
The career options for geologists are as wide as the field of geology itself. Many geologists work for the oil and gas industry, locating new energy reserves and advising engineers in their production. Other geologists work for environmental protection, either through private or public agencies, for non-profits, for mining companies, insurance companies, and for publishers and news organizations. Geologists have walked the moon (Harrison 'Jack' Schmitt, Apollo 17), flown missions on the Space Shuttle (
Geology graduates can expect good pay and good job prospects. Would you like to learn more?
The best way to learn more about the program is by visiting us during Island Days. These are open-house days held throughout the year. If you can't make it on one of these days, don't hesitate to contact the Geology Program Coordinator, or any other geology faculty member, in person, e-mail, or by phone.
For more information about geology as a profession, go to the Geoscience Career website of the American Geological Institute, which includes more information on employment statistics, and to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.