Earth Science is an all-embracing term for the multiple sciences related to the planet Earth. The B.A. degree in Geology with a major in Earth Science is designed to integrate all the Earth sciences in a systems approach to understanding the Earth. This includes incorporating and integrating subjects such as oceanography, meteorology and astronomy. The emphasis is on the preparation of individuals to work in a wide range of professional public sector service careers where preparation in Earth science and communication of science to non-scientific audiences is a requirement or an asset. This includes the preparation of Earth science teachers.

The Geology, BA program aims to provide students with both high-quality conceptual knowledge and hands-on training in geology in preparation for careers within the earth-science field or for graduate studies in geology.

Global environmental changes have occurred throughout Earth’s history, driven by internal and external forces. The Department of Geology is focused on understanding these changes by studying the materials, processes, and systems of planet Earth. We are the academic stewards of the Jean and Ric Edelman Fossil Park, and we use our teaching, research, and outreach to provide a geologic perspective to global climate change. The only university in the region with its own fossil park, our geology program emphasizes hands-on experiences through field research, laboratory experience and research. The destination for discovery, our globally recognized Jean and Ric Edelman Fossil Park serves at the core of our education program as a research and learning environment.

Geology is the study of the Earth and how it works. Specifically, geologists seek to answer questions as diverse as, How did this mountain form? and When will this volcano erupt again? to How do we provide clean drinking water? Geologists work at the interface between human-kind and the Earth, and are on the front line in solving a multitude of energy and environmental issues. Geologists use knowledge of math, chemistry, physics, and biology to answer these questions and gain first-hand experience working in the field. Graduates are employed by governments, oil and mining companies, and environmental firms.

The BA chelor of Arts program is designed primarily for the liberal arts student who has an interest in careers in Geoscience education or environmental policy and law. A student who elects the BA program and decides to pursue the geology profession or attend graduate school will need at least field geology in his/her program. This degree emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of the Earth’s structure, materials, processes, and history. The intent of a Geology BA chelor’s degree is to provide students with a strong foundation in geology and the skills necessary to pursue various career paths within the geosciences, including environmental consulting, natural resource exploration, geological surveys, research, or further studies at the graduate level.

Do you want to explore the natural world and solve global problems? Applied geosciences involve interactions between humans and the environment and include mineral resources such as oil and water, geologic hazards such as earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions, river restoration and understanding climate change. Geologists have the opportunity to impact the health of the planet and its inhabitants through interdisciplinary work in a variety of satisfying careers.

Geology Weve developed this program in response to popular demand from students and parents who have called for a pathway to fulfilling jobs in education and science, and to school districts who report an increasing number of full-time job openings in STEM disciplines. Graduation from the Five-Year Master Plan empowers students with options to choose the career they find most fulfilling, whether that means becoming a science teacher, working as a chemist, or pursuing a Ph.D.

As a geology student at Hanover, you will develop your scientific reasoning through discoveries in the classroom and in the field. Geology studies are supported by a wide range of hands-on experiences that make learning come to life.

Shreveport is the hub of the Ark-La-Tex, one of the country’s historic oil and gas regions.

The Bachelor of Arts major in geology requires 36 credits in geology and ancillary sciences. It is a good choice for broadly exploring the liberal arts and want a general liberal arts degree.

The Bachelor of Arts in Geology provides a foundation in geology for students who are not planning a career as a geologist. This program provides a basis for science-related careers, such as environmental law, pre-college teaching, science journalism, and resource management and marketing. Graduates will supplement their curriculum in geology with a minor designed around their career goals. The minor requires a minimum of 15 credit hours in one discipline, to be chosen in consultation with an advisor.

Develop a deeper and more meaningful relationship with a planet! The science of geology deals with the non-living (mostly) part of the planet. Our focus is on natural resources (oil, groundwater and minerals), earth history (fossils, climate change, mountain building) and earth processes (from volcanoes, earthquakes and glaciers to ancient sea beds, minerals and the earth's interior).

Students who discover in themselves a sense of excitement about the environment, mountains, climate change, volcanoes, fossils, rivers, and earthquakes will find a good home in the Carleton College Geology Department.