紐約州立大學(xué)水牛城分校

Why study Geological Sciences BA at UB?

The Department of Geology offers an up-to-date curriculum designed to train students to be employable earth and environmental scientists. Most courses comprise both lecture and laboratory environments, where students have hands-on access to geological specimens and state-of-the-art analytical tools to study them. Opportunities for practical field experience exist throughout the curriculum, from 200 level to 400 level, and required coursework is capped by electives in specialized topics and a recommended four-week-long summertime field course that takes place in the western US.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of:

• Understanding basic scientific principles and concepts, including the importance of geology in society, geologic time, and geologic history, as well as rudiments of mathematics, chemistry, physics and statistics with applications to geology.
• Laboratory and field practice in identifying minerals, rocks, soils, structures, stratigraphy and fossils, and using best practices to design and implement tests using modern methods and techniques.
• Developing approaches for collection and analysis of information.
• Critical thinking, hypothesis formulation and testing; i.e., demonstrating use of the scientific method independently and collaboratively, with hypothesis formulation, testing, analysis, interpretation and evaluation of observations.
• Demonstrating skill in scientific communication — oral, written and technological.
• Graduates will have the depth of knowledge and skill to interpret and create geologic products.

Career Outlook

About 22 percent of geoscientists were employed in architectural, engineering, and related services and 19 percent worked for oil and gas extraction companies. State agencies such as state geological surveys and state departments of conservation employed another 9 percent of geoscientists. Eight percent worked for the federal government, including geologists, geophysicists, and oceanographers, mostly within the U.S. Department of the Interior for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and within the U.S. Department of Defense.

Employment projections suggest a 10% increase in all geoscience jobs between 2014 and 2024. Due to the relatively low number of qualified geoscience graduates and the large number of expected retirements, opportunities are expected in most areas of geoscience. Demand will also be spurred by a continuing emphasis on the need for energy, environmental protection, responsible land management, and water-related issues.