Offering Undergraduate Degree Programs in
Geology and Geological Engineering*

Geologists study Earth’s origins and its composition, processes, and history. Geologists investigate natural hazards, climate change, natural resources, and hydrology.

Geological engineers design safe, economic, and efficient solutions to problems humanity faces within natural geological systems.

Both disciplines require training in the basic sciences and mathematics and apply these to natural geological systems. Students in our undergraduate programs enjoy working with applied sciences and the natural setting. Both disciplines help identify and clean up environmentally contaminated sites.

Scholarships

Scholarships available to students include:

  • Nine scholarship and fellowship programs available from the School of Engineering

  • Out-of-state tuition waivers available for B.S. Geological Engineering students through the Southern Regional Education Board’s Academic Common Market for residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

  • MESG/MTAG Scholarships available for Mississippi residents

  • Department and Field Camp Scholarships

Career choices

  • Mapping and resource assessment geologist for a state of federal government agency

  • Geotechnical engineer for a consulting company specializing in environmental remediation

  • Environmental hydrologist identifying the extent of a groundwater contamination problem and designing a system to remove the contamination

  • Attorney specializing in natural resource or environmental law

  • Consulting engineer or geologist assessing hazard potential due to earthquake, flood, landslide, or unfavorable site geology

  • Hydrologist identifying a suitable source for community water needs

  • Project manager for a mining or oil and gas exploration company

  • State or federal inspector of major construction projects in difficult geological terrains

  • Oceanographer pursuing marine geological studies aboard a research vessel

  • Research scientist for a university-based research institution

  • Banker specializing in resource evaluation as loan collateral

  • Secondary school teacher or university professor in any of dozens of geological subdiscliplines

Starting Salaries

  • Salaries of recent graduates of the B.S. Geological Engineering program commonly range from $42,000 to $65,000 per year

  • Salaries of recent graduates of the B.S. Geology program commonly range from $35,000 to $45,000 per year

  • According to 2008-2009 Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Employment growth of 22% for geoscientists is expected between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations”.

Summary of Coursework required for the B.S. Geology Degree:

  • Basic Math & Science

    • Chemistry (2 semesters)

    • Physics (2 semesters)

    • Calculus (2 semesters)

    • Probability and Statistics

    • Computer Programming

  • Geology Courses

    • Introductory Geology (Earth Dynamics)

    • Mineralogy

    • Petrology

    • Sedimentology & Stratigraphy

    • Geomorphology

    • Structural Geology

    • Introduction to Field Methods

    • Field Geology (summer course between Junior and Senior years)

  • Geology Electives

    Three electives from the following list:

    • Environmental Geochemistry

    • Geophysics

    • Hydrogeology

    • Oceanography

    • Paleontology

    • Optical Mineralogy

    • Geographic Information Systems

    • Economic Geology

    Two other electives from additional classes

  • Liberal Arts Courses

    • Freshman Composition (2 semesters)

    • Literature (2 semesters)

    • Foreign Language (4 semesters)

    • Social Sciences (4 semesters)

    • Fine Arts Course

    • Speech Course

    • Other electives

Summary of Coursework required for the B.S. Geological Engineering Degree:

  • Basic Math & Science

    • Chemistry (2 semesters)

    • Physics (2 semesters)

    • Calculus (2 semesters)

    • Probability and Statistics

    • Programming for Scientists and Engineers

  • Geology Courses

    • Introductory Geology (Earth Dynamics)

    • Mineralogy

    • Petrology

    • Sedimentology & Stratigraphy

    • Geomorphology

    • Structural Geology

    • Introduction to Field Methods

    • Field Geology (summer course between Junior and Senior years)

  • Engineering Science Courses

    • Introductory Mechanics

    • Mechanics of Materials

    • Fluid Mechanics

    • Thermodynamics

    • Electrical Circuits

  • Liberal Arts Courses

    • Freshman Composition (2 semesters)

    • Humanities Courses (2 semesters)

    • Social Sciences Courses (2 semesters)

    • Fine Arts Course

    • Engineering Economy

  • Geological Engineering Professional Courses

    • The Professional Geological Engineer

    • Engineering Geology

    • Geomechanics

    • Hydrogeology

    • Soil Mechanics

    • Geographic Information Systems

    • Subsurface Site Characterization

    • Geological Engineering Design

    • Technical Electives (2 courses)

The B.S. Geological Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: (410) 347-7700.