B.S. in Geosciences
Locations:
- Statesboro Campus (In Person — Geology & Environmental Sciences, Geography)
- Armstrong Campus (In Person — Geography)
Credit Hours: 124
Study earth systems, minerals, coastlines, the earliest history of our planet, environmental and cultural phenomena and more in Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Geosciences program.
In the Geology and Environmental Sciences concentration, you’ll study calculus, chemistry, biology and physics while also taking an in-depth look at specialized geoscience topics. Required classes provide insight into mineralogy, petrology and petrography, sedimentology and stratification, and structural geology.
The Geography concentration offers the flexibility to study the human-driven and/or physical phenomena that influence our world’s diverse contemporary landscapes and places. Geography coursework focuses on how people around the globe interact with their environments, utilize resources and shape everyday places in an increasingly globalized world.
Both Geoscience concentrations foster a culture of undergraduate research. You’ll use the world around you as a classroom to complete your research. In just the area around Statesboro and Savannah, you can examine both rural and urban communities, extensive and vibrant salt marshes, Miocene sediment deposits in the Hawthorne Formation, and the limestones of the Florida aquifer system, a system that supplies drinking water for nearly 10 million people.
Ready to Apply?
Or, you can:
Concentrations in Geology and Geography
Focus your degree on the aspects that interest you the most with a concentration, including one of the following:
Geology and Environmental Sciences
Take a deep dive into the structure of the planet. You’ll study topics such as earth materials, environmental and structural geology, and coastal processes.
Geography
Explore the intersections between place, culture and the environment as you learn about Geographic Information Sciences (GIS), physical, human and cultural geography.
Build Your Experience
As a geoscientist, your work will take you to some of the world’s most remarkable places — and so will Georgia Southern. Our students regularly travel across the Southeast, exploring everything from the landscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic Coast.
Your Future in Science Starts Here
$92,580
Average Salary for a Geoscientist
At Georgia Southern University, graduates from the Geosciences program embark on a variety of exciting careers. They often find roles in environmental consulting, natural resource management, and geological surveying, among others. Many Geosciences alumni advance to graduate studies or secure influential positions in industry or government. Prominent alumni include experts working with organizations such as the US Geological Survey and leading environmental agencies. Graduates benefit from strong industry connections, contributing to their success in notable firms and agencies. With an average salary of $92,580, Geosciences graduates enjoy a promising and fulfilling career path.
Geoscience Jobs
What can you do with a geosciences degree?
About half of geosciences graduates pursue advanced degrees; the rest find work with government agencies, as teachers, in mining and exploration, as geospatial analysts or as environmental consultants. For all paths, the research you conduct while here gives you the analytical, problem-solving and field skills employers demand — setting you up for future success.
What our graduates do:
- Earth science teacher
- Environmental consultant
- Urban planner
- GIS specialist
- Field geologist
- Geophysicist
- Mine geologist
Where our graduates work:
- Educational institutions
- Environmental consulting firms
- Mining-exploration companies
- Government agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
Be sure to also visit Georgia Southern’s Career Services Office where you can speak with a Career Development Specialist who is available to help you make informed life decisions.
Why Major in Geosciences at Georgia Southern?
- Learn skills and get the background that will help you address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to resource management, and gain a better understanding of today’s interconnected, globalized world.
- Love being outdoors? Your research will take you to stunning places around Georgia, the U.S. and the world.
- Participate in a six-week, hands-on field camp as part of your studies.
- Work in any of 18 laboratory facilities, both on campus and at partner institutions.
- Geoscientists get jobs: Our grads go to work for environmental consulting firms, federal and state government entities, geographic information science (GIS) firms, educational institutions and petroleum companies, among other organizations.
- 124 credit hours to completion.
As a geosciences major at Georgia Southern, you’ll explore the phenomena that shaped our planet from its earliest days, along with the forces changing it now, both physical and human-driven. That means studying earth systems, as well as coastlines, geochemistry, paleoecology, paleontology, human geography, geographic information science (GIS) and more.
And while the work you do often builds on an understanding of the past, it’s also vital to our future. Geoscientists play an important role in locating and accessing minerals, petroleum and other resources that are critical to the economy — while also protecting and preserving our environment.
Along this journey, you’ll work with nationally and internationally known faculty eager to give you the kind of research opportunities that translate into jobs following graduation.
Learning Outcomes
The Geology Program at Georgia Southern University, with its long tradition of setting high expectations for both faculty and students, supports the University Mission of learner-centered engagement by preparing students to be scholars, leaders, and in particular sustainability-minded individuals by providing them with an understanding of the variety and complexity of the Earth’s geologic and environmental systems as well as humans’ interactions with these systems. The Program’s purpose is to provide specialized undergraduate curricula leading to BS and BA degrees. Coursework, laboratory experimentation, and research-based field work is expected of all students in the program. The BS degree is designed to train students who will pursue advanced studies or careers in field-based geology by developing critical thinking through a capstone thesis project or additional course work. The BA degree is designed to train students who desire a career in science education, natural resource management, public policy, and professional consulting by pairing a foundational geology curriculum with a liberal arts course of study customized to each learner’s unique goals. These curricula train students in the geoscience skills that have been identified by the American Geosciences Institute as critical, and they cover content knowledge that is consistent with the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) licensure exam. The Geology program embraces the University’s mission to develop a fertile learning environment exemplified by a free exchange of ideas, high academic expectations, and individual responsibility for academic achievement and to enable a culture of engagement that bridges theory with practice, extends the learning environment beyond the classroom, and promotes student growth and life success.
SLO 1 – Apply fundamental principles of natural sciences and mathematics to identify common Earth materials and interpret their composition, origin, and use.
SLO 2 – Evaluate Earth surface and subsurface processes, the role humans play in those processes, and the role those processes play in shaping Earth’s landscape using a variety of spatial and geologic data sets.
SLO 3 – Apply knowledge of the physical and biological history of the planet, as well the evidence for that history, to solve geologic problems, particularly those with implications for the southeastern United States.
SLO 4 – Critically analyze geologic information and communicate analysis clearly using discipline-specific language, style, and formatting.
SLO 5 – (BS only) Formulate a program and proposal of independent research and defend the proposal using professional geoscience standards.
SLO 6 – (BA only) Critically analyze geologic information and communicate analysis clearly to a general audience
Do You Have Questions? Contact Us!
School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability
Geosciences Program
Georgia Southern University
P.O. Box 8149
Statesboro, GA 30460
Phone: 912-478-5361
Fax: 912-478-0668
Professional Certification Disclosure
The School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability has determined that the required classes and educational activities of this academic program will qualify a graduate of this program to take the Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) Practice of Geology (Fundamentals of Geology, FG) exam. This exam is the first of two required examinations to become a licensed Geologist in 32 ASBOG member states and territories in the United States. After passing the ASBOG (FG) exam, some states, including GA, AL, NC, SC, and TN require you to complete 3-7 years of work experience before sitting for the second exam, the ASBOG Practice of Geology (PG) exam. Note: Alabama requires that your educational curriculum include a Field Camp experience, which can be included as a major elective option in the Geosciences Geology Concentration at Georgia Southern.
The following states and territories do not license geologists: AS, CO, DC, GU, HI, MA, MD, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, RI, VI, VT, and WV.
Georgia Southern makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for licensure or certification is current; however, state requirements may change. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, residence requirements, jurisprudence exams, training, etc. If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Georgia, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information regarding licensure or certification requirements before beginning an academic program. For more information, as well as for a list of applicable state boards, visit the Georgia Southern State Authorization and Professional Licensure Webpage.
For all Online Programs
Federal Law requires colleges and universities to make certain disclosures to prospective students of these programs. These disclosures include information on the University’s authority to operate outside of Georgia, the complaint processes, adverse actions, refunds, and program closure.
For required disclosures about online programs offered by the University, visit the Georgia Southern State Authorization and Professional Licensure Webpage.
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Last updated: 8/21/2024