Geology

 

 

The Associate of Science Degree in Geology at Walters State Community College is intended to fulfill the freshman and sophomore requirements of a bachelor’s degree in Geology.  The curriculum in the WSCC catalog is not designed for transfer to any specific school.  Students will need to talk with a faculty advisor about a particular college or university’s courses and transfer.  The link for the Natural Science Division at Walters State is: http://www.ws.edu/science/default.asp

 

 

Career and Major Information

Geoscientists can spend a large part of their time in the field, identifying and examining rocks, studying information collected by remote sensing instruments in satellites, conducting geological surveys, constructing field maps, and using instruments to measure the Earth’s gravity and magnetic field. For example, they often perform seismic studies, which involve bouncing energy waves off buried rock layers, to search for oil and gas or to understand the structure of subsurface rock layers. Seismic signals generated by an earthquake are used to determine the earthquake’s location and intensity. In laboratories, geologists and geophysicists examine the chemical and physical properties of specimens. They study fossil remains of animal and plant life or experiment with the flow of water and oil through rocks.

Numerous specialties that further differentiate the type of work geoscientists do fall under the two major disciplines of geology and geophysics. For example, petroleum geologists explore for oil and gas deposits by studying and mapping the subsurface of the ocean or land. They use sophisticated geophysical instrumentation and computers to interpret geological information. Engineering geologists apply geologic principles to the fields of civil and environmental engineering, offering advice on major construction projects and assisting in environmental remediation and natural hazard reduction projects. Mineralogists analyze and classify minerals and precious stones according to their composition and structure. They study the environment surrounding rocks in order to find new mineral resources. Paleontologists study fossils found in geological formations to trace the evolution of plant and animal life and the geologic history of the Earth. Stratigraphers examine the formation and layering of rocks to understand the environment in which they were formed. Volcanologists investigate volcanoes and volcanic phenomena to try to predict the potential for future eruptions and possible hazards to human health and welfare. Hydrologists study the quantity, distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters. They examine the form and intensity of precipitation, its rate of infiltration into the soil, its movement through the earth, and its return to the ocean and atmosphere. The work hydrologists do is particularly important in environmental preservation, remediation, and flood control.

 

A bachelor’s degree is adequate for a few entry-level jobs, but a master’s degree is usually the minimum educational requirement; a Ph.D. degree is required for most high-level research positions.

 

 

Related Career Titles

 

Engineering Technicians

Science Technicians

Petroleum Engineers

Surveyors

Cartographers

Photogrammetrists

Surveying Technicians

Mathematicians

Database Administrators

Physicists

Atmospheric Scientists

Computer Scientists

Astronomers

Materials Scientists

Chemists

 

 

Web Sites

American Geological Institute, 4220 King St., Alexandria, VA 22302-1502. Internet: http://www.agiweb.org

American Association of Petroleum Geologists, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, OK 74101. Internet: http://www.aapg.org

 

 

Salary Information

Median annual earnings of geoscientists were $67,470 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $48,370 and $102,120; the lowest 10 percent, less than $36,580 and the highest 10 percent more than $133,310.  Salary figures quoted are based on national figures.  Local or regional salaries may be lower.

 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Environmental Scientists and Geoscientists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos050.htm