What Can I Do With A Major In Geology

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Overview	Career Titles	Employers	Skills	Salary Information
Graduate Data	Alumni/Intern Profiles	Links of Interest	Additional Information

Overview | Return to top

Students who enjoy working outdoors, have a strong scientific background and are interested in understanding how the Earth works will find geology a rewarding area of study. The work of geoscientists is diverse and increasingly more complex, commonly involving a combination of field, laboratory and computer work.

Geology is a field-based science that integrates the principles of chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics in the study of Earth processes and history. Geology emphasizes the central concepts of time, space and scale in the study of planet Earth from the perspective of a unified Earth System (the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere).

Career Titles | Return to top

Aerial Photographer
Agricultural Engineer
Archaeological Geologist
Architect
Assayer
Astronomer
Atmospheric Scientist
Biochemist
Cartographer
Cartographic Technician
Chemical Oceanographer
Coastal Oceanographer
Computer Analyst
Consultant
Cooperative Extension Agent
Data Analyst
Earth Science Teacher
Ecologist
Economic Scientist
Engineering Geologist
Environmental Consultant
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Geologist
Environmental Lawyer
Environmental Project Manager
Environmental Scientist
Exploration Geologist
Farmer
Firefighter
Foreign Service Worker
Forest Ranger
Gemologist
Geochemist
Geochronologist
Geodesist
Geodynamicist
Geographer
Geologist
Geology Research Scientist

Geology Teacher
Geomorphologist
Geophysicist
Geophysics Technician
Geoscientist
Geo-Technical Engineer
Glacial Geologist
Groundwater Hydrologist
Hazardous Materials Response Specialist
Hydrogeologist
Hydrologic Technician
Hydrologist
Industrial Hygienist
Instrumentation Technician
Intelligence Agent
Laboratory Technician
Landscape Architect
Landscape/Nursery Manager
Location Analyst
Map Analyst
Marine Advisor
Marine Geologist
Materials Analyst
Mathematician
Metallurgical Engineer
Meteorologist
Military Officer
Mineralogist
Mining Engineer
Mining Geologist
Museum Technician
National Park Service Staff
Natural Resource Manager
Naturalist
Navigator
Nuclear Engineer
Oceanographer
Paleoceanographer

Paleoclimatologist
Paleoecologist
Paleontologist
Park Naturalist
Park Ranger
Peace Corps Worker
Petroleum Geologist
Petroleum Technologist
Petrologist
Petrophysicist
Physicist
Planetary Geologist
Pollution Control Specialist
Pollution Remediator
Professor
Prospector
Range Conservationist
Sales Engineer
Scientific Librarian
Scientific Photographer
Scientific Writer
Sedimentologist
Seismologist
Soil Conservationist
Soil Scientist
Stratigrapher
Structural Geologist
Surveyor
Teacher
Technical Writer
Urban/Regional Planner
Volcanologist
Waste Management Specialist
Water Quality Control Technician
Water Remote Sensing Interpreter
Watershed District Administrator
Well Driller
Well Logging Specialist

Employers | Return to top

Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Mines
Bureau of Reclamation
CIA/FBI
Colleges/Universities
Conservation Groups
Construction Companies
Consulting Firms
Department of Defense
Energy Companies
Engineering Firms
Environmental Advocacy Groups
Environmental Consulting Firms
Environmental Protection Agency
Exploration Companies
Forest Service

Land Use Organizations
Libraries
Local, State, Federal Government
Marketing & Research Firms
Military
Minerals Companies
Mining Companies
Museums
NASA
National Laboratories
National Parks Service
Natural Gas Companies
Nonprofit Groups
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Oil and Gas Industry
Petroleum Companies

Private Research Companies
Quarries
Railroad Companies
Research Laboratories
Scientific Journals
Seismic Survey Organizations
Travel/Tourism Industry
Trucking Companies
U.S. Department of Energy
Waste Management Companies
Water Resources Groups
Water Treatment Plants
Well Services and Drilling Companies
Wetlands Management
Wildlife Service

Skills | Return to top

Aptitude for accuracy and detail
Conduct and clearly explain scientific research
Coordinate work with others
Critical thinking and problem-solving
Define research problems
Design equipment
Design simulations
Desire to collaborate with others in an interdisciplinary environment
Develop research models
Develop research proposals
Draw meaningful conclusions
Effective oral and written communication skills

Enjoy working outdoors and traveling
Establish hypothesis
Evaluate ideas
Laboratory and research ability
Maintain detailed records
Make appropriate decisions and solve quantitative problems
Manage and direct projects
Mapping and surveying
Measure distances
Measure relationships
Perceives acute spaces and forms
Perform calculations

Physical stamina, good vision and manual dexterity
Possesses an aptitude for accurate details
Possesses knowledge of geological principles and mathematics
Review scientific literature
See relationships in factors
Self-management
Spatial visualization
Summarize research
Understands and uses information derived from computers
Use technical instruments
Works with people of varied backgrounds

Salary Information | Return to top

NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) Summer 2012 Average Starting Salary:

Geological and Related Sciences Bachelor's Degree: Not Currently Available

Average Salary of SNC Geology Graduate:

2009: No salary data available
2010: No salary data available
2011: No salary data available

For additional salary information, please visit salary.com

Graduate Data | Return to top

The job titles and employers listed below are a sample of the results from the annual St. Norbert College Career Services graduate follow-up survey for the Classes of 2003-2011.

Job Titles

No data available

Employers

No data available

Graduate Programs

Geology and Environmental Geosciences

Graduate Schools

Northern Illinois University

Alumni/Intern Profiles | Return to top

Alumni Profiles
Martin Fallon
Carrie Haverfield

Intern Profiles
No intern profiles available

Links of Interest | Return to top

Career Information
Graduate Programs in Geology

Professional Associations
American Association of Petroleum Geologists
American Institute of Professional Geologists
Association for Women Geoscientists
Geological Society of America
National Association for Black Geologists and Geophysicists
Society of Petroleum Engineers

Jobs & Internships
Earthworks Jobs
Environmental Career Opportunities
Geology Careers
National Park Service
Oil and Gas Jobs
US Geological Survey Employment Website

Additional Information | Return to top

SNC Geology Department
Major Requirements
Academic Advising
Career Services Job Search Links

Disclaimer: The information included on this page is not all-inclusive. You are encouraged to utilize additional online and print resources when researching majors and careers. Some of the careers listed may require additional education, training, development, licenses and/or certifications. If you feel something should be added, changed, updated or removed, please contact Career Services. The content included on this page will be updated annually each summer. Please contact Career Services if you have any questions about the information on this page or to schedule an appointment.