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Mineral formation in display case.

Why Study Geology

Illinois State’s geology program will prepare you to dig deeper into the study of the Earth. Our students are provided with ample experience in the field through course field trips and summer field courses. Our small program means you’ll get to know your professors and work with them on research, even as an undergraduate student.

Majors

Minors

  • Geology

    Geology

    Identify and explore resources that are vital to modern societies to solve industrial and societal problems.

Graduate

Resources For You

  • Financial Support

    Learn how we can help support your academic experience through scholarships and awards.

  • Advising

    You have career and academic goals to accomplish. We can help.

  • Honors Program

    Enrich your learning experience through academic, cultural, professional, and community-building opportunities.

  • Schedule a Visit

    Schedule a visit with The Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment and see what our many programs have to offer!

Geology Field Camp

The opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to the investigation and interpretation of unfamiliar geologic areas.

Learn About the Field Camp

Points of Pride

  • The geology program’s summer Field Camp is the capstone experience for students, who apply their accumulated knowledge and skills to investigate unfamiliar geologic areas. The 6-week camp took students to Wyoming and South Dakota in 2016.

  • All undergraduate majors are eligible and encouraged to participate in research. Research opportunities can be a part of an independent study with a faculty member, a class assignment, or a funded project.

  • We operate our own well fields close to campus, providing hands-on hydrogeology experiences for students. Students can install wells, focus on water sampling, measure hydraulic conductivity, and perform other hydrogeological research.

Careers in Geology

Illinois State’s geology graduates are employed throughout the state, across the country, and around the world. They work to find and protect earth resources, steer land use planning, and even study other planets. Our alumni also teach in school districts all around Illinois. See what our geology graduates are up to now and explore what careers await you with our Career Snapshots!

Our graduates become:

  • geo-icons-surveyor

    Engineering geologists

  • geo-icons-paleontology

    Paleontologists

  • Petroleum geologists

  • geo-icons-seismology

    Seismologists

  • geo-icons-earthscience

    Earth science teachers

  • Kacey Garber

    "I have had the honor of working on research with three of my professors over the past two years. This work has helped me refine what I want to accomplish as a geologist in the future."

    Kacey Garber, geology major

Where do our graduates work

  • Illinois State Geological Survey
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • Mid-America Drilling Services
  • Caterpillar Inc.
  • GIS Solutions Inc.
  • PDC Environmental
  • Wang Engineering
  • Petco Petroleum
  • Weston Solutions
  • Apex Environmental
  • Roux Associates
  • United States Geological Survey
  • Unimin Inc
  • Alaska Earth Sciences
Learn more about Careers in Geography

Department Travels

We love to travel in the Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment at Illinois State University!

See Where Our Faculty and Students Have Travelled

The World is Your Classroom