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
-
Geology
Develop and exercise critical thinking, writing and quantitative skills..
-
Earth and Space Science Education
Become certified to teach all high school science courses.
Minors
-
Geology
Identify and explore resources that are vital to modern societies to solve industrial and societal problems.
Graduate
-
Hydrogeology
Learn the tools needed for a successful career in hydrogeology.
-
Hydrogeology Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - Graduate Certificate
Be prepared to meet the growing demand for GIS skills in hydrogeology.
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!
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:
-
"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