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Geology Careers

Oil, gas, coal and mineral exploration

These areas require a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in geology. Geologists are crucial in finding new deposits of oil, gas, and precious metals. Geologists are also hired by active mines to plan and develop new areas of extraction. Often a good deal of time in the outdoors will be expected of geologists in this area.

Environmental Geology

These areas require a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in geology. Geologists in this area work at predicting and mitigating geologic hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods and groundwater contamination.

Hydrogeology

This area requires a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in geology. Hydrogeologists find and maintain adequate and clean water resources for communities and individuals.

Engineering

Geologists often work with civil engineers in the design and construction of buildings, roads, dams, and so on. This area requires a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in geology.

Teaching

Geology majors who earn a bachelor's degree and certification in secondary education are usually eligible to be high school Earth Science teachers. With a doctorate, Geology majors are eligible to teach in a four-year college or university. In conjunction with a doctorate the geology major will specialize in a variety of sub-fields including paleontology, glaciology, sedimentology, geophysics, geochemistry, seismology, hydrogeology, marine geology, and geomorphology. Active research and publishing are expected of the university geology professor.

Research

Scholarly research in geology is often combined with teaching at the university level. However, there are a variety of specializations that allow the geologist to pursue pure research at one of many of private and government sponsored laboratories in the United States and elsewhere. This area of geology requires at least a Master’s degree, often a Doctorate.

More Information

Geologists work in a variety of capacities, and the demand is only growing. It is anticipated that jobs in the field of geology will grow by more than 6% by 2028. For more details about what you can do with a degree in geology, please visit the following sites.