The study of geology can lead to a wide variety of careers relating to the study of the Earth’s past and future. A major career area in geology today is in the environmental arena. Other important areas include the discovery of new energy and/or mineral resources and the prediction, prevention and remediation of hazards related to the earth’s dynamic processes such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, landslides, flooding and beach erosion. Careers in the geoscience and environmental industries are projected to increase by 28% in the next decade.

Our graduates enter the workforce with very high levels of placement, often working with fellow UD geology and environmental geology alumni.

Half of our graduates continue on for their masters and/or doctorate degrees.

Geology, Careers, 2024

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Exciting and relevant areas of research and study in the field of geology include, but are not limited to:

Plate Tectonics
Global Climate Change Remote Sensing
Geographic Information Systems
Energy Resources
Mineralogy and Petrology
Paleobiology
Geochemistry
Glacial Geology and Geomorphology
Hydrogeology

A recent survey of our alumni turned up a diverse spectrum of job titles and careers attesting to the diverse careers open to geologists. Our alumni include the following:

Environmental consultants, managers, and executives for firms across the US and around the world
Exploration and production geologists and geophysicists for oil and gas firms
Managers and executives in the oil and gas industry
Volcanic hydro geologist with the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory
President of ASI Environmental Technologies
Specialists in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Commissioned officer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Professors, deans, and administrators at colleges and universities across the U.S.
Environmental lawyers
Senior vice president for exploration at a major mining company
Hazardous waste program manager for Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Numerous middle and high school earth science teachers
Consultant geologist for Union Pacific Resource Company
Head of environmental geology section at Indiana Geological Survey
Geologist in the Kentucky Division of Oil and Gas, senior oil and gas inspector
Researchers in oceanography, U.S. Geological Survey
Cartographer for the Defense Mapping Agency
Senior geologist at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources