Geology

• Each year 25 percent of the students in the program are involved in collaborative research experiences, including projects in Wisconsin and around the world. Students routinely travel to study geology in places such as Europe, South/Central America and even the Antarctic.
• Courses emphasize field experience and practical application of geologic principles. Field courses make use of computer and GIS technology. Field courses for geology majors are offered at field stations established in both New Mexico and Montana.
• The department has a dual degree program with the University of Minnesota in geology and engineering and in five years a student can graduate with a degree in both geology and an engineering discipline.
• Undergraduate students have access to state-of-the art laboratory instruments including electron microscopes, mass spectrometers, micro-FTIR, X-ray diffractometers, X-ray fluorescence spectrometers and high P-T laboratories, allowing students to examine many different types of geological materials.
• The department has an on-campus hydrogeology laboratory complete with monitoring wells.
• The department has scholarship funds available to help students pay for college costs.
• Students have access to modern computer laboratories with geology-specific software.
• The department has eight faculty members whose specialties include structural geology, geophysics, tectonics, geochemistry, mineralogy, environmental geology, hydrogeology, geological engineering, geomorphology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, and glacial geology.
• The department of geology, the affiliated Geology Club and geology honors society organize field trips throughout Wisconsin and the United States and participate in an annual Earth Day exhibit held in Eau Claire.
  

Geology Fact Sheet