Dept of Geology & Environmental Geoscience

Not Your Ordinary Classrooms... Not Your Ordinary Majors...

What Do Geoscientists Do?

Geoscientists study the Earth, including the materials that compose it, the processes that continuously change it, and its evolution over time. Geoscientists address increasingly challenging problems that confront a growing human population: climate change, dwindling natural resources, earthquake prediction & natural hazard identification, human environmental impact, and safe disposal of toxic and radioactive waste materials. Because these studies involve investigations of relationships between Earth’s systems, the geosciences are inherently interdisciplinary and include aspects of chemistry, biology and physics.

What Majors & Minors Do We Offer?

Geology

Focuses on physical components of the Earth (rocks/minerals/soil, air, & water) with particular emphasis on 1) Earth's structure, composition, & history (including the fossil record of life on Earth) and 2) processes that shape our planet's geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. Geologists address a broad array of societal issues, including: environmental problems, locating rare/dwindling natural resources (e.g., minerals, hydrocarbons, fresh water, etc.), predicting/recognizing natural hazards, etc.

Environmental Geoscience

Combines environmentally focused courses in the geosciences & other disciplines to provide an environmental concentration in the areas of Environmental Science/Studies. Environmental Geoscientists develop solutions for applied environmental problems facing society, including water & air quality, contaminant transport & remediation, renewable technologies, etc.

Earth Science

Provides a broad, interdisciplinary approach to the study of Earth's systems, tailored to student's interests (e.g., typically involving aspects of geology, environmental geoscience, physics & astronomy, and chemistry). Earth Scientists use their skills in a variety of settings, including: teaching at the K-12 level, industry & government settings as part of a collaborative team, etc.

What Can You Do With A Degree in Geology, Environmental Geoscience, Or Earth Science At DePauw?

Department of Geology & Environmental Geoscience's graduates have been very successful in...

pursuing careers in environmental consulting, mining & energy industries, education, and government
(to name a few) direct from DePauw, and
being admitted to prestigious graduate programs nationwide (with stipends of $15,000-$28,000 per year on top of full tuition waivers). Read more...

What Kind Of Community Are We?

In the Department of Geology & Environmental Geoscience at DePauw University, we believe that it is an opportunity and a privilege to learn from, serve, and interact with diverse individuals from all backgrounds. As such, we welcome all identities, including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, geographic origin, socioeconomic background, veteran status, and abilities.

Our mission is to create a welcoming community of learning, scholarship, and mentorship that is free of racism, prejudice, discrimination, and intimidation. Through our shared teaching, research, and service commitments, we are building a community based on mutual respect and understanding, and that values the open exchange of ideas and diverse perspectives from all.

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