The main aim of pursuing a degree in geology is to understand how the earth’s resources are been used to better the world and how the sustainability of these resources can be developed in the future. Usually, students who study geology conduct studies that locate rocks that contain important metals, plan the mines that produce them and the methods used to remove the metals from the rocks. They do similar work to locate and produce oil, natural gas, and groundwater.
What is Geology?
Geology, as defined by Wikipedia, is a science concerned with the study of the Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Geology as a career is a very interesting and rewarding career. Geologists find career opportunities in a variety of settings. They can find work in natural resource companies, environmental consulting agencies, government agencies, and universities where they can take positions as lecturers. So, we can say a geologist is someone who works to understand the history of the planet we live in and further use this knowledge to better predict the future and explain current occurrences.
What do geologists do?
Part of what geologists do is to study the earth processes and make predictions of the possible future occurrences of natural disasters like earthquakes, landslides, floods, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Geologists also survey land areas and design building plans where they will be safe to live in. Also, geologists look for oil, natural gas, water and methods to extract. Generally, geologists work in the areas of mineral mining, petrology, mapping, and petroleum geology.
What are the requirements to become a geologist?
If you want to become a geologist, you would typically need at least a bachelor’s degree for most entry-level positions. Students may need to pursue a career in geoscience, environmental science or any other related course. Some geologist jobs require a master’s degree. This is usually for specialized jobs. However, students can expect to spend around 4 years pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geology, with an additional 2-6 years of graduate study to obtain a master’s or doctoral degree.
Geology Salary and Job Outlook
People who study geology find job opportunities with robust pay. Usually, geologists earn an average yearly salary of $91,130. Depending on how skilled a geologist is, his salary may start from $49,430 and then, it goes up to $187,990 in the course of time. This is according to a report from careerexplorer. According to BLS, the employment of geoscientists is projected to grow by 6 percent from 2018 to 2028, as fast as the average for all occupations.
What schools are the best for geology?
There are so many schools around the world where you can pursue your geology degree programs. Some of these schools offer undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs. These schools are scattered around the world but most of them are located in the United States. Kindly go through the list of best geology schools given below.
List of best geology schools in the world
#1. California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is the best geology school in the world. It is found in Pasadena, California United States. The school is made up of approximately 2,200 students of which 55% of them are studying at the graduate level. Over the years, the school has awarded over 254 undergraduate degrees, 122 masters degrees and 180 doctoral degrees. The research reputation of CALTECH is rated number 5. In geology at CALTECH, researchers work both in the lab and across the globe on problems of tectonics, petrology, and geological hazards.
#2. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
The highest-ranking university in Switzerland is ETH Zurich, which is ranked at number 25 in the world according to USNEW. The university has been ranked as the 2nd best geology school in the world. The Major in Geology introduces students to concepts and techniques to investigate the various properties of rocks and minerals and understanding the active processes on planet Earth. However, the school offers two programs in geology. The school offers bachelor’s programs for undergraduate students and masters programs for postgraduate students.
#3. University of California–Berkeley
The University of California—Berkeley is one of the best geology colleges in the world. The school is situated just 15 miles from San Francisco. UC—Berkeley, as it is fondly called, offers students around 350-degree programs in all. Students pursuing degrees in geoscience courses like geology can find bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Berkeley has one of the best research facilities. The research is conducted not just within academic department labs and research centers but also in some of the school’s museums and university-managed biological field stations. Take a quick flight to the school using the link below.
#4. Harvard University
The geology department at Harvard is one of the best colleges to acquire your degrees in geology. Harvard offers outstanding opportunities for students who wish to pursue studies in Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS).
Students may focus on geological science, environmental geoscience, solid earth geophysics, geochemistry, geobiology, atmospheric and ocean science, and planetary science.
The Geology program at Harvard encompasses field, laboratory, and computational studies aimed at better understanding both geological processes and the rock record.
Interestingly, students can find various degree programs to offer in this school. Students can find undergraduate and graduate programs in geology at Harvard University.
#5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The College of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT is one of the best geology colleges in the world. At MIT, there are many opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students to gain research experience at one of college’s many lab centers. One of such centers includes the MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory which is one of the largest university research reactors in the U.S. MIT invests over $675 million on research each year with additional federal funding going to MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory and a Department of Defense research. # Students at MIT can find other related courses like geobiology, geophysics, and geochemistry. The Program in Geophysics (PG) is the academic research program within EAPS dedicated to the study of geophysics. The Program in Geology, Geochemistry, Geobiology (PGGG) is the academic research program that studies the origin and evolution of Earth, other planets, and life.
#6. Princeton University
Princeton University is one of the best geology colleges in the world. Princeton’s Department of Geosciences is at the forefront of scientific discovery in the solid earth, the environmental geosciences and oceanography/climate science. Basically, the faculty and its students address critical societal issues, such as climate change and geologic hazards, through research and education at all levels. Princeton University offers various programs ranging from undergraduate to graduate studies.
Find other geology colleges here
Kindly visit the official site of these geology schools to learn more about their programs.
What are the Best Geology Schools Online?
Can you become a geologist online? Yes, you can! If you don’t have all the time to pass a conventional brick ‘N’ mortar kind of school, probably because you already have a job or some other kind of engagement, then you can find online geology programs you can do. There are about 5 best online geology schools where you can pursue your programs. You can find undergraduate and postgraduate programs in these schools. The schools are arranged in the order of their value from top to down.
List of best online geology schools
What are the best geology colleges for Undergraduates in the United States?
Looking for the best geology colleges to pursue undergraduate programs, then one of the following under-listed schools would meet what you desire.
List of undergraduate geology colleges in the US
The best geology school for undergraduate studies in the US is Stanford University. Other schools where you can pursue a bachelors degree in geology include:
What are the best geology colleges for Masters in the United States?
Looking for the best geology colleges to pursue master’s programs, then one of the following under-listed schools would meet what you desire.
List of masters colleges for geology in the US
The best geology school for masters studies in the US is Pennsylvania State University–University Park. Other schools where you can pursue a bachelors degree in geology include: Read this article if you are looking for where to acquire your aerospace training –15 Best Aerospace Engineering Schools in the World | 2022
What are the best geology colleges for Undergraduates in Pennsylvania?
Looking for the best geology college in Pennsylvania, then the University of Pennsylvania is the school for you. The University of Pennsylvania offers 3 Geology/earth Science Degree programs. It’s a large private university in a large city. In 2015, the school graduated 19 students in the study area of Geology/earth Science with the students earning 13 Bachelor’s degrees, 4 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Master’s degrees. Usually, it takes about 4 years to complete a bachelor’s degree in geology. But if you are looking to acquire your masters or doctoral degrees, then you may have to spend extra two years making it 6 years. The cost of studying geology might vary from school to school. According to collegecalc.org, the average annual out-of-state cost for a bachelor program in Geology/Earth Science is $41,409 with an estimated average four-year degree total cost of $165,636. According to bls.gov, the employment of geoscientists is projected to grow by 6 percent from 2018 to 2028, as fast as the average for all occupations. The best-paid geologists in the country could expect to earn a high salary of $110,800. Great geologists with 25 years of experience can earn as much as $600,000 annually.
Conclusion
Pursuing a career in a geoscience course can be daunting but rewarding too. Geology will allow you to travel far and wide. You will get to visit many tourist sites, mineral sites and I can tell you, its always fun. Aside from the fun you get traveling, you will make huge bucks practicing as a geologist. In conclusion, attending one of these listed schools will make you stand out on your chosen career path.
