Student Resources

• All of our full-time teaching faculty have their terminal degrees (Ph.D.) and all teach their own classes (as opposed to some bigger Ph.D.-granting universities where your class may be taught by a Graduate Assistant).
• A number of our teaching faculty have won national-level and regional-level awards for their dedication to and excellence in teaching and scholarship. Our students get the benefits of not only a top-notch classroom learning environment with these professors but also guidance from them as your faculty advisors.
• Our location in the valley and ridge in the Virginia Appalachian mountains offers our students easy access to a variety of geologic terrains via our many class-related field trips. We are also fortunate to be so close to the New River and its geologic features for study and research.
• We have a track record of very high job placement rates among our graduates. Over the past several years, studies conducted by the Office of Institutional Research indicate that Geology graduates from RU have had a placement rate in excess of 90% following graduation.
  
• Our labs have modern, state-of-the-art instrumentation and field gear. Our students also have access to computer facilities with a variety of geologic software to help ensure that you will be ready for employment or graduate school.
• We have a extensive network of alumni who are ready to help you network with professionals in industry and graduate schools for advancing your career.
• We help our students find internships with a variety of national and international professional organizations, federal and state agencies and the industry.
• We offer geology work study positions that are paid positions for work that you do in helping run our courses and labs . This experience is always a valuable addition to your resume while in college!

Considering a career in geology? Geology is an ever-growing field with a demand for well-trained geologists who work for helping our modern society meet its needs for energy and mineral resources, protect life and property from environmental hazards, and educate about how to manage a sustainable relationship with the Earth.

What are some of the sub-disciplines within the field of Geology?

Geology is a broad field and allows for combining different disciplines - such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology with geology. In fact one of the main reasons students are drawn to geology is because they can easily merge their interests in most scientific fields with geology - an approach that is well-suited for solving environmental problems as the study of the Earth also involves understanding its physics, chemistry and biology!

• Economic geologists explore for and develop metallic and non-metallic resources; they study mineral deposits and find environmentally safe ways to dispose of waste materials from mining activities.
• Engineering geologists apply geological data, techniques, and principles to the study of rock and soil surficial materials and groundwater; they investigate geologic factors that affect structures such as bridges, buildings, dams and airports.
• Geochemists use physical and inorganic chemistry to investigate the distribution of major and trace elements in ground water and Earth materials, and use organic chemistry to study the composition of fossil fuel (coal, oil, and gas) deposits.
• Environmental geologists study the interaction between the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and human activities. They work to solve problems associated with pollution, waste management, urbanization, and natural hazards, such as flooding and erosion.
• Geophysicists apply the principles of physics to study the earth's interior and investigate Earth's magnetic, electric, and gravitational fields.
• Hydrogeologists study the occurrence, movement, abundance, distribution, and quality of subsurface waters and related geologic aspects of surface waters.
• Marine geologists investigate the ocean-floor and ocean-continent boundaries; they study ocean basins, continental shelves and coastal environments.
• Mineralogists study mineral formation, composition, uses and physical and chemical means for identifying them.
• Oceanographers investigate the physical, chemical, biological, and geologic dynamics of oceans.
• Paleontologists study fossils to understand past life forms and their changes through time and to reconstruct past environments.
• Petrologists determine the origin and natural history of rocks by analyzing mineral composition and grain relationships.
• Planetary geologists study planets and their moons in order to understand the evolution of the solar system.
• Sedimentologists study the nature, origin, distribution, and alteration of sediments such as sand, silt, and mud. Oil, gas, coal and many mineral deposits occur in such sediments.
• Seismologists study earthquakes and analyze the behavior of earthquake waves to interpret the structure of the Earth.
• Structural geologists analyze rocks by studying deformation, fracturing, and folding of the Earth's crust.
• Volcanologists investigate volcanoes and volcanic phenomena to understand these natural hazards and predict eruptions.

What can I do with a degree in Geology?

The demand for Geologists has remained strong and is growing each year due to a renewed interest for becoming self-sufficient in the energy and mineral resources that we need in the United States. About 75% of our graduates take up jobs after completing their undergraduate degree, and typically about 25% go on to pursue graduate training in the geological sciences.

Most graduates in geology typically take entry-level positions as Geologists working in the following areas:

• Consulting firms dealing with environmental projects needing geological and engineering analysis.
• Companies exploring for mineral resources such as petroleum and mining.
• Federal agencies such as the USGS (United States Geological Survey), BLM (Bureau of Land Management), USFS (United States Forest Service), FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Act), NASA, and the EPA (Environment Protection Agency).
• State agencies such as the VDMME (Virginia Department of Mining, Minerals and Energy), VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation), and local governmental agencies.

A number of job opportunities also exist in public school teaching as presently there is a acute shortage of qualified geology teachers in our school systems both in Virginia and in other states across our nation.

Where do geologists or geoscientists work?

In all kinds of exciting places! Imagine yourself sampling the deep ocean floor, or perhaps examining rock specimens from the Moon or Mars! Geologists work as explorers for new mineral and hydrocarbon (oil) resources, consult on engineering and environmental problems, and conduct research for unraveling Earth's history through clues left behind in rocks. It is quite common for a geologist to have traveled to a variety of environments during the course of his/her career such as glaciers, river valleys, deserts, mountains and coastal areas to name just a few!

Geologists often divide their time among work in the field, the laboratory, and the office. Geologists do typically like working outdoors and appreciate the different faces of our environment.

Field work usually consists of making observations, exploring the earth's interior by drilling or via geophysical tools, collecting samples and making a variety of measurements. For example a rock sample may be analyzed by using X-rays, examined under a electron microscope, and analyzed for its chemical and physical properties. Geologists also use computers for testing theories and creating more accurate models concerning Earth processes and products.

In the office, geologists interpret and combine field and laboratory data and create reports and presentations that may include maps, photographs, and diagrams to illustrate the results of their research. Such reports may allow for location of new occurrences of ore deposits, coal, natural gas and water, or reveal hazards associated with unstable ground conditions at construction sites etc.

What are some examples of jobs that Radford University Geology graduates have had?

• A recent graduate works for the VA Department of Environmental Quality in northern Virginia where he helps monitor the quality and supply of water in that area.
• Another recent graduate works as a Field Geologist with a environmental consulting company in Washington D.C. and is responsible for conducting field experiments and writing project reports.
• One of our graduates uses satellite and remote-sensing data with GIS software to help with land-use planning in northern Virginia.
• Several of our graduates have gone on to pursue Master's and Ph.D. degrees from top-notch schools such as Kent State University in Ohio, University of Nevada at Reno, and Virginia Tech.
• One of our recent graduates, Melissa "Luna" Brett, is pursuing her Master's Degree in Glaciology at Portland State University and studying Glacier Dynamics in Glacier National Park

What amount of salary can a geology major from Radford University expect after graduating with a undergraduate degree?

The employment outlook for geologists,  as in any profession, depends on the economy at any given time. The long-range outlook is good at this time because of a decreasing energy, mineral, and water resources, and increasing awareness and concerns about environmental hazards.

According to the National Science Foundation, about 125,000 geoscientists are employed in the United States alone. Salaries for college graduates with Bachelor's degrees start at about $30,000. Salaries for geologists with Master's degrees are about $38,000 and about $42,000 for Ph.Ds.

What is the placement rate geology graduates from Radford University?

Over the past several years, studies conducted by the RU Office of Institutional Research indicate that Geology graduates from Radford have had a placement rate in excess of 90% following graduation. Although some of these graduates may not immediately find the job they dreamed of, most are working in geology-related jobs and in jobs with career potential.

What courses of study are available in the department and how many will  I need to take to graduate with a undergraduate degree from Radford?

The Geology faculty believes that a strong, broad-based program in geology, mathematics, and the physical sciences is essential in preparing students to pursue successful careers in geology; therefore a Bachelor of Science degree in geology is offered.  For more information on individual degree requirements, please see our Academic Programs listing.