Geology Undergraduate Program Information Southern Illinois University

Undergraduate Program Coordinator:

Dr. Steven Esling
Office: Parkinson 303
Phone: (618) 453-3351
E-mail: esling@geo.siu.edu

You may request additonal information or application materials from: geology@geo.siu.edu

What these pages contain...

Introduction and General Information

Admission to SIUC

Financial Support

Course Descriptions

Introduction

Although many people think of geology as the study of rocks, the scope of geology is in fact broader and much more vital. Geology is integral to the resolution of such global problems as environmental pollution, adequate reserves of non-renewable energy sources, groundwater protection and resources, and scarcity of industrially critical ore deposits.

Geology has two major branches. Physical geology emphasizes the study of earth materials, of features found on and in the earth, and of the processes now operating that make the earth a dynamic system. The physical geologist might study the nature of the deposits in the area of a river, the way the river erodes or transports material, and ways to predict the effects of a flood. Historical geology unravels the earth's history, past natural events, and past life on earth. Knowing the types and origins of rocks in which petroleum occurs, for example, geologists can guide oil drillers to likely sites, saving considerable cost.

The Department of Geology at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale has extensive course and research offerings for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral study in geology. The far-ranging backgrounds of the geology faculty, the curriculum, the individual attention to students, the state-of-the-art research facilities, and our location close to a great variety of geologic settings combine to make SIUC's geology program one of the most exciting in the United States.

What We Offer

The Department of Geology has a strong program in all major geologic subdisciplines, including geomorphology, hydrogeology, structural geology, sedimentology, paleontology, petrology, mineralogy, ore deposits, geochemistry, Quaternary geology, coal geology, environmental geology, petroleum geology, and geophysics. We take a problem-solving approach to undergraduate education by using practical examples in the classroom - using geologic principles to study earth processes, energy and mineral resources, earth materials, and the interaction between people and the earth. As most classes for geology majors tend to be small (the student-faculty ratio is ten to one), you will enjoy close contact with the faculty and receive individual attention in and outside the classroom. Field trips to geological sites are regular features of our curriculum.

Curriculum

Students majoring in geology can choose either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. The Bachelor of Science curriculum is designed primarily for those who intend to pursue careers as geologists or who plan to go on to graduate study in geology, while the Bachelor of Arts degree is more flexible and permits you to combine geologic education with other areas of interest, such as law, engineering, biology, business, or teaching.

The Bachelor of Science program requires a wide range of prescribed courses and is highly competitive with similar programs around the nation. The summer field course, usually taken between the junior and senior years, is required for this degree. It is taught at the permanent field camp in the Beartooth Mountains near Red Lodge, Montana, established by the Yellowstone-Bighorn Research Association and shared with the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Franklin and Marshall College, and Amherst College.

Diversity

SIUC geology students have many opportunities to supplement course work in the major with courses, a minor, or even a double major in related disciplines. If you want to become an environmental lawyer you can combine the geology major with pre-law, and perhaps go on to the SIUC School of Law. Your geology program might also be expanded by work in physics, chemistry, business, civil engineering, mining engineering, computer science, forestry, plant and soil science, geography, or one of the life sciences. All of these, and more, are available at SIUC.

Faculty

Areas of faculty expertise at SIUC cover most of the major subdisciplines in geology. The backgrounds of our faculty are as diverse as their interests; they have doctorates from Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Oregon State, Pennsylvania State, Princeton, Purdue, South Carolina, Syracuse, Texas, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Wyoming.

Among our faculty are distinguished leaders in their fields, actively engaged in exciting research. Their activities range from detailed studies of the properties and geochemistry of coal constituents to the study of the structure of the midcontinent seismic zone.

We encourage geology undergraduate students to take part in faculty research projects. Working in the forefront of new developments in geology is an exciting prospect that may lead you to participation in preparing publications and making presentations at professional meetings.

Graduate and Professional Opportunities

Education beyond the bachelor's degree is increasingly important for those seeking career opportunities in geology. SIUC offers a strong graduate program, with master's and Ph.D. degrees in geology, chemistry, and engineering. Attractive options for some are the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and Juris Doctor (law) degrees.

And That's Not All

Facilities. A major hub of analytical activity for many research projects in geology is our Scanning Electron Microscope-Automated Image Analysis Laboratory. This laboratory holds a number of sophisticated instruments that can function together to provide detailed analyses of the composition and configuration of earth materials.

The Coal Characterization Lab is one of the nation's leading coal research facilities. It is equipped with advanced microscopic-petrographic apparatus and equipment for organic geochemical analysis.

Geophysical tools available to geology students at SIUC include gravimeters, magnetometers, seismographs, and resistivity meters for field studies and computer systems for analysis of geophysical data. Parkinson Laboratory also houses a geophysical observatory for recording and studying earthquakes, an area of increasing scientific and public interest in the mid-continent seismic zone.

Sedimentologic and geomorphologic facilities include a 40' x 8' recirculating flume, used for simulating rivers, and a variety of survey and sampling gear for field study of surface processes and sediments. Petrographic microscopes, stereomicroscopes, settling tubes, sieves, and thin-section and rock preparation labs are also available in Parkinson. We have one of the best-equipped student optical microscopy laboratories in the Midwest.

Field equipment for studying groundwater includes two trailer-mounted drill rigs and devices for measuring groundwater levels and flow.

The geology department has a large collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils. Many of these are on display on the main floor, some in a special room containing a fluorescent mineral exhibit. The department has a large collection of topographic maps and regional professional publications. An undergraduate lounge is reserved for reading and relaxation.

The Region. SIUC is in a particularly interesting geologic location--a great variety of terrain lies within a few hours' drive. Field trips regularly visit such sites as the late Paleozoic sedimentary rocks of the Illinois basin; carbonate rocks of the Missouri Ozark Plateau; Precambrian crystalline rocks of the St. François mountains in Missouri; iron, barite, and lead deposits in southeastern Missouri; oil, gas, and coal deposits in southern Illinois and Kentucky; fluorite deposits in southern Illinois; sediments of the northern part of the Mississippi embayment; early Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois; Quaternary till, loess, lake, and terrace deposits; and a wide variety of Holocene fluvial sediments. Most of the surface strata are horizontal, but complex subsurface structures challenge geophysicists and structural geologists.

Professional and Student Organizations. The Geology Club is an active group of undergraduate geology students that sponsors such social and professional activities as sack-lunch lectures, an annual awards banquet, rock and mineral auctions, and field trips. The Geology Club also assists the faculty in hosting meetings of professional geological organizations, such as the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, and the North-Central Section of the Geological Society of America.

A local student chapter of the American Institute of Mining Engineers is also active on the SIUC campus, and a chapter of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, the national honorary society for the earth sciences, is active in the department.

Departmental Financial Assistance. The Department of Geology has several scholarships available for outstanding undergraduates. These are made possible by endowment funds in the SIU Foundation and by gifts from industry. Some of our students have successfully competed for Illinois Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute Scholarships and the National Association of Geology Teachers Summer Field Course Scholarships. Student work opportunities are available in the department and elsewhere on campus to help defray part of your educational expenses.

Morris Library. Outside the classroom, students' chief resource is Morris Library, a major research library with a holding of more than 2 million volumes, 2.5 million units of microfilm, and about 13,000 current periodical subscriptions, supplemented by an integrated computer network linked to other university libraries in Illinois. An open-stack library, Morris is accessible to all students. The use of computer terminals makes it relatively simple and speedy for you to find the resources you need.

Careers In Geology

There is an urgent need for qualified individuals in the fields of groundwater and environmental geology. Many of our recent graduates are finding employment in these and related areas. Students graduating from our programs have been highly successful in obtaining jobs with consulting firms and state and federal agencies. Most of the more than 44,000 geologists working today are exploring for new mineral resources or for petroleum and natural gas. Some of the more successful industrial geologists rise through company ranks to top management positions. An SIUC graduate is vice president in charge of exploration for a large oil company. Other SIUC graduates have risen to the rank of division geologist or district geologist in major oil companies, responsible for oil and gas exploration in many areas of the world. Most large petroleum companies now prefer to hire geologists or geophysicists with at least a master's degree.

The federal government employs many geologists and geophysicists, most of whom work in the U.S. Department of the Interior. One of our graduates held the position of Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Energy and Minerals, an administrative post overseeing the U.S. Geological Survey, the largest federal employer of geologists. Geologists, hydrogeologists, and geophysicists also work for the Soil Conservation Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Mines, the Department of Energy, the Forest Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Army, and the Navy. Many work for state geological surveys; three SIUC graduates are state geologists, heading such units. opportunities for members of minority groups.

Why SIUC?

SIUC's geology program offers course work in all major geologic subdisciplines.
SIUC geology undergraduates all attend a summer field camp in the Beartooth Mountains in Montana.
SIUC offers over 125 majors, minors, and specializations from which you can supplement your geology degree program.
SIUC geology undergraduates gain insight and experience by taking part in faculty research projects.
SIUC offers master's and doctor's degrees in geology as well as in chemistry and engineering.
SIUC students and faculty have extensive facilities and equipment for learning and research.
SIUC is situated in one of the most geologically diverse regions in the country.

For further information, please call, write, or e-mail:

     Undergraduate Advisor
     Department of Geology
     Mail Stop 4324
     Southern Illinois University
     Carbondale, Illinois 62901-4324
     Phone 618-453-3351
     Fax 618-453-7393
     E-mail geology@geo.siu.edu

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