The University of Tennessee - Martin

At a glance:

Geology is the study of the materials and processes which shape the earth.  There are many subfields such as oil and gas exploration, environental geology, paleontology, hydrogeology, mineralogy, natural hazards, and geophysics.  Research and applied work in these and other areas are vital to the world economy and to the proper management of earth’s natural resources.  The BS in Geoscience-Geology curriculum provides broad-based training in these areas to prepare students for rewarding careers or further training in graduate school.  Because our primary mission is undergraduate education, classes are relatively small and student-faculty interaction is high.  Research opportunities are available and fieldtrips are integral to many courses.

Why should a student choose the program at UT Martin?

* Our comprehensive program provides a solid, broad-based exposure to the discipline

* Faculty members are student-oriented and work with majors on an individual basis

* The faculty is active in research projects

* All of our classes are taught by faculty, not by graduate assistants

* Small class sizes allows students to receive individual attention

* Exploratory fieldtrips are integrated into many of our classes

* Undergraduate research opportunities are available to students interested in projects
   that can be done individually or with faculty

Are there any special opportunities available such as internships, global travel, etc?

Travel-study courses to both domestic and international locations are offered on a regular basis

What can a student do after graduation – graduate school, possible careers?

With the proper combination of courses and curricula combinations selected through advising, students can go on to …

* … graduate study in:
 -- geology
 -- environmental law
 -- environental planning & management
 -- environmental sciences
 -- geohydrology

* … careers with …
--  private industries such as energy, mining, and construction companies;
 -- federal government agencies such as the US Geological Survey, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Mines, NASA, and the Environmental Protection Agency
 -- state and local government divisions that oversee natural resources;

What kind of student organizations, clubs, or honor societies can a student join?

GeoClub is a UT Martin student organization open to all students on the campus.  It specializes in fun and informative fieldtrips to interesting places ranging from primitive caves to nearby cities.  GeoClub members can also participate in activities such as GeoConclave, a statewide college geology skills competition held every year at Fall Creek Falls State Park.

What kind of facilities and equipment will be available to the student?

* GIS/Cartography Laboratory equipped with digitizer, large-scale plotter, and software (ArcView, Idrisi, and Designer).

* A USGS Topographic Map depository containing 1:24000 topographic quads for the
entire southeastern US is housed in the department

* A world-class, museum-quality fossil collection is housed in the department

* Students can gain valuable experience preparing and analyzing rock samples in our “Rock Lab”

* A private student study room reserved for Geoscience majors is available 24/7

Does the faculty specialize in certain areas?

The faculty has experience in academic research and in practical applied fields.  Their specializations include:

Mineralogy
Sedimentology
Paleontology