Energy companies need exploration and development geologists to locate and extract hydrocarbon deposits. Graduate studies prepare students to work in advanced fields such as volcanology, seismology or mineralogy. Professional positions held by recent Towson graduates include environmental geologists working in both the private and public sectors, such as the City of Baltimore and the Maryland Department of the Environment, mineral resource development geologists for quarrying firms, and a number of hydrogeologists with private consulting firms from Maryland to Colorado. Several have also successfully undertaken graduate studies in such fields of study as hydrogeochemistry and coastal engineering. The geosciences major contains a core of the fundamental physical and life sciences with essential mathematics and computer science.
Every student selects either the geology concentration or the earth science track.
Students in their senior year complete their science education with research experience, generally relating to geological or environmental problems in Maryland, under the direction of a cooperating faculty member. Geoscience majors can gain valuable work experience during summer internships, perhaps opening the doors to permanent employment. In the College of Science and Mathematics, students can compete for the Dean's Scholarship, or apply for national scholarships for science majors such as the Goldwater Award. The Geosciences Program at Towson University maintains a petrographic microscope laboratory, rock preparation equipment, and an excellent teaching collection of rock, minerals and petrographic thin sections. A scanning electron microscope in the Department of Biological Sciences may be used by students with the proper training.