Faculty place a high priority on teaching, in the classroom and in the laboratory.
Opportunities for undergraduate research, especially during the summer, are increasingly available. The department's B.S. program is approved by the American Chemical Society, the hallmark of rigorous programs in the United States. The department sponsors a summer program that introduces undergraduates to hands-on research. The department seeks to offer courses and degrees that reflect the current state of knowledge in this rapidly changing field. Those who want to become professional geologists may take a B.S. degree in that field.