Mount Holyoke College is proud to continue its long tradition of maintaining a first-rate geology program. Geology is a historical science, involving the study of active and ancient processes within and on the Earth, including the patterns of evolution of life. Geology is closely aligned with geography, which is both a natural and social science. Geology and geography are linked through the common study of surficial processes that shape the landscape and that have affected or even controlled the development of human culture. Both disciplines also rely on maps and computer graphics as important research tools.
Geology can be a very satisfying pursuit, and an extremely necessary one.
The earth sciences are fascinating in their own right. In addition, they provide a familiar, tangible context for other scientific disciplines such as chemistry, physics, and biology. Certainly the most important role of geology will be played out in the future. As the earth's population increases, so will the demand on the earth's resources. Society will move into a global era of scarcity of resources.