Unlike larger universities, Eastern students can call directly upon a chemistry or physics professor for help with these projects. As an interactive science department, Eastern students work with a diverse science faculty in their research. The geology program uses a lecture-laboratory format for courses. This provides the student with the theory of the subject presented in lecture format, then hands-on experience in the laboratory. Most of the classes also have a faculty-led field trip.
Geology uses computers extensively in the educational program.
Programs in beginning laboratories simulate and teach earthquake monitoring and epicenter location, or examine and explore volcanic hazards. In courses for the major software is used to study crystals, help analyze and display geochemical and petrologic data, suggest paleontological interrelationships, and to do contouring for structural, stratigraphic and statistical mapping. Students have access to such equipment as the visible light spectroscope, a research microscope for transmitted and reflected light work, a large and small digitizer for computer mapping and modeling, the scanning electron microscope, and equipment for sedimentary and petrographic sample preparation and analysis. Because of the interaction with other disciplines within the Physical Sciences department, geology students also have access to chemistry and physics equipment, including atomic absorption, laser spectroscopy, gas chromatography mass spectroscopy, and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Mineralogy, Optical Mineralogy and Geochemistry courses are taken by chemistry majors.