All students complete the College of Arts and Sciences core curriculum. The environmental geology major has a greater emphasis on earth surface processes, human interactions, and land-use planning. Typical environmental geology courses include hydrogeology, geology and land-use planning, environmental planning, groundwater geochemistry, and coastal processes. Fieldwork is an essential component of training in geology, and many of our courses utilize field sites throughout New England to demonstrate geological processes. In addition to these local trips, the department has taken students on longer field excursions to the Cascade Mountains of Washington, to the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas, to the Grand Canyon, and to the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Students also have the option to complete undergraduate research courses with a faculty member.
Undergraduate research projects usually involve substantial field and lab work completed under the guidance of the geology faculty. Honors students in geology have the opportunity to participate in special sections of geology courses and in special honors activities. The geology program offers basic knowledge needed to work in almost any of the geologic professions in both industry and government, or to continue studies in graduate school. The major in environmental geology is particularly popular, and many of our recent graduates work for environmental or geotechnical firms. Students involved in the co-op plan typically work with local engineering, environmental consulting companies, or with government agencies.