Geology and Environmental Geosciences

Phone: 843.953.5589
Mitchell W. Colgan, Chair

About the Department

Geology is the science of the Earth - including its structure, dynamics, and history at many scales of inquiry. Geoscientists provide a unique perspective using science and mathematics to solve problems affecting society locally, regionally, and globally.. The department relatively low faculty to student ratio provides students with the opportunity to actively participate in faculty mentored geoscience research. The department is home to the South Carolina Space Grant Consortium, Lowcountry Hazards Center, Santee Cooper GIS Laboratory,, Mace Brown Natural History Museum, and the BEAMS Program.

The Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences offers a major, a minor, and a broad array of topical and interdisciplinary elective courses in the geosciences. Students who complete a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degree with a major in geology may tailor a program of study to better prepare themselves for a wide variety of  opportunities in:

1. Graduate study - our students have received graduate fellowships from top universities throughout the U.S.
2. Geological exploration of energy and mineral resources
3. Geospatial technologies working for industry and government
4. Environmental consulting firms and governmental environmental regulatory agencies
5. Natural hazard mitigation and water resources management
6. Dinosaur paleontology and museum curation
7. Interdisciplinary careers, such as, oceanography, national intelligence, and climate change

Majors

• Geology, B.A.  
• Geology, B.S.  

Minors

• Geology Minor