SFA Geology
At SFA Geology we are proud to run a friendly, student-centered department, and as the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, I would love to tell you all about it! If you are considering applying to SFA as a freshman or transfer Geology major, please get in touch with me. I am happy to answer your questions, arrange a department tour, meet with you on Zoom, and/or refer you to our academic advisor or other people who can answer your questions.
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What can SFA Geology do for you?
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Learning By Doing. We emphasize active learning and practical experience. As a Geology major, nearly every course you take will include hands-on lab work and field experience. You will work with modern analytical equipment and cutting-edge software in many of your courses. Your major culminates in a 6-week summer Field Camp, which travels across the southwestern U.S. and includes visits to many of the major National Parks, such as Arches, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, White Sands, and Zion. Try following #SFAFieldCamp2021 on Instagram to see what it's like!
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Undergraduate Research. You will have many opportunities to participate in undergraduate research, and you'll be able to choose an experience that suits you - from the for-credit Geosciences Concentration requirement, to the College of Sciences and Mathematics Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (S.U.R.E.), to assisting graduate students with research, to informal field weekends. Why bother? Undergraduate research is fun, challenging, and is viewed favorably by both employers and graduate schools because of the skills you'll develop!
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SFA Geology Rocks! From excellent courses to field experiences to research opportunities, you'll have access to all of the opportunities you'll find in a larger department, plus you'll receive individualized attention in a friendly, close-knit community. Our faculty are friendly, helpful, attentive, easily accessible, and great teachers. You'll be assigned a faculty Geology mentor, and you'll receive top-notch, personalized advising from our academic advisor. Take advantage of programming (Geology Colloquium lectures, Rock Talks conversations...) and community events (Geology Convocation, Year-End Celebration...). Our student organizations organize social events and professional opportunities - the Geologic Association of Students (G.A.S.), our student chapter of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE), the Earth science honor society. You will never be just a face in the crowd around here!
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Geology Major. We built our geology major to help you develop the broad knowledge and experience needed by future geoscientists. Gain foundational knowledge in traditional courses on mineralogy, petrology, stratigraphy, structural geology, and field methods, then apply your knowledge in geochemistry, hydrogeology, geophysics, and petroleum geology. Summer field camp provides a capstone experience that will prepare you for employment. Speaking of employment, Senior Seminar will guide you through the practical considerations of writing resumes, applying for jobs, and succeeding in interviews. By graduation you will be prepared for any of the many interdisciplinary geosciences careers of the future!
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Geosciences Concentration. Do you want the opportunity to specialize in a particular discipline or to take a variety of advanced electives? Choose the Geosciences Concentration as your minor. The Geosciences Concentration is 18 hours of advanced study for Geology Majors. You'll take three advanced Geology elective courses, Geoscience Research credits, a GIS course (a marketable skill!), and an advanced math or science course that complements your interests. Work with the Geology faculty to tailor a Concentration to your interests and career aspirations!
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Geology Minor. A Geology major may not be your thing, but knowledge of the geosciences is useful or even necessary in many careers. This graphic from the American Geosciences Institute shows the many different fields in which geoscientists are working, including government, law, art, and medicine. For your convenience, it is now possible to complete a Geology Minor entirely through online courses!
Resources
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Visit the Department of Geology website.
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Check out the list of Geology courses in the SFA Undergraduate Bulletin (2020-2021).
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Find the syllabi for current and past courses.
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Find the requirements for the Geology major, minor, and Geosciences Concentration in the SFA Undergraduate Bulletin (2020-2021).
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Use SFA's academic calendar to plan ahead for classes, holidays, and breaks.