Geosciences
Today is the ideal time for students to choose a career as a geoscientist. Students with a solid high school background in the sciences and mathematics, like the outdoors and field studies, and those that are challenged by a rigorous program of classroom, laboratory and field courses, should consider North Dakota State University's program in geosciences. Geoscientists are presently in demand for energy and mineral exploration, and for solving environmental problems.
Career Opportunities
Geologists who studied at NDSU are currently employed in such diverse fields as environmental geology, groundwater resources, education, community planning, cartography, solid-state geochemistry, engineering geology, petroleum and gas exploration, precious-metals mining, and land reclamation.
The Department
The geosciences faculty and instructional staff are dedicated to providing the best possible undergraduate education. Faculty members have earned consistently high ratings for their teaching. They also are active in research and bring the benefits of their research activities to students. Many geoscience undergraduates find part-time employment in faculty research or as laboratory teaching assistants. Courses are taught by a variety of techniques including lectures, labs, active learning, report writing and applied field studies. Field studies have included Black Hills, Death Valley, Washington, Hawaii, Iceland and Bahamas. The department's excellent instructional facilities include X-ray diffraction, petrographic microscopes, GPS and surveying equipment, drones and a continuously-upgraded collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils. Training in geographic information systems (GIS) is provided through the Warren D. Kress Advanced Geography Laboratory. The Optical Dating and Dosimetry Laboratory and the Cosmogenic Nuclide Preparation Laboratory are used for dating the ages of geologic events, and for studies of climate change. The Environmental Geomechanics Laboratory is used for studies of water quality.
A core of geology courses, along with training in mathematics, physics, chemistry, soils, geography, computer science and technical writing will prepare students to handle the diverse challenges encountered in this professional career.
High School Preparation
A solid background in English, mathematics (through trigonometry), biology, chemistry and physics is strongly recommended.
The Faculty And Staff
A.C. Ashworth, Ph.D., Emeritus, University of Birmingham, England, 1969, Earth History, Paleontology, Paleoecology
- S.S. Day, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 2012, Fluvial Geomorphology, Slope Stability, Geospatial Sciences
- B.J.C. Laabs, Ph.D., University of Madison, Wisconsin, 2004, Quaternary Geology, Paleoclimate, Geochronology
- K. Lepper, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University, 2001, Glacial Geology, Hydrogeology
- P. Oduor, Ph.D., University of Missouri, Rolla, 2004, Geochemistry, Geographic Information Systems
- J.L. Rock, M.S., North Dakota State University, 2009
- B. Saini-Eidukat, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1991, Mineralogy, Petrology, Geochemistry
- D.P. Schwert, Ph.D., Emeritus, University of Waterloo, Canada, 1978, Quaternary Geology, Land Use
- L.S. Tackett, Ph.D., University of Southern California, 2014, Paleontology, Stratigraphy
- S.A. Wood, Ph.D., Princeton University, 1985, Aqueous Geochemistry, Mineral Deposits
Special Note
Students in the geosciences program are encouraged to use their elective credits in courses that will enhance their professional skills (i.e., foreign languages, geography, archaeology, soils, etc.). In addition, the Department of Geosciences offers elective courses in environmental geology, glacial geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology and remote sensing.
Geology Plan of Study
Please note this is a sample plan of study and not an official curriculum. Actual student schedules for each semester will vary depending on start year, education goals, applicable transfer credit, and course availability. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor on a regular basis to review degree progress and customize an individual plan of study.
First Year | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
4 | GEOL 106 & 106L The Earth Through Time & The Earth Through Time Lab | 4 | |
MATH 165 Calculus I | 4 | CHEM 122 or 151 General Chemistry II or Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
CHEM 121 or 150 General Chemistry I or Principles of Chemistry I | 3 | CHEM 122L or 161 General Chemistry II Laboratory or Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
CHEM 121L or 160 General Chemistry I Laboratory or Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 | MATH 166 Calculus II | 4 |
ENGL 110 College Composition I | 4 | ENGL 120 College Composition II | 3 |
| 16 |
| 15 |
Second Year | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
GEOL 410 Sedimentology/Stratigraphy | 4 | GEOL 422 Petrology | 3 |
4 | GEOL 423 Petrography | 1 | |
GEOG 455 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 | GEOL 412 Geomorphology | 3 |
Gen Ed Wellness | 2 | GEOL 350 & GEOL 303 Invertebrate Paleontology & Paleontology Field Course | 4 |
| GEOL 301 or 302 Lake Superior Field Course or Black Hills Field Course | 2 | COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| 16 |
| 14 |
Third Year | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
3 | 3 | ||
PHYS 211L or 251L College Physics I Laboratory | 1 | PHYS 212L or 252L College Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
SOIL 444 Soil Genesis and Survey | 3 | GEOL 491 Seminar (Capstone) | 2 |
GEOL 450 Field Geology | 3 | Gen Ed Humanities & Fine Arts.Elective | 6 |
GEOL 457 Structural Geology | 4 | Gen Ed Social & Behavioral Sciences/Gen Ed Cultural | 3 |
ENGL 324 Writing in the Sciences | 3 |
|
|
| 17 |
| 14 |
Fourth Year | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
CSCI 122, 160, or 227 Visual BASIC, Computer Science I, | 3 | Electives | 10 |
Gen Ed Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | College Humanities or Social Sciences | 3 |
| College Humanities or Social Sciences | 3 | GEOL 491 Seminar (Senior) | 1 |
Electives | 7 |
| |
| 16 |
| 14 |
Total Credits: 122 | |||
View NDSU equivalencies of transfer courses at: www.ndsu.edu/transfer/equivalencies
Stevens Hall
Room 218
Stevens Hall is located on the corner of Centennial Boulevard and Bolley Drive (Campus Map)
Contact Information
Geosciences
NDSU Dept 2745,
PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
DEPT PHONE: (701) 231-8455
DEPT EMAIL: ndsu.geosciences@ndsu.edu
DEPT WEBSITE: www.ndsu.edu/geosci
Office of Admission
North Dakota State University
Ceres 114
Dept #5230, PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Tel: (701) 231-8643 / Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ndsu.edu/admission/
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