Geology - Miami University - Oxford

Geology from Miami University - Oxford is a Campus Bachelor Geology degree that prepares you for a Science career. What is Geology? Geology is the science of the earth's composition, structure, origin, and evolution. It includes subjects as diverse as the origin of rocks and minerals, the migration of pollutants in ground water, and the evolution of life as recorded in fossils. Geologists and geoscientists work in a variety of areas. In today's society, with concerns about the scarcity and conservation of natural resources, global climate change, and environmental pollution, many geologists are involved in devising sustainable approaches to energy development, to investigating and mitigating pollution, and to understanding and mitigating the effects of hazards, such as flooding, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and landslides. Some geoscientists study the materials and fundamental processes of the solid earth while others investigate the effects of human influence upon the earth and provide the basic information needed to solve problems and establish rational policies for resource management, environmental protection, and public health, safety, and welfare. Geologists also study the history of the earth , including the fossilized rock record from which we can learn much about previous life forms, climates, and ecosystems. This knowledge is one of the fundmental tools for interpreting the magnitude and impact of modern day and future climate change. What are the features of Miami's program? Integration of teaching and research The geology faculty is an extremely active group of scientists and educators. Our faculty teach courses at all levels of the curriculum, which means that students interact with active scholars in virtually all geology courses. All faculty members and graduate students are working on research projects, many of which regularly involve undergraduate students. These independent study research opportunities are often the most rewarding aspects of an undergraduate's career because they provide hands-on experience applying principles and concepts learned in coursework to outstanding questions in the geological sciences. The National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates Program, the Miami University Summer Scholars Program, the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship, and the Department of Geology all provide funding that allows undergraduates to undertake independent research during the summer and school year. Many students publish their work in leading journals and participate in conference presentations. Field-based learning opportunities All geology majors enroll in a summer field course, usually taken between the junior and senior year, at the department's field station in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming, next to one of the nation's most unspoiled and rugged wilderness areas. In addition, the Department of Geology annually offers several three- to five-week domestic and international field courses during the summer. Shorter field courses (7 to 10 days) are often taught over the winter and spring break periods, affording undergraduate and graduate students ample opportunity to participate. Many of the upper-level geology courses contain field components that take advantage of key aspects of the local and regional geology via multi-hour to multi-day field projects. Top-notch facilities The Department of Geology houses modern research and teaching laboratories and field equipment for the investigation of a variety of earth materials and processes. These facilities support material preparation and state-of-the-art instrumental analysis focusing in the areas of isotope and elemental geochemistry, mineral surface geochemistry, crystallography, geomicrobiology, hydrogeology, environmental geochemistry, and geophysics. This instrumentation is further supported by a modern departmental computer laboratory and numerous specialized high-end computer facilities. View more details on Miami University - Oxford, OH . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Geology courses.