College of Science and Mathematics > School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability > B.S. in Geosciences

B.S. in Geosciences

Format: In person on the Statesboro Campus
Credit Hours: 124

Earn your Bachelor of Science in Geosciences degree from Georgia Southern and discover a rewarding career in geology or geography!

In the geosciences degree program, you’ll find a balance of teaching, research and service to the region as you study the physical aspects of our planet. With concentrations in geology and geography, you can tailor the degree to your own interests.

Through coursework, laboratory experimentation and research-based fieldwork, you’ll gain the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to begin a career in geosciences. Your studies will explore a diverse range of both economic and structural geology, with areas of focus including:

Igneous and metamorphic petrology
Mineralogy
Paleoecology
Vertebrate paleontology
Taphonomy
Ichnology
Stratigraphy
Sedimentology
Hydrogeology
Geochemistry
Coastal geology
Neotectonics
Geophysics
Environmental geology
The natural history of the Coastal Plain

Geosciences Degree Curriculum and Courses

Ready to Apply?

Loading…

Or, you can:

Request Information

Visit Campus

Support GS and Give Today

Coming soon! Concentrations in Geology and Geography

Beginning in Fall 2024, Georgia Southern University will offer geosciences degree concentrations in geology and geography designed with a student-centered learning experience to prepare you for a career based on your passion.

Geoscience Jobs

What can you do with a geosciences degree?

Your geosciences degree will prepare you for work in a variety of fields. Every day, geologists and geoscientists study the physical aspects of the Earth to aid in the search for and development of natural resources, as well as environmental protection and preservation. By choosing to study geology, you’re taking your first steps toward pursuing careers such as:

Earth science teacher
Geoscientist
Field geologist
Environmental scientist
Mine geologist
Exploration geologist
Environmental field technician
Environmental consulting
Research assistant
Geotechnical engineer
Geophysicist

Be sure to also visit Georgia Southern’s Career Services Office where you can speak with a Career Development Specialist who is available to help you make informed life decisions.

Why Study Geosciences at Georgia Southern University?

Georgia Southern’s Statesboro campus is located approximately 40 miles inland from Savannah, GA, in a geologically and topographically rich setting. Ecologically, Statesboro sits in the midst of Pine and Live Oak forests developed on the low relief ancient Pleistocene sea floor of a Pleistocene highstand. The area is drained by the nearby Ogeechee River and several of its tributaries. Some noteworthy geologic settings you’ll have the opportunity to study include:

Miocene sediment deposits in the Hawthorne Formation
An escarpment formed during the Pleistocene epoch (22,580,000 to 11,700 years ago)
Approximately 4,000 feet of Cretaceous-Recent deposits
Limestones of the Floridan aquifer system (one of the world’s most productive aquifers that supplies drinking water for nearly 10 million people)

Learn More About Georgia Southern’s Geological Setting

In addition, students in the geosciences have access to 18 research laboratory facilities, both on-campus and at the Applied Coastal Research Laboratory situated in the University of Georgia’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. Visit the facilities page for more information on the resources our geosciences students have access to.

Learning Outcomes

The Geology Program at Georgia Southern University, with its long tradition of setting high expectations for both faculty and students, supports the University Mission of learner-centered engagement by preparing students to be scholars, leaders, and in particular sustainability-minded individuals by providing them with an understanding of the variety and complexity of the Earth’s geologic and environmental systems as well as humans’ interactions with these systems. The Program’s purpose is to provide specialized undergraduate curricula leading to BS and BA degrees. Coursework, laboratory experimentation, and research-based field work is expected of all students in the program. The BS degree is designed to train students who will pursue advanced studies or careers in field-based geology by developing critical thinking through a capstone thesis project or additional course work. The BA degree is designed to train students who desire a career in science education, natural resource management, public policy, and professional consulting by pairing a foundational geology curriculum with a liberal arts course of study customized to each learner’s unique goals. These curricula train students in the geoscience skills that have been identified by the American Geosciences Institute as critical, and they cover content knowledge that is consistent with the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) licensure exam. The Geology program embraces the University’s mission to develop a fertile learning environment exemplified by a free exchange of ideas, high academic expectations, and individual responsibility for academic achievement and to enable a culture of engagement that bridges theory with practice, extends the learning environment beyond the classroom, and promotes student growth and life success.

SLO 1 – Apply fundamental principles of natural sciences and mathematics to identify common Earth materials and interpret their composition, origin, and use.

SLO 2 – Evaluate Earth surface and subsurface processes, the role humans play in those processes, and the role those processes play in shaping Earth’s landscape using a variety of spatial and geologic data sets.

SLO 3 – Apply knowledge of the physical and biological history of the planet, as well the evidence for that history, to solve geologic problems, particularly those with implications for the southeastern United States.

SLO 4 – Critically analyze geologic information and communicate analysis clearly using discipline-specific language, style, and formatting.

SLO 5 – (BS only) Formulate a program and proposal of independent research and defend the proposal using professional geoscience standards.

SLO 6 – (BA only) Critically analyze geologic information and communicate analysis clearly to a general audience