Mailing Address: 115 S. 1460 E. Rm. 205, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0111
Office Hours: 9am to 5pm
Website: www.earth.utah.edu
Phone: 801-581-7062
Email: gg-info@lists.utah.edu
Department Chair: Gabriel Bowen, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Director: Tonie Van Dam, Ph.D.
Graduate Director: Fan-chi Lin, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Advisor: Kelsie Richards, CoS Advising Hub, 310 CSC
Graduate Advisor: Sam Harrison, 205 FASB
Contact for Prospective Students: gg-info@lists.utah.edu
Overview
Earth scientists apply the principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology to understand the composition, structure, and history of the Earth, and the processes that govern them. Earth science investigations encompass fieldwork, laboratory analyses, and theoretical studies. Research objectives include advancing fundamental understanding of how the Earth works and how it has evolved through time, and applications of such understanding to societal needs and problems such as locating and characterizing mineral, energy, and groundwater resources, assessing earthquake and other geologic hazards, and evaluating and remediating environmental contamination.
Specialized facilities include computer laboratories for teaching and research, laboratories for chemical and physical characterization of Earth materials, and laboratory and field equipment for geological engineering studies.
Research is carried out in mineralogy; igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary petrology; structural geology, economic geology, stratigraphy, paleontology, marine geology, isotope geology, geochemistry, exploration and earthquake seismology, hydrogeology, geomechanics, environmental remediation, paleomagnetism, electromagnetics, gravity, remote sensing, and thermal studies.
Graduates from the department go on to employment in natural resource production and management, environmental monitoring and restoration, Earth science research and education, and a wide range of leadership and advisory roles in the public and private sectors.
Types of Degrees
Bachelor of Science
Minor
Master of Science
Master of Engineering
Doctor of Philosophy
Undergraduate Programs
To complete a degree program in four years, students beginning any of the department's majors should take MATH 1210 and CHEM 1210 during the first semester. Only strong training in math and science in high school will assure that entering students are able to begin with these courses.
Students who do not take MATH 1210 and CHEM 1210 during the first semester may require more than four years to earn the degree. The student who needs preparatory courses may be able to complete the degree requirements in four years by taking heavier loads or by attending summer sessions. It is important that GEO 1100, GEO 2100, GEO 2500, GEO 3100; PHYS 2210, PHYS 2220; CHEM 1210, CHEM 1215, CHEM 1220, CHEM 1225; and MATH 1210, MATH 1220, (MATH 2210, MATH 2250 for Geophysics emphasis and Geological Engineering) sequences be completed early, because these courses are prerequisites for subsequent courses in the department.
Special Opportunities
Students are encouraged during the junior and/or senior year to undertake an undergraduate research project under the supervision of a faculty member. In some cases, such research may be financially supported by a grant to the faculty supervisor; small research grants to students are available through the University's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and Wilkes Scholarships for climate related research. Students may also gain work experience by participating in an internship program.
Advising
To help students maintain high scholastic standards, the department and college has appointed advisors to consult with them about their academic progress. We recommend that students meet with an advisor prior to and upon declaring a major. We recommend that students consult their advisor(s) on a regular basis to gain insight and further their degree plans.
Scholarships
Many scholarships or other forms of financial aid are available to undergraduate students. Applications for scholarships or financial aid should be made directly to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships via the Scholarship Universe (SU) portal. By submitting a single application through SU, an applicant will be matched with all other scholarships that they are eligible for,
Graduate Program
Areas of Specialization
Applied electrical methods; thermal fields; seismology; economic geology; low-and medium-temperature geochemistry; isotope geochemistry; geochronology; sedimentology; basin analysis; petroleum geology; vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology; micropaleontology; igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic petrology; structural geology and tectonics; rock magnetism; borehole geophysics; geological engineering; geomechanics, geohydrology; surface and groundwater hydrology.
Admission Requirements
There may be additional admission requirements for these programs. Please see the program pages for more information as well as the Geology Department website at www.earth.utah.edu .
Applications must be submitted by January 15 for Fall Semester admission.
Degree Requirements
Graduate students from other colleges and universities that do not require the core undergraduate courses of this department are expected to make up such deficiencies at their own expense. All geophysics graduate students normally take (or have taken) Structure and Tectonics, Inversion Theory, and Survey of Numerical Analysis. They also should satisfy the geophysics B.S. elective requirements.
Financial Assistance
Contact the Department of Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate or Graduate Advisor for information about Departmental financial assistance.