Geosciences

The ideal student for the geosciences program is someone who is interested in learning about the Earth systems (hydrosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere) and how they interact to shape the Earth, and the integration of geology, physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics in coursework. The student should also be interested in hands-on learning in the classroom, field, and laboratory, analyzing and interpreting scientific data, utilizing data to investigate real-world scientific questions and issues, and communicating science through writing and presentations.

Geoscientists are in high demand. Projections extending to 2029 show that employment in the geosciences will grow faster than the average occupation. The need for energy, environmental protection, and responsible land and resource management has spurred continued demand for geoscientists well into the future (US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Graduates of our geosciences program are scientifically informed citizens who can understand the complexities of the Earth’s systems and the interdisciplinary challenges of modern society. Our majors pursue careers as geotechnical and environmental consultants, state and federal agency scientists and managers (US Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Department of Energy, etc.), climate policy advisers, energy industry geologists, museum staff scientists and curators, educators, and more. Our students are well-prepared for graduate study, which is required for some professional positions in the geosciences. If a graduate of our program would like to pursue a career outside of the geosciences, they have gained technical and complex problem-solving skills that translate well to other job sectors. 

Minors that compliment the geosciences major include Environmental Studies, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Economics. A popular certificate is the GIS certificate. 

The Department of Geosciences also offers two minors that compliment a variety of science and non-science majors; the geosciences minor and the environmental geosciences minor.

A student is not expected to progress through the major alone. Course and degree planning are readily available through advising appointments with the departmental Program Director, Krista Smilek (smilekka@uc.edu). The Undergraduate Director and departmental faculty are excellent resources for course recommendations and research, graduate school, and career advice. The members of the Department of Geosciences pride ourselves on having an “open door” policy where we invite students to feel welcome to chat with geoscieces faculty and staff on a regular basis. Existing and potential majors are ecouraged to contact the Program Director, Krista Smilek (smilekka@uc.edu) for advising inquiries.

Co-op Program

Geosciences majors can participate in the optional co-op and gain professional development skills and work experience while in the program. Students are encouraged to meet with the departmental Program Director for information. 

Undergraduate Research

The Department of Geosciences strongly encourages undergraduate students to develop their skills outside of the classroom through field and/or laboratory research experiences. Undergraduates may conduct research under the mentorship of one or more geosciences faculty and funds are often available to support research endeavors. Research projects are commonly used to fulfill the capstone requirement or as a senior thesis and can be designed around various field, laboratory, or quantitative approaches.

Theis Environmental Monitoring and Measurement Site (TEMMS)

The Department of Geosciences maintains and operates the Theis Environmental Monitoring and Modeling Site (TEMMS), a unique facility in the Great Miami River Valley that collects a wide range of real-time environmental data in the river (stage), above the ground (vegetation activity and weather information), and in groundwater (geophysical imaging and geochemical sensing). Pairs of observation wells continuously monitor basic water quality parameters. TEMMS is a facility designed to help prepare students for hydrogeology-related STEM careers. TEMMS data are integrated into coursework and are available for student use in research projects related to hydrology, water quality, and environmental science.

Cincinnati Museum Center

The Cincinnati Museum Center is an excellent resource for the department and its students. Student research and training are supported by the CMC’s world-class fossil collections spanning local, regional, and exotic flora and fauna from around the globe. Museum staff paleontologists are adjuncts of the department and offer courses and internships in museum curation and display, as well as field experiences in paleontology.  Students translate these experiences to museum careers or as staff geologists and naturalists at state and federal surveys.

Transfer students should reach out to the Program Director, Krista Smilek (smilekka@uc.edu) for advising. This will ensure that transfer courses are being counted toward the geosciences major properly and a degree plan can be built, so that the student has an idea of what courses to look forward to in future semesters. 

The Department of Geosciences offers coursework that stems from the wide array of expertise of departmental faculty with courses in variety of geoscience subdisciplines. Our undergraduate curriculum provides first- and second-year students with fundamentals of the geosciences in “core” courses, such as geomorphology, paleontology, structural geology, and mineralogy. Third- and fourth-year students explore interdisciplinary and specialized courses, such as groundwater modeling, geomechanics, stable isotope ecology, invertebrate and vertebrate paleontology, and applied geophysics. Our major has a noticeable progression from lower-level to upper-level courses. For example, a student will experience rigorous, quantitative laboratory exercises that emphasize interpretation of topographic data in the context of underlying physical processes in the core, 2000-level course, Geomorphology. The student will carry this knowledge to the upper-level, 4000-level course, Modeling Landscapes where they will program numerical and geostatistical models in Matlab, R, and Python. The structure of the major allows students to build on knowledge and skills as they progress from one academic year to the next.

The program offers two Geosciences BS subplans; the Geological Sciences subplan with optional co-op and the Environmental & Applied Geosciences subplan with required co-op. Each student must elect a subplan and departmental advising is available to help with subplan selection.

Each student in the College of Arts and Sciences is required to complete a "capstone experience" that involves a) hands-on integration of knowledge; b) analytical thinking and problem-solving; c) written and oral documentation; and d) demonstration of social relevance. The Department of Geosciences expects that its students will demonstrate their mastery of skills gained while in the program by participating in the co-op program, attending field camp, or completing a faculty advised research project. The student will be advised as to which experience fits best with their future career interests.