Getting the most out of your Geology Department

Bernie Housen- Chair WWU Geology Dept

The Geology Department offers several scholarships each year ($500 to >$2000)

Other groups- Mt Baker rock and gem club, Whidbey Island pebble-pushers, etc- also offer nice scholarships

In many cases, we have had 1, or even zero, applications…so the odds might be pretty good!

We would love to award you with a scholarship…

Marysville Rock & Gem Club scholarship application.  This year it is for $1000.  The deadline is Nov.30.  Applicants are to be sophomore students (45 - 90 credits) enrolled in a western Washington college/ university and with a major in a geology or an earth science related field. 

As of today Zero applicants

Current Scholarships

UNDERGRADUATE TUITION/FEE WAIVER◦ This award is restricted to undergraduates and is a merit award.

   MYRL E. BECK, JR. SCHOLARSHIP 

◦ This award will be in the form of an advance for support of research leading to an Honors Thesis. The amount of this year’s award will be $1,000.00. The award will only be available to students in their final year of study. Research should involve paleomagnetism and/or tectonics, and ideally should require use of the equipment in the Pacific Northwest Paleomagnetism Laboratory housed in the Geology Department.

JAMES L. TALBOT SCHOLARSHIP◦ This award of $900.00 is given annually to a student who is declared as a B.S. in the Geology Concentration who

can demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need.

ANTONI “JONTEK” WODZICKI SCHOLARSHIP ◦ This award of $900.00 is given annually to a student who majoring in any of the specialties of the geological

sciences, with preference given to students studying in fields related to economic geology, mineralogy, and/or attending summer field camps. Also, special consideration will be given to students from developing countries.

  Deadline for applications: November 30, 2011. Details available at the Geology

Office, on posted notices all over the building, and even online.

Current Scholarships

Demand for all types of Earth Science professionals (that will be you, soon) is growing◦ Increasing need for Earth resources (water, land,

gas, metals, rare earth elements, light elements (Li for those batteries), etc, etc)

◦ Increasing age of existing Earth Science workforce

◦ Small supply of new Earth Science folks

There are a lot of folks who may want to hire you soon…

Opportunities

Mineral exploration

Environmental/Engineering Geology

Federal, State, local Government

Oil/gas exploration

Academic jobs

K-12 teaching

How to explore opportunities

Internships Meetings

AME-BC “roundups”

AAPG/SEG Student Expos

GSA, AGU

http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa/aboutshell/careers/students_and_graduates/

http://www.seg.org/web/aapg-seg-student-expo/

http://www.amebc.ca/roundup/overview-2012.aspx

Geology Undergraduate Degrees Bachelor of Arts

◦ Geology Major Bachelor of Arts in Education

◦ Earth Science (Elementary) Major◦ Earth Science (Secondary) Major◦ Earth Science/General Science (Secondary) Major

Bachelor of Science◦ Geology Major

Geology Concentration Environmental Geology Concentration Geophysics Concentration

◦ Geophysics Major Geology Minor

Geology BA 10-20 students 75 credits- courses in BS or upper-division

GURs Flexible, liberal-arts model Lighter requirements of supporting

science courses

Geology BS 96-106 credits Professional or graduate school major Three concentrations (share a common core) Over 100 students as of 2011 (6+ years of

growth) Areas of growth in all three concentrations Largest numbers in “classic” and

environmental Reputation: best professional geologists in

WA

Geology BS Core: 10 courses Multiple pathways into the major Common early experiences (212, 213,

306, 310) Traditional (emphases on field

experiences, writing) but innovative (pre-Fall courses)

Capstone field courses (spring or summer)

Geophysics BS Professional or graduate school major New, and growing: 1 to 7 majors in last

2 years Will fill major employment gap

WWU BS-Geology undergraduates have very good graduate school success rates

MS degree: considered “terminal” degree for professional/industry geoscientists

PhD programs: degree needed for academic positions, research labs, etc

Application “season” is starting now

Graduate School

Declaring as a Geology major is easy◦ Finish Geology 211◦ Drop by the office (ES 240)- Tues to Thurs- ask for

our U.G. coordinator, Vicki◦ She will sign you up- and provide you with a

faculty advisor◦ Meet with your advisor to discuss your goals, and

set up an initial course plan

How do I start?

Geology web page: http://geology.wwu.edu/dept/index.shtml

“current students” menu for lots of good information

The official WWU Catalog: http://catalog.wwu.edu/

Courses and planning

Winter 2012◦ Registration starts tomorrow!◦ Beginning majors: Geol 212, 213, 306*, 352*

Pre-reqs! (Chem 121,122 for 306, Phys 121 for 352)

◦ Continuing majors: Geol 306*, 318*, 352*, 407*

◦ Junior/Senior majors: Geol 415*, 430*, 455*, 457*, 473*

◦ Huxley course: ESCI 442- Remote Sensing- open to Geol majors

Highlights for 2012

Spring 2012◦ Beginning majors: Geol 212, 213, 306*, 310*,

311*

◦ Continuing majors: Geol 406*, 413*

◦ Junior/Senior majors: Geol 409/410*, 452*, 463*

Highlights for 2012

Summer 2012

◦ Continuing majors: special summer section of Geol 318* Contact Liz Schermer for details ASAP

◦ Junior/Senior majors: Geol 409/410*

◦ 2012-2013: Likely only one (winter quarter) section of Geol 318 No spring field camp (409/410) Budget/course offerings remain uncertain

Highlights for 2012

What is my paragraph?◦ When you ask a faculty to write you a reference

letter- for graduate school, for a job, etc- what will they be able to say about you? What have you been able to do to put your own unique “stamp” on your degree?

Making the most of your degree

Excel in a class-based research project Complete a senior thesis Work with faculty and other students on a

project Work as an intern Teach as a teaching fellow Volunteer for activities, open house, etc Present a poster or talk at a meeting

Some good paragraphs…

The Geology email listserve◦ Events, jobs/internships, scholarships, etc◦ To join, email Vicki critch@geol.wwu.edu and ask

her to add you

The new AEG chapter/geology club◦ See Bob Mitchell for more info

Talk with faculty Join an organization (AEG, GSA, AGU, etc) Have a look at the website

Staying connected

4:00 PM, Tues, Nov 29- ES 100◦ “How to apply to Graduate School”

– Jackie Caplan-Auerbach

Future opportunities