Curriculum
Degree programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at NIU require 120 semester hours for the
baccalaureate degree. The B.S. major in geology and environmental geosciences is divided into three emphases.
Links to specific information on these emphases are at the top of this page. All emphases include an
introductory class and 16 hours of core courses.
Geology and Environmental Geosciences at NIU
Geology and Environmental Geosciences encompasses the study of the earth, including its history and interior,
the materials of which it is comprised, the environments it supports, and its relation to the solar system and
the universe beyond. Because the earth is a "living" ( or dynamic ) planet, this study involves those
processes occurring within the earth, the atmosphere, and the oceans.
Applied Studies
Students develop skills and knowledge useful for reconstructing past events and predicting the future behavior
of earth materials and processes, with particular emphasis on the mutual interaction between these phenomena and
human civilization.
-
Water and Soils: Geologists study surface water, groundwater, and soils, which together comprise the basis for
our food supply. In the case of groundwater, they may also discover and develop new supplies. Geologists
characterize those normal environmental processes which affect these resources, in order the better to understand
the effects of contamination and the potential for future damage to our waters by landfills, industrial waste,
nuclear waste, and other hazardous waste sources.
-
Hazard Mitigation: An understanding of processes that operate within the earth allows geologists to predict,
and offer ways of mitigating, hazards associated with volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, landslides,
mudflows, sinkholes, and other geologic phenomena.
-
Nonrenewable Resources: Virtually all of our nonrenewable resources are discovered by geologists. These
include sand and gravel, building stone, petroleum, natural gas, coal, uranium and other energy sources, and
ores of all important metals such as aluminum, tin, iron, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, etc.
Theoretical Studies
In addition to the applied studies described above, students pursue the more fundamental aspects of the earth,
using a broad background in science to:
-
Investigate the origin and history of continents and oceans
-
Use seismic waves as a means of deducing the earth's structure, composition, and what phases are present
within it.
-
Determine the nature of rock-forming processes and the development of landforms
-
Study glaciers and related deposits in order to evaluate the earth's past climate and predict future
climate change
-
Document the evolutionary history of plants and animals, such as dinosaurs
-
Examine the microscopic and chemical properties of minerals and rocks
-
Understand mantle convection and plate tectonics, the keys to how the earth works
-
Study meteorites and other planetary bodies in our solar system
Faculty and Research
The Geology and Environmental Geosciences faculty at NIU includes hydrogeologists, glaciologists, volcanologists,
earthquake seismologists, geochemists, geophysicists, paleontologists, and other specialties.
-
Faculty Research Honors: Three have been named Presidential Research Professors, the University's highest
honor for research.
-
Worldwide Program: Although much research is focused on northern Illinois the scope of research is
worldwide, literally from the Arctic to the Antarctic.
-
Environmental Emphasis: A large component of the geology program is focused on environmental geosciences,
including ground-water studies, global environmental change, geochemical cycles, and surface process systems.
These areas benefit from interaction with environmentally oriented programs in other departments, such as the
Geography Department.
-
Student Research Encouraged: The faculty supports enthusiastically the involvement of students in hands-on
research, not only at the graduate level where it is required, but also at the undergraduate level where it
is encouraged. Students are encouraged to partake in discovery and make original contributions through theses
and independent research projects while typically working one-on-one with a professor.
Degrees and programs
Professional programs in geology and environmental geosciences lead to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.), the
Master of Science (M.S.), and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. A state-approved Initial Teacher
Certification program leads to the Standard High School Certificate for teaching grades 6-12.
Requirements for Admission
-
Admission Requirements: These are essentially the same as those for admission to NIU. Consult the current
Northern Illinois University
Undergraduate Catalog
for admission requirements.
-
Entering Freshmen: These students should plan to take introductory geology courses and at least the first
semester of required chemistry and mathematics during the first year or two, so that they can enter into the
core-course sequence no later than their junior year.
-
Transfer Students: Undergraduate transfer students with 30 or more semester hours of credit who wish to major
in geology and environmental geosciences are advised to have completed courses in physical geology, general
chemistry with laboratory (first course), and the first semester of calculus before entering NIU.
-
Consult Advisor: Students are encouraged to consult with the appropriate undergraduate adviser as early as
possible in order to assure an appropriate course schedule and to discuss job possibilities and perhaps
graduate school.
Careers and Placement
NIU's Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences is known nationally for its development of well-rounded
graduates.
-
Employment Opportunities: Students with a B.S. degree can expect to find employment opportunities primarily in
environmental sciences. Students majoring in geology and environmental geosciences at NIU often go on to pursue
graduate degrees. The specialization and advanced training represented by a M.S. degree opens a broader spectrum
of employment ranging from environmental sciences to exploration geology.
-
Teaching Careers: The increasing awareness of environmental problems and the need to create a scientifically
literate populace will create an increasing demand for earth science teachers in the middle and senior high
schools. Recent science education standards emphasizing the inclusion of earth science throughout the K-12
curriculum is expanding career opportunities in pre-college teaching.
-
Geology Highly Rated: Studies and surveys by newspapers, journals, and magazines such as Money Magazine routinely
list a career as a geologist to be one of the top careers in the U.S.
Geology and environmental geosciences department faculty give assistance in counseling undergraduates as does the
NIU Career Services office. You can find links to NIU Career Services and further information about a career in
geology on our
Careers
page.
Further Information
For additional information on geology and environmental geosciences programs, you may contact:
