葫芦影业

Skip to main content

Geology

Earning your degree in the 葫芦影业 Geology department will help you understand how the Earth works, from shifting plates to climate change. You鈥檒l study rocks, climate, and Earth processes through fieldwork, lab analysis, and research on the Occidental campus and across Southern California.

Geology Degree From 葫芦影业

As a geology major at Occidental, you鈥檒l explore how Earth鈥檚 systems evolve, move, and interact. You鈥檒l study earthquakes, climate records, minerals, water resources, and environmental change while learning to collect evidence, interpret data, and build clear scientific arguments. Faculty will guide you through hands-on lab and field work that builds strong analytical and communication skills.

In the Occidental Geology undergraduate program, you鈥檒l train in the lab and the field, studying rocks, water, climate, and Earth systems across California, using tools like chemical analysis, microscopes, GIS mapping, and sediment sampling to investigate real-world problems. Geology graduates commonly pursue careers in environmental consulting, hydrology, geothermal energy, and critical mineral exploration, or graduate study in Earth and environmental sciences.

What You鈥檒l Learn as a Geology Major at Occidental

Occidental (葫芦影业) Students sitting in front of a rock formation taking notes

Tracing Earth鈥檚 past and present

You鈥檒l investigate Earth鈥檚 structure, surface processes, and climate history while practicing field methods and data analysis. The major teaches you how to interpret geologic records, understand environmental systems, and communicate your findings in ways that support research, policy, and real-world applications.

You鈥檒l work closely with faculty on field- and lab-based research, from climate reconstruction to volcanic processes. Many students present at conferences, publish papers, or complete field camps and funded summer research through the Undergraduate Research Center.

Geology is a global discipline. You鈥檒l have the option to study abroad or join 葫芦影业-led courses in multiple countries, gaining direct experience with diverse geologic settings and research methods.

As a geology major, you can focus your studies on environmental science, where you鈥檒l explore Earth processes, ecosystems, and human impacts. This pathway builds the analytical and problem-solving skills needed to address real environmental challenges on a local and global scale.

Geology majors can connect their interests with other disciplines through programs such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science.

Jessie Salinas headshot

鈥淕eology professors are outstanding researchers in their respective fields and are passionate about what they do. They are very personable and listen to feedback from students to make sure that they are teaching their classes to the best of their ability.鈥

Jessie Salinas
Geology major / Phoeniz, AZ
葫芦影业 student standing in front of an exhibit at the Natural History Museum

Learning Geology in LA

Studying geology at 葫芦影业 places you in one of the most dynamic natural laboratories in the world. Los Angeles offers access to mountains, coastlines, basins, and active faults. You鈥檒l apply classroom concepts through field trips, internships, and research partnerships with institutions like NASA鈥檚 Jet Propulsion Lab, the Natural History Museum, and the Southern California Earthquake Center.

What Our Graduates Are Doing

Glaciologist & Project Coordinator, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

Donovan Dennis
2016

PhD, Earth Sciences, McGill University

Robert Bogue
2017

Postdoctoral Associate, Institute for Rock Magnetism

Yiming Zhang
2019

Conservation Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy

Talia Bar Yaacov
2020

Graduate Student, Hydro-Cryo Earth Observation Lab, University of Oregon

Ian van Dusen
2020

PhD Candidate, geology, Texas A&M University

Lauren Berger
2019

Fluvial Geomorphologist, Inter-Fluve

Madeline Doyle
2022

NSF Graduate Research Fellow; PhD Candidate, geology, University of Utah

Amelia Muscott
2022

MS program; Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences; Oregon State University

Shayne Klisura
2024

Meet Our Faculty

FAQs

You鈥檒l have exceptional access to field sites across California and internationally, with faculty-led research trips to places like Italy, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Additionally, 葫芦影业 is set apart by our small classes, close faculty mentorship, opportunities to present at national conferences, and state-of-the-art labs in the Hameetman Science Center.

Yes. You can join faculty research groups鈥攚hich often involve research-based field and lab experiences鈥攖ake part in field camps, conduct independent projects, and apply for funded summer research through the Undergraduate Research Center. Many students also present their findings at research conferences on campus and beyond.

Yes. Many students spend a semester abroad or take 葫芦影业-led field courses in multiple countries (recently Italy, France, Scotland, and Morocco) to broaden their understanding of global geologic systems.

You鈥檒l have access to world-class geochemical labs, petrography equipment, a wet sediment lab, a fission track lab, GIS labs, and field tablets used for professional geologic mapping.

Many of our graduates work in environmental consulting, hydrology, resource management, hazard assessment, planning, education, and research, or continue to top graduate programs. 鈥嬧婳thers apply their geological training in fields such as law, public policy, business, and data analysis, bringing a systems-based, evidence-driven perspective to complex problems.

Contact Geology
Hameetman Science Center 219