School of Geology and Geophysics Prospective Undergraduates
Answers to Your Questions:
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What are Geology and Geophysics?
What Do Geologists and Geophysicists Do?
Why do we need Geologists and Geophysicists?
You might be a Geologist or Geophysicist if you...
Why Study Geology and Geophysics at OU?
Degrees Offered
What Are Geology and Geophysics?
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Field team camp in the Canadian Rockies on the Continental Divide. Their mission to collect Trilobite fossil specimens from Cambrian age rocks.
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Geology is the study of the Earth and how it works: its minerals, rocks, their structure and interactions above and below Earth's surface. It is also concerned with unraveling Earth history, including the history of life, and predicting future geologic events. Geophysics applies mathematics, the principles of physics, and modeling to study the Earth’s interior and to investigate the Earth’s electromagnetic and gravitational fields.
What Do Geologists and Geophysicists Do?
Geologists investigate the processes that shape the Earth and analyze Earth history and raw materials. Geophysicists explore the same problems by application of physical, numerical, and computer technology to the study of Earth’s interior and for the exploration of natural resources. If you've ever wondered how volcanoes or earthquakes happen, why Tyrannosaurus is extinct, why mountains form, how oil and gas form below the ground surface and how to find and produce it, or how climate changes over time, ask a geologist or a geophysicist.
Why do we need Geologists and Geophysicists?
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PC Teaching Lab……..The poster on the wall is a semester project from a Seismic Modeling Class.
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We need geologists and geophysicists for many reasons. Did you know you will use 1,950 lbs. of copper; 24,180 lbs. of clays; 31,356 lbs. of salt; 936 lbs. of zinc; 1.6 million lbs. of stone, sand & gravel; 82,752 gallons of petroleum; 65,598 lbs. of cement; 70,000+ lbs. of other minerals & metals; 6½ million cubic ft. of natural gas; 50,310 lbs. of iron ore; 1,092 lbs. of lead; 5,772 lbs. of aluminum; 29,484 lbs. of phosphate; 587,184 lbs. of coal; and 2 troy ozs. of gold ..which equals 3½ million pounds of minerals, metals, and fuels in a lifetime! (modified from Mineral Information Institute, Denver, Colorado, 1999)
Geologists and geophysicists are crucial contributors to the stewardship of the Earth. For example, geologists and geophysicists study earthquakes to develop a system for predicting them, including the next "big one" in California. We study rivers and better understand flooding and educate the public about not building on floodplains. We study shoreline processes and the damage that hurricanes can cause. We educate the public about rising sea levels and issues related to building on shorelines.
You might be a Geologist or Geophysicist if you:
Don’t want to settle for a straight “desk job”:
The fields of geology and geophysics offer challenging and diversified work — there is no "typical" day as you work out in the field and in the laboratory.Love solving problems/puzzles/mysteries:
Geologists and geophysicists gather and interpret data; generate ideas; and work with people, information, and technology to solve problems.Enjoy applying computer technology to solve “real-world” problems:
Geology and geophysics are applied sciences, so technology plays a large role—we use cutting-edge computers, analytical equipment and surveying instruments—Geology and Geophysics is one of the most “high tech” departments on campus!Have a spirit of discovery and adventure:
Geologists and geophysicists are responsible for exploration and production of the natural resources our society requires. Searches for these resources take them to every corner of the earth.Desire a lucrative career:
Plan to earn a good living by doing professionally what you were trained to do—we have a 98% job placement rate, with salaries near the top of technical disciplines.
Why Study Geology and Geophysics at OU?
The School prepares students for success in their professional careers by instilling knowledge, skills, confidence, pride, principled leadership, and the ability to contribute to the wise stewardship of the earth and its resources.
High-quality education with classes are taught by PhD faculty, not graduate students. Courses stress the fundamentals of science within a creative interdisciplinary environment.
Great Fieldtrips to interesting areas.
Excellent education as prepartion for graduate study in basic and applied areas.
International opportunities including fieldwork around the world and jobs in Asia, Africa, Scotland, Norway, South Africa, Mexico, India, and South America.
Fascinating and high-paying summer internships 98% job placement rate with salaries near the top of the technical disciplines.
50% of our undergraduates received School scholarships (on top of other financial aid sources).
The average award for Fall 2006 (for one semester) will be approximately $1,700! G&G scholarships for Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 range from $2,000 to $5,000 per eligible Geology & Geophysics undergraduates.
Entering freshmen are eligible for up to 4 years of scholarships (provided they maintain their grades and hours).
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Handbook, “the need to replace environmental scientists and geoscientists who retire will result in many job openings over the next decade. Driving the growth of environmental scientists and geoscientists will be the continuing need for companies and organizations to comply with environmental laws and regulations, particularly those regarding groundwater contamination and flood control.”
“…A growing worldwide demand for oil and gas and new exploration and recovery techniques—particularly in deepwater and previously inaccessible sites– have returned. . .stability to the petroleum industry, with. . . companies increasing their hiring of geoscientists. . . Geoscientists who speak a foreign language and who are willing to work abroad should enjoy the best opportunities.”
What are the Projected Salaries?
Examples for different Geology and Geophysics disciplines from the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Handbook as of May, 2005:
The beginning mean annual wage for Petroleum geologists/ geophysicists in 2005 was $74,400. The estimated salary range is between $65,000 and $86,000.
As printed in the April 2006 issue of the AAPG EXPLORER Salary Survey: Petroleum Geologists’ pay increased about 16% overall since last year. The “Law of Supply and Demand” works every time
---- and salaries for Petroleum Geologists reflect respect for the law!The mean annual wage for environmental scientists is $57,470. The estimated salary range is between $32,910 and $89,040.
The mean annual wage for geoscientists is $79,990. The estimated salary range is between $39,420 and $135,290.
The mean annual wage for hydrologists is $67,260. The estimated salary range is between $40,190 and $102,150.
The mean annual wage for geological technicians is $49,550. The estimated salary range is between $21,630 and $84,650.
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Science – Geology
Bachelor of Science – Geophysics
Advanced Degrees
Master of Science – Geophysics