The geosciences involve the study of the earth in terms of past, present and future events, and the processes which change not only the surface, but also the unseen interior of our planet. Although the ultimate goal of geoscience is a thorough understanding of the earth and its transformation through time, our students are also vitally concerned with the exploration and conservation of natural resources as well as with the environmental impact that humanity has on the earth.
The study of geosciences at Trinity is built upon the philosophy that the students at the undergraduate level must receive a broad-based education emphasizing the fundamental principles of the discipline, enhanced whenever possible with the benefits of practical experience in the laboratory, extensive field experience, and a solid foundation in cognate sciences and mathematics. Course offerings span a wide diversity of topics, from paleontology, mineralogy and petrology geochemistry, to geophysics, hydrology, remote sensing, and geographic information systems. The department stresses field work in all appropriate classes at all levels. The combination of climate and the geographic and geologic setting of San Antonio provides students with many opportunities to develop their geologic education and skills in the field.
The department offers both a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in geosciences, and as well as a minor, which is designed for those students who wish to explore an aspect of earth science that is of particular interest. The B.S. degree program is intended for students who plan to do graduate study and pursue a career in geosciences, and it provides a sound training in the discipline, supported by course work in mathematics, chemistry and physics. The B.A. degree program also provides a strong background in the geosciences, but is flexible enough to serve students with interests in teaching, law, business administration, environmental analysis, remote sensing and geographic information systems, or other disciplines requiring a fundamental understanding of geoscience. An important part of both degree programs is required participation in field activities, including an annual majors' field trip which that involves five or more days examining the geology of such areas as New Mexico, west Texas, Colorado or Oklahoma.
The Department of Geosciences is housed in the Marrs McLean Science Center, and our departmental laboratories are well equipped with an emphasis on hands-on experience. Students use high quality microscope equipment with digital imaging capabilities and have access to comprehensive collections of minerals, rocks, fossils, maps, aerial photographs, and computer databases. The departmental computer laboratory supports both class activities and student/faculty research programs, and is equipped with a Sun Workstation and networked PC workstations, a dedicated file server, scanners, digitizers, and a large-format color printer. It includes applications software for mapping, geophysical and geochemical data analysis, and remote sensing. To support field studies, the department maintains extensive field and camping equipment including state of the art geophysical equipment, GPS systems and surveying equipment.
· Department stresses field work at all levels.
· Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees available.
· Strong undergraduate research program, often leading to publication in academic journals and presentations at major professional meetings.
· All laboratories and field trips are taught by full-time faculty.
· Advanced classes are small, usually fewer than ten students.
· Department participates in a consortium of 12 liberal arts and sciences institutions offering summer research opportunities around the world.
The Geosciences Department has a strong undergraduate research program, including a thesis option. Junior and senior majors are encouraged to participate in their own research projects, working either independently or in association with a faculty member. Some of these projects have led to publication by the students in major journals. Since 1993, Trinity students have been authors on 18 abstracts published in Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, 24 abstracts published in the proceedings of the Keck Research Symposium in Geology (two volumes of the symposium proceedings are provided), and three refereed journal articles.
All laboratories and field trips are taught by full-time faculty, and advanced classes for majors and minors are small, usually fewer than ten students. This gives students a chance to get to know one another and receive individualized attention from faculty.
The Department supports an active chapter of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, the national earth science honor society, which sponsor both social and academic activities.
Most Geosciences students pursue graduate studies in a wide range of subdisciplines, including structural geology, petrology, oceanography, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrology, volcanology, geomorphology, sedimentology, planetary geology, and geographic information systems. More than 75 percent of the graduate programs in geosciences attended by Trinity alumni are among the top 50 programs in the U.S., as ranked by the National Research Council from results of the National Survey of Graduate Faculty.
Some students pursue graduate or professional studies in law school, elementary education, and archeological and museum studies, and others directly enter the work force, particularly in the fields of environmental consulting and computer science.
In the report, Baccalaureate Origins of Doctoral Recipient, which computes the ratio of the number of doctorates earned by graduates (from 1986 through 1995) to the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded by the Department (from 1980 to 1989), Trinity's Department of Geosciences ranked fifth out of 521 institutions studied.
Dr. Glenn C. Kroeger, Chair
Department of Geosciences
(210) 999-7092
gkroeger@trinity.edu
www.trinity.edu/departments/geosciences/