Geology and Environmental Science, BS
Are you curious about the forces that shape our planet and passionate about protecting its future? The Geology and Environmental Science BS program will turn your interest in Earth’s dynamic systems and the pressing environmental challenges of our time into a roadmap for your future. Learn more about joining our community of explorers and problem-solvers who are at the forefront of where science meets adventure and purpose.
Program Overview
A BS in geology and environmental science equips students with broad earth science knowledge for careers in policy, industry, government, and more.
You will have opportunities to engage in environmental policy writing and explore topics such as mineralogy, sediments, fossils, the ecosystem, water, air pollution, and more. Whether you’re interested in the environment or want to explore the earth and its geologic structures, our five available concentrations, Honors pathway, and minor options allow you to tailor your pathway to suit your interests and aspirations.
This program is a great fit for students who want to explore questions about climate change, the development of natural resources, how the Earth formed, and the evolution of humans, plants, and animals.
Concentrations
Whether you’re interested in learning more about the environment; diving deep into the study of rocks and rock formations; examining fossils and prehistoric life; learning about the history of the Earth; or studying water issues, movement, and its interplay with humanity, our concentrations let your tailor your coursework to fit your career goals and prepare you for how work is done today.
Our five available concentrations include:
- Environmental Science – Explore today’s challenges and prepare for a career providing solutions to issues like pollution, sustainability, and climate change
- Geology – Discover the world around you from its deep past to the active processes impacting Earth today. Prepare for careers in mineral and energy exploration, public and private consulting, government, research, or science education.
- Paleontology – Explore the history, and the future, of life on Earth. Prepare for careers in academia, museums, state and federal agencies, environmental consulting, and public outreach.
- Planetary Geoscience – Investigate earth and other planets through mission-driven coursework and research. Gain skills for space-industry employment with NASA, Space Force, private space-exploration contractors, and science education.
- Water Science – Engage in local and global challenges of water quality and quantity. Engage in public and private sector careers in watershed and water quality protection, groundwater protection and remediation, and water sustainability.
Honors
If you’re interested in pursuing more advanced, rigorous coursework, our Honors pathway allows you to push the boundaries of your academic journey. You will take Honors-specific courses and complete a research project in the form of an Honors thesis, all while receiving individualized mentorship. Honors students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.25 and a concentration GPA of at least 3.5.
The Honors pathway is available for all five concentrations.
Minors
If you’re interested in supplementing your primary field of study with knowledge of geology and related topics, our minors provide valuable skills to carry you forward.
Our current selection of minors includes:
- Environmental Science Minor
- Geochemistry Minor
- Geology Minor
- Paleontology Minor
Why Study Geology and Environmental Science?
Housed in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences (EEPS), students studying Geology and Environmental Science will uncover Earth’s history, restore our environment, and explore the solar system. Our graduates become leaders that shape the future of geosciences.
Geoscientists are integral to solving today’s challenges: from energy and resources to climate change and natural hazards. Studies in our department address environmental and geological challenges with innovative and sustainable solutions, leading investigations into unexplored areas of geologic space and time, and promoting diversity, professionalism, and cooperation.
Our students study today’s Earth and its past—and other planets—to become the change makers of tomorrow. Discover how you will make a difference.
Real-world experience is a core feature of our undergraduate programs. Field and laboratory experiences are an integrated part of coursework with opportunities for hands-on training. EEPS provides students with opportunities to gain research experience in faculty labs, assist with or create experiments and research projects, collect and analyze data, and interpret and present results.
EEPS scholarships provide students support for field experiences, research, and conference travel.
What Sets Us Apart
Faculty at the Cutting-Edge of Research
At UT, you will collaborate and be mentored by faculty who are pioneering research in their fields. With faculty who have contributed to cutting-edge research on possible signs of life on Mars and a new “Earth system engineering” theory, you will have abundant opportunities to engage in independent research with these faculty.
UT Does Fieldwork Like No Place Else
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is uniquely located near the Great Smoky Mountains and the Tennessee River Watershed. Coupled with a curriculum that emphasizes fieldwork and lab-based courses, you will have exceptional experiential learning opportunities you won’t find anywhere else!
Access our State-of-the-Art Facilities
The Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science has four state-of-the-art research facilities that students can benefit from using, including the Electron Microprobe Lab, Stable Isotope Lab, Geochemistry Teaching Lab, and the ICP-MS Core Facility.
What Can You Do with a BS in Geology and Environmental Science After Graduation?
The Geology and Environmental Science program provides students with a curriculum that suits their interests, with five concentrations for students to choose from. You will learn to make connections among physical, chemical, and biological interactions on Earth throughout time, as well as gaining specialized knowledge and skills relevant to each concentration.
In environmental and regulatory compliance, you could work with ground water, surface water, or sediments, in remediation, liability, or compliance. You could become an environmental consultant, environmental health specialist, or sustainability coordinator. In geology, you could be a resource geologist, geotechnical engineer, or you could go into geologic mapping doing structural geology, remote sensing, stratigraphy or geophysics. Our graduates also go on to work in air or water quality management, as testers, watershed managers, risk assessors, or project developers. In field and data analysis, you could become a GIS technician, data manager, or field seismologist. Other fields include planetary sciences, soil science, minerals, and hazards, where you can work in engineering geology, land use planning, agrichemical management, and more.
EEPS students have a diverse range of post-graduation career options. Graduates have started careers in environmental consulting, state geological surveys and environmental departments, US national labs and the USGS, mining and energy industries, environmental non-profits, and education. Many pursue advanced degrees in graduate school.
A dynamic EEPS alumni network helps connect you to your next career steps. Geoscientists are in high demand across a diverse set of fields in the public and private sectors—demand that is expected to expand rapidly over the next decade.
Featured Courses
EEPS 215 Critical Minerals, Energy, and Society
Survey of the Earth’s mineral and energy resources, their distribution and their influence on society. Topics include critical minerals used in manufacturing, technology and green energy, the effects of mining, refinement, manufacturing and recycling on the environment and the mineral supply chain.
EEPS 380 Planetary Geoscience
Students will learn geologic, geophysical, and geochemical systems and processes at planetary scales. Topics might& include accretion, differentiation, outgassing, seismology, magnetism, geochronology, remote sensing, processes modifying surface morphology and materials, geochemical cycles, and planetary exploration.
EEPS 440 Field Geology
Field training course in different locations for advanced undergraduate geology majors and first-year graduate students in geology. Portions are taught on- and off-campus. Off-campus work requires travel for one week and the full time of the student. The course provides a synthesis of the major aspects of the geological sciences in a societal context. Field techniques demonstrated, practiced, and applied to the solution of geologic problems.
EEPS 454 Environmental Restoration
Applications of ecology and geological sciences toward restoring natural systems to become more fully functioning ecosystems. Topics include geological mitigation, ecological succession, non-native species, and many case studies. At least one field trip to a nearby ecological restoration site will be required.
Everyone is so helpful and passionate to assist students in achieving their academic goals and experiences.
Lauren Pinkard
Undergraduate Student
Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences (EEPS)
Complementary Minors and Certificates
Looking to enhance your degree? Consider these programs as a complement to your primary major.
- Geographic Information Science Minor
- Sustainability Minor
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Minor
Looking For More Options?
The College of Arts and Sciences offers students the broadest range of academic programs and opportunities for research and creative activities at the University of Tennessee, powered by faculty expertise across every discipline.
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UT is an incredible place to do something new, do something challenging, and do it in a welcoming environment.
Claire Bohman
Graduate Student
Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences (EEPS)