Future Students

Geology

Geologists help us to understand the origin and evolution of Earth, its ancient environments and climates, natural hazards such as landslides and earthquakes, the origin of life, and the formation of natural resources (groundwater, petroleum and minerals) on which we rely.

Knowledge of past and present Earth processes is fundamental to predicting future changes particularly in areas of climate and environmental change.

Geology is unique because of the tremendous range of scale and time: the scale of geological observations varies from micrometres (in electron microscopy) to thousands of kilometres (satellite imagery) and geological time spans of thousands of millions of years.

The following podcast combines live footage from part of the Geological Perspectives (EART1104) field trip in 2009 with student interviews.  

Geology can be studied as a major under the Bachelor of Science degree, and as a major under the Bachelor of Science (Earth Science) named program.

It can also be studied as a combined degree: Science/Arts, Science/Commerce, Science/Economics, Science/Education, Science/Engineering, or Science/Law.

Level 1

You will follow the Earth Science Foundation Package, involving choices from: Earth and Environmental Science, Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Biology.

Level 2

In Level 2 you begin your specialisation in Geology. You will study Earth History Methods, Earth Materials, Field Geology, and Structural and Metamorphic Geology. At Level 2 you also take units toward a second major.

Level 3

You will study Geological Mapping and also choose from units such as Basin Analysis, Marine Geology, Mineral Exploration Technology, Mineralogy and Petrology, Ore Deposit Genesis, Earth Materials Microcharacterisation, and Structural Geology and Tectonics. Plus units toward your second major if you elect to pursue a double major.

If you are interested in finding out which subjects you will study then have a look at the Course Outline. This will show you the core units and the options for the course, along with course rules.

You will notice that each unit has a unit code, for example EART1105. The first number in the unit code indicates the level of the unit - in this case level one. For a more detailed description of a particular unit, click on the unit code.

Career opportunities

Employment opportunities in Geology are diverse and will allow you to see the world if you wish.

Most graduates join mining or oil companies, geological surveys or consulting firms. Most geologists are well equipped to be environmental scientists or science teachers in schools (after completing teaching qualifications) because of the breadth of science they have been exposed to.

Some concentrate on research in universities, government agencies or industry. Employment prospects are enhanced if you do an Honours course (fourth level). Salaries are among the highest for BSc graduates.