Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Geology with an Environmental Geology concentration
• BS in Geology with a concentration in Quantitative Geoscience
• BS and BA in Geology
• BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration*

Information

We have developed a strong alumni network in the environmental industry in the southeast in the last decade, and Appalachian GES graduates are in high demand. If you want to go straight to work in the environmental industry (involving fieldwork, studying groundwater and surface water resources and contamination, hazardous waste site management, etc.), we strongly recommend the BS in Geology with an Environmental Geology concentration, which is designed to provide students with the hands-on, field-based training in demand by the environmental industry. Students in this program receive considerable field-based training as well as GIS coursework, and typically find employment in the environmental industry immediately upon graduation. Other degree tracks that train you for these jobs include the BS or BA in Geology, and the BS in Geology with a concentration in Quantitative Geoscience. Students with these degrees will have the background to begin the licensure process to become a Professional Geologist (PG), which is a necessary two-part licensure for career advancement past the entry level in much of the environmental industry.

* The BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration is more interdisciplinary and getting PG licensure in NC will require additional coursework. An environmental science degree may not be accepted in all states for PG licensure, regardless of how much extra coursework you have. Click here for details about which states accept a degree in Environmental Science for licensure (available to appstate students only). There is no equivalent professional licensure program in Environmental Science, so we recommend that students who want to work in environmental consulting get a degree in Geology rather than Environmental Science.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS and BA in Geology
• BS in Geology with a Quantitative Geoscience concentration
• BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration (earth materials elective option)

Information

The BS in Geology with a Quantitative Geoscience concentration and BS and BA in Geology provide graduates with the geology and physics and chemistry knowledge they need to work on climate change mitigation, such as sourcing materials for carbon-neutral green tech and battery storage (what isn't grown has to be mined!), carbon capture and sequestration (requires a strong foundation in mineralogy, geochemistry, and hydrogeology), and solutions for climate-related hazards. The Geology programs of study require an intensive, six-week summer field course in geology.

Starting in Fall 2024, the BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration (earth materials elective option) will require coursework that can provide graduates with the knowledge on green tech materials listed above. There is no required six week summer field course in Environmental Science.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration
• BS in Environmental Science - Quantitative Environmental Science Concentration
• BS and BA in Geology
• BS in Geology with a Quantitative Geoscience concentration

Information

These programs of study give students the foundation to study the impacts, effects and systematics of climate change from a variety of fields, depending on their concentration. Students may elect to concentrate on the biological effects of climate change, the atmospheric science of climate change, or the impact of climate change on water resources, among many other subfields. If you are interested in studying climate change as a career ( studying climate change typically requires a graduate degree*), talk with your GES advisor as soon as possible about the different options available. All of these programs of study have minimum math requirements of Calc II or advanced statistics. A six-week summer field course is required for the Geology majors, but not the Environmental Science majors.

* see our Thinking about graduate school? page for more information and common misperceptions about getting a graduate degree in the earth/environmental sciences.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration (biosphere elective option)
• BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration
• BS in Biology - concentration in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology

Information

The curriculum for the BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration (biosphere electives) and Natural Resources concentrations can give students a head start on the necessary training to become licensed wetlands assessment professionals in the environmental industry through the PWS (Professional Wetland Scientist) certification, but does not immediately qualify students for certification upon graduation.

Students who are specifically interested in ecology and conservation studies as they pertain to living systems would be better served by the BS in Biology with a concentration in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology. The BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration is more interdisciplinary, and investigates broader ecosystem interactions via a combination of biology, geoscience, math, physics, and chemistry.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Biology with an Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology
• BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration

Information

The BS in Biology with an Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology is the best option for students specifically interested in ecology and conservation studies as they pertain to living ecosystems. This degree program is primarily biology coursework.

The BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration is also an option for students who want a more interdisciplinary view of the ecological sciences as they pertain to broader earth and environmental systems. This degree program requires coursework in the biological sciences, the geosciences, data analysis/statistics, geospatial techniques, policy, etc.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Sustainable Development: Environmental Studies Concentration

Information

Students who wish to study the environment from a social justice and policy angle may be better served by the BS in Sustainable Development: Environmental Studies Concentration, where students are prepared for careers that help build connections between environmental scientists, policy makers, and the general public. Graduates of this program tend to look for work with non-profit environmental organizations, advocacy groups, some government agencies, and private businesses, but do not receive the scientific/field training required for employment by environmental consulting firms.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS and BA in Geology
• BS in Geology with a Quantitative Geoscience concentration
• BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration (earth materials elective option)

Information

The BS and BA in Geology are standard geology programs of study that produce well-rounded students who are prepared to go to graduate school or directly into a variety of industries or government positions. The BA and BS in Geology are the department's most flexible programs of study, but still require considerable external coursework in calculus, chemistry, and calculus-based physics. The BS in Geology with a Quantitative Geoscience concentration provides graduates with additional technical skills that they need to succeed at the graduate level (additional math classes, data processing and modeling coursework, etc.). All of these programs of study require six credit hours of summer field courses in geology.

Starting in Fall 2024, the BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration (earth materials elective option) will require coursework that will provide graduates with the knowledge on green tech materials listed above, and does not require the summer field courses.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Geology with a concentration in Paleontology

Information

The BS in Geology with a concentration in Paleontology is the track for students interested in museum curation and exhibit design. Although this program has a basis in paleontology, the program of study also requires classes in mineralogy and petrology (rocks and minerals) which are essential parts of natural history museum collections, and students are encouraged to do outreach with local museums, and get "behind the scenes" training in museum curation as part of the Triassic Trip (GES 2857 - Paleontology Field and Museum Methods) as well as fossil preparation for academic research, outreach, and museum exhibits (GES 3264 - Paleontological Laboratory Techniques and Analytical Methods). Students in this program of study typically go on to graduate school for additional paleontology study or training in museum studies. This major requires six credits of summer field courses in geology.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• Department of Sustainable Development

Information

Students who are interested in sustainable food systems would be better served by the programs in the Department of Sustainable Development, such as agroecology.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration
• BS in Geology with an Environmental Geology concentration

Information

Students who are interested in working in environmental policy while desiring a strong science background typically choose the BS in Geology with an Environmental Geology concentration or the BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration. These students will still receive intense training in the natural sciences and in math, statistics, and/or geospatial analysis, but also must take classes involving policy and regulations. Students are typically employed in environmental policy positions and state/local government.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• Department of Sustainable Development
• BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration
• BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration (biosphere or hydrosphere elective option)

Information

Students who are interested in soil conservation and agriculture and its role in the environment may be interested in the agroecology program in the Department of Sustainable Development. Students who are more interested in conservation in general while still receiving a rigorous math/science background would be best served by our BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration or BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration with either a biosphere or hydrosphere set of electives.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Geology with a concentration in Paleontology

Information

The BS in Geology with a concentration in Paleontology is the track for you. We are one of the only schools in the country with a dedicated paleontology degree track! This program builds off the BS in Geology and targets the dedicated undergraduate interested in pursuing a career in paleontology, natural history museum curation, or the petroleum industry by providing a strong interdisciplinary background rooted in geology and biology, opportunities for student research in paleontology and museum studies, and a program of study designed to facilitate entry to graduate school. This degree track requires an intensive, six-week summer field course in geology.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Geology with an Earth/Environmental Science Education

Information

The BS in Geology with an Earth/Environmental Science Education track qualifies students for double licensure in Earth/Environmental Science and Comprehensive Science in all NC schools.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Geology with a Quantitative Geoscience concentration
• BS in Environmental Science - Quantitative Environmental Science Concentration

Information

Students who wish to do computational geoscience and math (i.e. computer modeling, data processing, etc.) the BS in Geology with a Quantitative Geoscience concentration or the new BS in Environmental Science - Quantitative Environmental Science Concentration are the best options. These are our most intense programs of study, which provide students with an optional math minor and a variety of computational coursework. High tech applied geoscience is a broad term, but it encompasses geoscience fields that do a lot of computational work (geophysics, fault modeling, groundwater modeling, geodesy, remote sensing, hazard modeling, etc.). Students who go into these applied geoscience fields typically go on to graduate school for a MS (or PhD) and are then employed by environmental engineering firms, civil engineering firms, oil/gas companies, and federal, state and local government. These are some of the highest paying jobs in the geoscience fields (typically $90,000/year).

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS and BA in Geology
• BS in Geology with a Quantitative Geoscience concentration
• BS in Geology with a concentration in Paleontology

Information

If it wasn't grown, it had to have been mined! Literally everything you use on a daily basis in the US involves the extraction of geologic materials. Students who wish to go into extractive industries typically major with a BS in Geology with a Quantitative Geoscience concentration, a BS and BA in Geology, or the BS in Geology with a concentration in Paleontology. All of these programs of study have the appropriate coursework to train students for careers in the oil and gas and mining industries. These programs of study require six credit hours of summer field courses in geology.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Geology with an Environmental Geology concentration
• BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration
• BA in Economics with a concentration in Environmental Economics and Policy

Information

Students with a BS in Geology with an Environmental Geology concentration take business classes and typically begin work in the environmental industry upon graduation, and some start their own businesses after receiving training in the environmental consulting field. Most environmental consulting firms require someone on the staff with either a Professional Engineer (PE) or Professional Geologist (PG) licensure. All geology degrees (except for the Earth/Environmental Science Secondary Education major) at Appalachian make you eligible for a Professional Geologist (PG) license after you have five years of work experience and pass both the Geologist in Training exam upon graduation and the PG exam after you earn your experience.

The BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration program of study provide options to start the coursework necessary for licensure as a PWS (Professional Wetland Scientist). If you choose a BS in Environmental Science, be sure to take the courses needed to attain these licensures.

For those who are interested in the role that business practices and economics plays on the environment, a BA in Economics with a concentration in Environmental Economics and Policy may be what you are looking for. Students who go into this program typically find work with government or non-profits with a focus on environmental issues.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS and BA in Geology
• BS in Geology with a Quantitative Geoscience concentration
• BS in Environmental Science - Quantitative Environmental Science Concentration
• BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration
• BS in Geology with a concentration in Paleontology

Information

About 40% of our students go on to graduate school. Our students typically receive full tuition waivers and stipends to attend graduate programs, so paying for graduate school is not usually a problem in the geosciences.*

For students who wish to go on to graduate school in the geosciences rather than directly into industry, we highly recommend the BS in Geology with a Quantitative Geoscience concentration. This is one of our most intense programs of study, which provides students with an optional math minor and a variety of computational coursework. We also have a BS in Environmental Science - Quantitative Environmental Science Concentration which we also recommend to students planning to go to graduate school in the broader environmental/atmospheric/physical sciences.

Students earning a BS and BA in Geology or BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration have a more flexible set of course requirements than our Quantitative Geoscience track, but are likewise well prepared for graduate school. The BS in Geology with a concentration in Paleontology is specifically for students who want to go into paleontology graduate programs.

Note: Students in the BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration and BS in Geology with an Environmental Geology concentration would likely need additional math/physics classes to get into graduate school for research programs in the physical and life sciences, although they are well-prepared for post-graduate study in programs that would not typically require numerous calculus and physics classes (i.e. environmental policy, law school, public health, geography, etc.).

* see our Thinking about graduate school? page for more information and common misperceptions about getting a graduate degree in the earth/environmental sciences.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Biology with an Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology

Information

Students interested in forestry and biological natural resources are encouraged to major in biology, with a BS in Biology with an Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology The BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration may also be of interest if you are broadly interested in natural resource assessment, but will contain a number of courses outside of the biology major which may not be relevant to students who are certain they want to go into forestry and wildlife management.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education (multiple concentrations)

Information

Students who want to be outdoor educators (i.e. Outward Bound, interpretive guides, etc.) would be better served by programs in the Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education, with concentrations in Commercial Recreation and Tourism Management, Outdoor Experiential Education, and Recreation and Park Management.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

Numerous options

Information

There are many types of park rangers, so there are many programs of study that would appropriate for these jobs, depending on what you are interested in doing as a park ranger. The Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education has a BS with concentrations in Commercial Recreation and Tourism Management, Outdoor Experiential Education, and Recreation and Park Management. The BS in Biology with an Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology would also be appropriate for some students, particularly those who intend to be wilderness rangers. Students interested in the law enforcement side of park ranger duties may be better served by a BS in Criminal Justice.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS and BA in Geology
• BS in Geology with a concentration in Paleontology
• BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration (earth materials elective set)
• BS in Chemistry with an Environmental Chemistry concentration
• BS in Applied Physics with an emphasis area in Environmental Physics

Information

• If you want to work in a microscopy facility doing a variety of forensic, health-science, or materials science work ...
  • Students who are interested in high-tech microscopy jobs are best served getting a BS and BA in Geology, a BS in Geology with a concentration in Paleontology or a BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration (earth materials electives) and using the flexibility in these tracks to take our sample preparation courses as well as a few extra classes in chemistry and physics. Many of our graduates with Geology degrees now work in materials science labs such as Corning and Boeing, or the medical geosciences (asbestos investigations, etc.).
    
• If you want to work in a government or commercial laboratory doing environmental work (toxicity studies, the laboratory side of water testing, etc.)...
  • Other students are interested in concentrating on the chemistry side of the environmental sciences; for these students, the BS in Chemistry with an Environmental Chemistry concentration is the degree track for you. Students in this program typically go on to graduate school or directly into laboratory positions within industry or government. Students who take extra chemistry courses while in the BS in Environmental Science - Earth Systems Science concentration can also find jobs in analytical laboratories.
• If you are interested in the instrumentation used in the environmental sciences ...
  • Students who are more interested in physics, electronics, and developing instrumentation can get a BS in Applied Physics with an emphasis area in Environmental Physics. Students in this program typically go on to graduate school or are employed in industry laboratories upon graduation.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BA or BS in Geography
• BS in Community and Regional Planning
• BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration

Information

Many students find that they love working with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to make maps, and receive degrees such as the BA or BS in Geography, or the BS in Community and Regional Planning in the Department of Geography and Planning. These students typically go on to make maps for a wide variety of environmental organizations and industries or are employed by state and local governments. The BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources concentration also provides many opportunities for geospatial data analysis, although it does not require coursework in urban planning.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BS in Biology with an Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology

Information

For those with an interest in the environment from a biological perspective, the BS in Biology with an Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology concentration is the degree track for you. Upon graduation, students in this degree track typically work with state and local governments or go into graduate programs.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

Information

Some students know they want to major in something associated with environmental conservation but prefer a more hands-on degree involving sustainable building systems and sustainable technologies rather than studying the natural sciences. These students typically major in programs within the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

• BA or BS in Interdisciplinary Studies

Information

Create your own environmental-associated major via the Interdisciplinary Studies Program (IDS) This is an option for students who have a specific, interdisciplinary, and more social science/humanities career goals who are not served by existing programs of study in other departments.

Best Fit Degree & Concentration

Numerous options

Information

All of the geosciences and environmental science programs of study require at least Calc I, and most require Calc II, statistics, or higher level math (unless you are in the Earth/Environmental Science Secondary Education major).

In our experience, most students who come in saying that they "hate math" or are "bad at math" simply had bad experiences in high school math classes, but aren't actually bad at math. When these students take Calc I and realize it's really not that terrible, many actually go on to minor in math, much to their surprise. Don't deny yourself the value of an interesting degree program (with numerous and well-paying job prospects) because of problematic high school math experiences!