Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
Sorry, Shmoopers, but after graduating from college, you've got to find a job. Bummer. The good news, however, is that majoring in geology will give you a pretty good chance of making it out there in the real world—more of a chance than a lot of other majors. Those in the physical sciences are looking at an unemployment rate that is much more forgiving than those in the arts. But this isn't exactly news.
If you stick with geology, you'll probably have an "-er" or "-ist" at the end of your job title. From geologist to seismologist, your career will focus on studying Earth one way or another. This is good, because every single Earthling has a stake in the preservation good ol' planet Earth. At least, we hope so.
By taking the relevant science courses for geology, you'll be marketable to any employer that needs someone who knows the basics. But wait, there's more: Your CV will also look real nice to companies and corporations looking for somebody who will spend all day looking at a GIS screen hoping to find the next big oil deposit.
Common Career Fields
Engineering Geologist: Engineering and geology? We might need to check our eyes for dollar signs because ka-ching. These particular geologists have a wide range of duties, from collecting data to overseeing the progress on new structures. They use their knowledge of the earth to help decide where to build things, to advise contractors on the best use of particular sites, and to provide insight on how structures might be affected by natural processes, like erosion, earthquakes, flooding, etc. For example, a landfill that's near a fault line might not be the best place to build a skyscraper. That is just asking for trouble.
Mineralogist: Before you ask, no, minerals are not rocks (although rocks can contain minerals). Mineralogists classify minerals by how they were formed, what they're made of, where they're from, and what they look like. Mineralogists are also responsible for discovering new minerals, like real-life Kryponite. Like we said, geologists don't look at rocks all day, but mineralogists do (with minerals, that is).
Paleontologist: Paleontology deals with everything pre-human. You might say that paleontologists date any old thing. (Ha.) But really, this job isn't just about diggin' up old bones, although that's definitely an important part of it. Paleontologists also compare their findings and determine how very, very old organisms interacted and evolved. Some paleontologists even focus on fossilized plants. You could double-major in geology and biology for maximum paleontological potential.
Petroleum Geologist: With all those cars on the road and planes in the sky, we sure do need lots of oil. Yeah, it isn't the cleanest energy, but we kind of depend on it right now. To meet these demands, petroleum geologists answer to the call of duty by searching for and mapping deposits of petroleum. They aren't confined to land, either. In fact, offshore drilling is a major industry that benefits from the hard work of these folks. What's next, cosmic drilling? (Maybe.)
Seismologist: There is very little we can do to prevent earthquakes. Well, besides fracking. (Relax, it's not what you think.) Seismologists work to get us ready for the big quakes by predicting when and where they'll happen. From their research, we can also learn how to build indestructible cities. There's a reason that buildings in San Francisco are clustered together and no, it's not neighborly love. (Hint: The wider you build your Lego towers, the harder they will be to knock over.)
If you live near a fault line, thank a seismologist.
Stratigrapher: Stratigraphers are all about layers. No, not cake layers. Or onion layers. Or...ogre layers? No, rather, Earth layers (although we do love cake). Think about what happens when you put a fifty-foot tube into the ground. It'll show that there are different colored soils at different depths, as well as different rocks and minerals. This is a stratigrapher's typical Friday night. (Insert yet another date joke here.) They study the strata in order to determine the time period they are from.
Volcanologist: This officially wins the "coolest job title ever" award. On top of having an amazing name, volcanologists do exactly what you're thinking they do: They study the planet Vulcan.
Just kidding. They study volcanoes on planet Earth, of course. The purpose behind their studies is to be able to predict volcanic eruptions. With the destruction they can cause (we're looking at you, Mt. Vesuvius), it's important to have an idea of what goes on when these glorified science fair projects start to blow.
Current unemployment of the major
4.7%Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
45%Stats obtained from this source.