Geology

Overview

Students in the East Carolina University's Geology, M.Sc. program conduct research that contributes to the discovery and proper management of these resources and are encouraged to take advantage of state-of-the art laboratories, analytical equipment (X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, ICAPES), field equipment, and research vessels enabling pursuit of a wide variety of projects. The department teaches and trains students in areas of great societal and global significance, such as environmental geology, economic geology, hydrogeology, climate change, structural geology, and petroleum geology. The importance of geology to the nation's future is reflected in the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate of an 18-percent job growth for earth scientists from 2008 to 2018.

ECU Advantage

Due to the variety and balance of courses offered, students are able to undertake thesis research in their preferred area of the geological sciences, but to also take a selection of courses that enable them to obtain employment in other areas. Over the past decade, 94 percent of graduates within ECU's program have become gainfully employed as geologists. They have secured careers in environmental regulations, hydrogeologic investigation, mineral and petroleum discovery and exploitation, wetland mitigation, flood prediction, pollution abatement, and environmental site audits. Because students are involved in faculty research programs, they have the opportunity to conduct research in a wide variety of geologic and geographic settings, including overseas.