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Overview
Faculty
Major
Courses
Science
Station
Student
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Geology
- A
Great Tradition
A roadside outcropping in Kentucky provides an opportunity for geology students to observe strata.
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The Geology
major at Wheaton College was established nearly 70 years ago,
but the tradition of excellence in geological education is
even older. Founder Jonathan Blanchard realized that a working
knowledge of the earth is an integral part of Christian education,
so Wheaton’s first students in the 1860’s were required
to take introductory courses in geology and mineralogy. The
continuation of this early commitment to the study of geology
has made Wheaton distinctive among evangelical institutions.
Today’s students have the opportunity to study geologic
theory on campus in conjunction with a number of field experiences
in the classroom that is as big as all outdoors. Graduates
of the Geology program include leaders in the discipline,
holding positions in prominent universities, government, industry,
and missions/development agencies.
Curriculum and Degree Program
Geology
majors take courses that cover all the major sub-disciplines
in earth science. Core courses include Introductory Physical
Geology, Earth History and Stratigraphy, Geochemistry and Mineralogy,
Petrology and Petrography, Process Geomorphology ,
and Structural Geology. A summer field course is required, which can be taken at the Wheaton College Science Station in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Elective courses include Hydrogeology, Soil Science, Biogeology,
Geographic Information Systems, Geophysics, Global Climate Change, and Marine Biology.
Most courses feature day-long or overnight field trips
to local and Midwestern geological localities. Extended field
trips are also offered for credit or as extra-curricular activities between semesters. For more information on field
trips and seminars, click
here.
The
Geology Department also offers general education courses
for Wheaton College students from all majors to meet the
Nature Cluster 8-hour science requirement. Geology courses include Physical Geology, Natural
Disasters, General Oceanography, Earth Resources and
the Environment, Geology of National Parks, Geoarchaeology and Theories of Origins.
Two courses are offered at the Wheaton College Science Station
in the general education track: Introductory Geology
in the Field and Field Environmental Geology.
Wheaton
College Science Station
The
College is blessed with a 50-acre science station in the
South Dakota Black Hills, where exciting field-oriented
courses are offered for biology, geology, and environmental
science majors as well as General Education students. The
beautiful Black Hills and surrounding western-mountain and
plains settings give students numerous opportunities to
study geological features on a regional scale.
Other
Student Opportunities
There
are a number of other opportunities offered by the Geology
Department. While most courses include field trips and seminars
on or off campus, there are a growing number of research
and internship opportunities for motivated students. Students
have the opportunity for independent study projects or for
participation in on-going faculty research. Internships
are available in both the government and the private sector
and provide students with valuable hands-on training. Wheaton’s
Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR) program also offers
students service oriented internships in Third World countries.
To see examples of recent field-trips, research, and internships
Geology students have enjoyed, click
here.
Contact
Us
If you would like more information, please write or call us.
If you are in the Wheaton area, drop by for a visit. Our offices
are in the Breyer Lab Building on the 3rd floor.
Department
of Geology
Dr. Stephen Moshier, Chair
Wheaton College
501 College Ave.
Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone: (630) 752-5063
Fax: (630) 752-5996
Email: Geology@wheaton.edu
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