Geology Program

Wheaton Geology Students at Starved Rock

Curriculum, Courses, and Requirements

Geology majors take courses that cover all the major subdisciplines in earth science. Core courses include Dynamic Earth and Environment, Earth History and Stratigraphy, Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology and Petrography, Process Geomorphology , and Structural Geology. A summer field course is required and can be taken at the Wheaton College Field Station in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Elective courses include Hydrogeology, Soil Science, Geographic Information Systems, and Climate Change. Most courses feature day-long or overnight field trips to local and regional geological localities. Extended field trips are also offered for credit or as extracurricular activities between semesters.

The Earth and Environmental Science Department also offers general education courses for Wheaton College students from all majors to meet Christ at the Core thematic courses in Science Practice, Science Issues and Perspectives, and Advanced Integrative Seminars. Geology courses include Dynamic Earth and Environment (SP), Energy and Climate Change (SIP), Humanitarian Disasters and Recovery (SIP, AIS), and Water the Essential Resource (SIP, AIS).

Visit the course catalog for current information about specific courses and requirements:

Learning Outcomes

Read the learning outcomes students will achieve as a result of completing the Geology program at Wheaton College.

Links of Interest for Geology Students

Meet Our Faculty Geology Faculty

All of our faculty are published authors, with books published through Harvard, Cambridge, and Oxford university presses, among others. Their expertise covers the breadth of environmental science, from ecology to pollution, urban studies to international development, and water resources to sustainability.

bolton-howes-2024Coming in 2025!
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Bolton Howes will be joining our faculty in the fall of 2025 as Assistant Professor of Geology and Director of the Wheaton College Field Station.
Please take a look at Dr. Howes' profile.

Katy Foltz Headshot

Katy Foltz

Lab Associate/Office Coordinator
Charles "Chris" B. Keil, Ph.D., CIH Headshot

Charles "Chris" B. Keil, Ph.D., CIH

Professor of Environmental Science
Andrew Luhmann, Ph.D. Headshot

Andrew Luhmann, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Geology
Kathryn Maneiro, Ph.D. Headshot

Kathryn Maneiro, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Geology
Stephen Moshier, Ph.D. Headshot

Stephen Moshier, Ph.D.

Professor of Geology Emeritus

Next Steps for Prospective Students

Interested in studying with the Earth and Environmental Science Department at Wheaton? Request more information or start your application today.