Geology

Why Geology?

Students majoring in Geology will be preparing themselves to take an active role in the utilization of the earth's resources while protecting its fragile environment. Course work involves hands-on use of modern laboratory equipment and extensive projects out in the field. The faculty combines the use of small class sizes and abundant travel opportunities with a commitment to involving students in ongoing geological projects that involve both local and far-ranging locales. The curricula are designed with three primary objectives:

• Prepare students for entry-level employment with consulting and industry that concentrates on environmental problems
• Prepare students for entry-level employment in federal, state, and municipal environmental agencies
• Prepare students to enter graduate programs in a branch of geology in preparation for a career in academia or upper-level employment with private companies or governmental agencies
• The department offers courses leading to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees in Geology. To be recommended for graduation, students must earn at least a 2.5 GPA in their major. A student also must earn a grade of at least C in any Geology course that is taken to fulfill a degree requirement. One must earn at least a D in each required cognate

How to get Started

Try our introductory geology class – Dynamic Earth! Counts for the geology major, as well as REACH curriculum. 

Fast Facts

• The Geology department leads one large trip per year for students. Past trips have gone to Death Valley National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Costa Rica, as well as Italy and Greece
• Geologists travel all around the world performing work at sea, on the top of mountains, in deserts, in underground caves, and in laboratories
• Mercyhurst geology majors routinely present their original research at national conferences and have been internationally recognized for their efforts
• The Mercyhurst Geology Club leads multiple field trips a year to go fossil and mineral collecting in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York

Learning Outcomes

• Explain:
  • Paradigms that shape current geologic thought (e.g., plate tectonics)
  • Concept of geologic time and detail the geologic time scale for the Earth
  • The processes that have shaped and continue to shape the Earth
• Identify:
  • Significant geologic features on the Earth and place them into their appropriate geologic context
  • Common rocks and minerals found on and inside the Earth using hand samples and thin sections
• Associate common rocks and minerals found on and inside the Earth with their appropriate geologic context
• Formulate and communicate an effective scientific argument through written and oral means
• Demonstrate the ability to organize and conduct geology-related field and laboratory work

State Authorization

This program may fulfill a portion of the examination pre-qualification for the Professional Geologist license. Please visit the State Authorization webpage to review the requirements for licensure by state or program.

​​​​​​​Student Research 

Rickets, A., & Lang, N.P. (2024), Attributes of Streamlined Islands in Venusian Channels: Implications for Their Origin and Use as a Flow Direction Indicators; Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 56, No. 5, doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-404455

McKenzie, S., Miller, J., & Baltozer, A. (2023), Glass Diversity at the Wanapitei Impact Site in Ontario. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 55, No. 6, doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-391635

Collins, T. P., McKenzie, S. (2020), A new fossil of Miracinonyx Inexpectatus from the Haille Quarries in Alahachua County, Florida; Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 52, No. 6, doi: 10.1130/abs/2020AM-359877

Tamez-Galvan, E., McKenzie, S. (2020), Overview of the Bear Gulch laggerstatte, Fergus County, Montana; Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 52, No. 6, doi: 10.1130/abs/2020AM-357312

Lang, N.P., and 14 others including 11 former students (2019), Unraveling volcanic and related processes using remotely sensed data sets: Perspectives from a Miocene-aged volcanic terrain in northwest Arizona; in Pearthree, P.A., ed., Geol. Soc. of America Field Guide 55, p. 273-305, https://doi.org/10.1130/2019.0055 (10)

Nypaver, C.A., Lang, N.P., and Thomson, B.J. (2018), Constraints on geologic processes recorded in venusian shield fields: Insights into the processes related to their formation, in Poland, M., Garcia, M., Camp, V., and Grunder, A., eds., Field Volcanology: A Tribute to the Distinguished Career of Don Swanson: Geological Society of America Special Paper 538, p. 435–458, https://doi.org/10.1130/2018.2538(20)