Department Advising
- Considering a geology or earth science major or minor, or
- Just getting started as a new geology or earth science major or minor, or
- Finishing
your geology or earth science major or minor and wondering what's next.
Remember, no matter which of the three situations above is yours, the UW Oshkosh Academic Resource Center (http://www.uwosh.edu/advising/) is a good place to get advising help. If it's further information about geology that you need or you just want to chat with a geologist, any faculty member in the Department of Geology (http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/geology/faculty.html) will be happy to talk with you.
Considering a Geology or Earth Science Major or Minor
What do geologist do? With a B.S. degree in geology from UW Oshkosh, you will have a number of options:
- Get a job with an environmental consulting firm, an oil company, a minerals exploration or mining firm, or a government agency. (http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/links/index.html)
- Get a job in a field that may not be directly related to geology. (http://www.tts.uwosh.edu/career/)
- Go to graduate school in geology or another field. (http://www.usd.edu/esci/geodepts.html)
With a B.S.Ed. degree and a major or minor in Secondary Earth Science Education, you could teach earth science in a middle or high school. (http://www.nestanet.org/#whatis)
If you have questions about being a geology major or a geologist that are not answered at any of these links, feel free to contact us (http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/geology/faculty.html), check out our Geology Major's Handbook (http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/geology/handbook11_12.html), and plan to attend our annual information meeting for prospective geology majors as well as Geology Club speakers (http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/geology/spkr.html) and meetings (http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/geology/geoclub.html).
Just Getting Started as a New Geology or Earth Science Major or Minor
If you recently declared a geology or earth science major, you will receive a letter from the Department Chair welcoming you and assigning you a Geology faculty member as your academic advisor (http://www.uwosh.edu/geology/advisees.html). The letter informs you that each semester you will have a registration stop that can only be removed by your advisor after you have met with her or him and discussed your educational plans and goals. It is critical that at your first meeting with your Geology advisor, you create a four-year plan that will enable you to take all the courses that you need to be able to graduate. This is particularly important because certain upper-level geology courses are offered every other year (http://www.uwosh.edu/geology/handbook11_12.html#UNDERGRADUATE COURSE OFFERINGS) so you must plan ahead. In addition to the course work, other experiences that you should plan for include research projects in collaboration with faculty members and internships in industry or government. See http://www.eco.org/ and search USGS.
Every geology major receives the Department's weekly electronic newsletter (http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/geology/dept_news.html#DEPARTMENT_NEWSLETTERS). Read it carefully and take advantage of the opportunities that it contains such as Geology Club speakers (http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/geology/spkr.html) and research experiences (http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/list_result.cfm?unitid=5050). Besides Geology Club, there are a number of ways to be involved in the Department including being a laboratory teaching assistant or a tutor (http://www.uwosh.edu/geology/Student_Employment.html). These positions pay salary, but more importantly, they provide excellent learning experiences. Get involved!
Finishing Your Geology or Earth Science Major or Minor and Wondering What's Next
There are so many "hoops" to jump through as your graduation approaches. Here is a brief and probably incomplete list:
Welcome to the UW
Oshkosh Geology advising Web page.
This page will provide you
with information and links if you are:
- Apply for graduation (http://www.uwosh.edu/student_financial/cashiers-office)
- Prepare a resume and cover letter and mail them to prospective employers (http://www.uwosh.edu/geology/jobsearch.php)
- Take the "Principles of Geology" examination (http://drl.wi.gov/profession.asp?profid=97&locid=0) as a step toward becoming a Professional Geologist in Wisconsin http://drl.wi.gov/prof_docs_list.asp?profid=97&locid=0).
- Take the Graduate Record Examination (http://www.uwosh.edu/testing/testlinks/gresubject.php) in preparation for graduate school.
- Apply for admission to graduate school (http://www.usd.edu/esci/geodepts.html).
- Ask at least
three
faculty members to serve as references.
At this stage of your education, you already should have established a good working relationship with your geology advisor as well as with other geology professors, so get help from one or more of them: ask them to read/edit your applications, cover letter, and resume. They will gladly help.
Graduating
Yes, eventually you will graduate, but please do not cut your ties with your geology professors and this department. Keep us informed of your whereabouts and your career. Come to see us when you are in town, and connect with us at professional meetings. Attend the Geology Alumni Reception at Homecoming. When you are established, donate to one of the many departmental scholarships (http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/geology/scholar.html). Have a great life!
**QUICK LINKS**
GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT ADVISORS
Chad Deering - 424-0868 (deeringc@uwosh.edu)
Eric Hiatt -- 424-7001 (hiatt@uwosh.edu)
Joe Peterson -- 424-4463 (petersoj@uwosh.edu)
William Mode -- 424-7004 (mode@uwosh.edu)
Maureen Muldoon -- 424-4461 (muldoon@uwosh.edu)
Tim Paulsen -- 424-7002 (paulsen@uwosh.edu)
Jennifer Wenner -- 424-7003 (wenner@uwosh.edu)
GEOLOGY/EARTH SCIENCE MAJORS AND ADVISORS LIST
MAJOR'S COURSE SCHEDULE
GEOLOGY CURRICULUM
UNDERGRADUATE E-BULLETIN
ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT
CAREER SERVICES
COUNSELING CENTER
DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTERS
FINANCIAL AID
GENERAL EDUCATION AND DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
GEOLOGY CLUB
GEOLOGY FACULTY
HANDBOOK FOR GEOLOGY MAJORS
JOB SEARCHING FOR GEOLOGY MAJORS
SPEAKER SERIES
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
STUDENT RESEARCH