In an effort to not let my liberal arts bias permeate my every post, this week we will examine the top five programs in a truly scientific field of study: geology.
Geology, derived from the Greek gê, which means Earth, and logos, which means study, is the (surprise!) study of the Earth; specifically, it is the study of the rocks which make up the Earth and the process by which they evolve. People considering a graduate program for this titillatingly tectonic subject should also consider that according to the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) the average annual salary of geologists has seen a 15% increase over the last 3 years. In fact, today’s average starting salary for a M.S. Geology graduate (0-2 years experience) is $99,000.
Salary aside, another important factor for students considering a graduate degree in geology is the current employment climate; like the rocks they study, a geologist’s job prospects are solid. According to the United States Department of Labor, the employment rate of geoscientists is projected to increase 21% from the year 2010 to 2020. There are a number of reasons for this, the main one being that the number of students expected to pursue a degree in geology is expected to remain constant while the demand for such experts is expected to increase.
“Granite”-d that’s all you might want to know about a potential future in geology, but of-”quartz” some of you will know Geology Rocks! and let me tell you the top 5 geology graduate programs in the country (according to US News).