About geology at the University of St. Thomas

Geologists study the Earth, not as a static lump of rock, but as a dynamic, changing system with a long, deep, and rich history. The science of geology focuses on the processes that have sculpted and continue to shape the planet and its life. The Department of Geology seeks to provide a solid foundation in the Earth sciences for its majors, preparing them for a variety of career paths.

The geology curriculum has been designed to provide students with a solid core, but with sufficient flexibility to allow students with particular interests to pursue a more customized program. At the heart of this program is the field laboratory experience, a fundamental and basic component of a St. Thomas geoscience degree. Department faculty emphasize the fact that geology must be learned in the field and as a result offer field laboratory experiences in all courses that extend from a short afternoon trip to a multi-week field course on field methods and regional geology.  Majors will visit many of the geologically significant localities throughout the upper Midwest as part of their program.

Jessie's research lies primarily in basin analysis with a biogeochemistry flavor. She recently completed a project in Tertiary transtensional lacustrine basins in the Lake Mead region of Nevada. Hoping to inform the residents in the PLSL Watershed District about fertilizers and other contaminants washing into the lake, Nick is carefully analyzing geochemical data from sediment cores from Lower Prior Lake. Jane’s research focuses primarily on basin analysis and lacustrine carbonate sedimentology in the Lake Mead region of Southern Nevada.