Career Paths

We have a top-notch geoscience program, demonstrated by the fact that ~50% of our graduates choose to go to geoscience graduate school. These schools include some of the best graduate programs in the country.

Others go directly into a geoscience career, but some go into fields outside of the geosciences. Regardless, geoscience education gives our graduates a leg up.

Our program teaches practical skills in math, technical writing, logical thinking, computer work, public speaking, travel, operation of equipment, field experience, data collection, and data interpretation. This experience is enormously valuable for almost any job.

Here is a list of positions our alumni have reported to us over the past several years.

Geoscience positions

Positions not directly geoscience-related

Positions that might involve geoscience
  • Engineering geologist.
  • Environmental chemist.
  • Environmental geologist.
  • Hydrogeologist.
  • Marine geologist.
  • Mining and minerals geologist.
  • Petroleum geologist.
  • Government-employed geologist (e.g., BLM, USGS, EPA, DOT, state agencies including state geological surveys).
  • Graduate school, M.S. and Ph.D. levels (geoscience including paleontology).
  • CEO of mining and minerals companies.
  • College and university professor (Geology).
  • School teaching, secondary school earth science.
  • Biochemical industry.
  • Clothing fashion design.
  • College and university professor (Business Management).
  • Construction, heavy equipment.
  • Criminal forensics.
  • Dentistry.
  • Graduate school, M.S. and Ph.D. levels (law, medicine, business, philosophy).
  • Graphic design.
  • Health care consulting.
  • Insurance industry (e.g., sales).
  • Lab technical support and management.
  • Law (e.g., Assistant D.A.).
  • Library information systems.
  • Materials science (e.g., semiconductors).
  • Medicine (e.g., emergency medicine and rescue.
  • Military service (e.g., Air Force).
  • Multimedia design.
  • Music.
  • Office manager.
  • Peace Corps.
  • Photography (professional).
  • Church minister.
  • Scientific Review Administrator, N.I.H.
  • Social and educational outreach.
  • Sports reporting and promotion.
  • Archeology.
  • Computer programming.
  • Educational materials consultant.
  • Graduate school, MS and PhD levels (archeology).
  • Industry technical support (e.g., seismograph electronics).
  • Insurance industry (e.g., risk management).
  • School teaching, primary school.
  • Science Advisor, international development agencies.
  • Teacher training consultant.

Many of these positions and careers require post-graduate training and experience, but it should be obvious that many rewarding career paths are open to graduates of the Union College Geology Department.

The bottom line is that Union Geology opens up a wide range of opportunities! For more details, see our Alumni Newsletters, and these professional web sites.