Geosciences

Major, Minor

DEPARTMENT: GEOSCIENCES

The Union geosciences major offers small classes, hands-on labs and opportunities for research with active faculty in fields such as paleoclimate, volcanology and geochemistry. Students have access to world-class instrumentation for both coursework and faculty-supervised research, including mass spectrometers, scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) and Raman spectrometers.

Field studies take students to the Adirondacks, Green Mountains and Panama, while global research opportunities extend to locations such as Dominica, Barbados, Costa Rica and the Andes. A dedicated term in New Zealand focuses on sustainable energy and environmental management. Students frequently co-author research papers and present at conferences like the Geological Society of America (GSA) and the American Geophysical Union (AGU), with additional opportunities available through the Keck Geology Consortium.