What is Geology?
Geology students take advantage of the rich geological and paleontological resources of the region. They can access the extensive fossil and mineral collections of the Museum of Geology, which is located on campus. Students have an opportunity to excavate fossils, model geologic hazards, and more.
This program offers an accelerated master’s degree.
What does a geologist do?
Geologists analyze the processes that have shaped the Earth, using rocks, minerals, and fossils to reconstruct that history. They study how the Earth was formed, how it has developed, and how life has evolved in reaction to tectonic and climatic changes.
The geology program at South Dakota Mines takes advantage of the proximity of the Black Hills through a rigorous field and laboratory-based education that provides students a unique blend of hands-on experiences with strong theoretical foundations.
Courses for this Degree
• Physical Geology
• Mineralogy and Crystallography
• Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
• Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
• Structural Geology
• Aqueous Geochemistry
• Invertebrate Paleontology
• Petroleum Geology
• Orogenic Systems
• Global Geophysics
Course Curriculum
Catalog Links: Geology
Internships and Co-ops
On average, 73% of South Dakota Mines students have applicable work experience when they graduate thanks to internships and co-ops. For these co-ops and internships, students receive an average salary of $22.62/hour. Geology students have interned with such companies and agencies as:
• Wyoming Dinosaur Center
• South Dakota Department of Transportation
• Coeur in Alaska
• OceanaGold Haile Gold Mines
• Rapid City GIS Department
• Badlands National Park
They've worked with faculty who've discovered new fossil species and conducted fieldwork spanning continents, from Turkey to Death Valley.