Geosciences Program
Thinking about becoming a geoscientist?
Colorado Mesa University is situated in a geological paradise straddling the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau. Our program is very field oriented and includes field trips to places such as the rugged, glacially sculpted San Juan Mountains, the Colorado River, the world renowned Book Cliffs, Arches and Canyonlands, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and the breathtaking formations of Colorado National Monument. Our location also provides Colorado Mesa students with some of the best recreational opportunities in the nation.CMU Geosciences Video
Thinking about becoming a geology major? Check out our video!
Geosciences Job Outlook
"Employment of geoscientists is projected to grow 6% from 2018 to 2028, as fast as the average for all occupations. The need for energy, environmental protection, and responsible land and resource management is projected to spur demand for geoscientists."
"While growth rates for individual geoscience occupations range between 2.4% and 9.2% for all but geoscience engineering managers (-0.6%), those occupations projected to gain the greatest number of jobs are environmental scientists (7,000 jobs), environmental science technicians (3,200 jobs), and environmental engineers (2,900 jobs)."
CMU Geosciences News
Geosciences Students Present Their Research at 2019 National GSA Conference
Geoscience seniors Tristan Bates, Alejandro Jaquez-Caro, Nicole Mejia-Mendoza, and Josh Schlag, and recent graduates Jon Hutson ('19) and Eddy Martin ('19) attended the Geological Society of America conference to present findings from their student research at the national level. These students published scientific abstracts and presented their data in a poster session titled "Highlighting Research by 2YC and 4YCU Undergraduate Geoscience Students." Current faculty members Andres Aslan and Greg Baker also attended the meeting and presented their research. Eddy Martin was a co-author on Aslan’s presentation. In addition, former geology students Cullen Meurer (’19; now at U. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Dr. Andy Darling (’08, now at U. of Georgia), and Dr. Sally Potter-McIntyre (’06, now at Southern Illinois Univ.) also attended the meeting
Several of the students worked closely with Dr. Andres Aslan and scientists Dr. Matt Heizler (New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources) and Dr. Shannon Mahan (U.S. Geological Survey). At the poster presentations, our students met notable geologists including David Montgomery and Ed Keller.
Read more about the students' research on the arches in Rattlesnake Canyon, river terraces of the Uncompahgre River, and incision history of the upper Colorado River.
Red carpet style at GSA!
Geosciences students from left to right: Alejandro Jaquez-Caro, Nicole Mejia-Mendoza, and Josh Schlag
Geosciences students and graduates at the national Geological Society of America conference in Phoenix, AZ.
From left to right: Jon Hutson, Tristan Bates, Nicole Mejia-Mendoza, Josh Schlag, Edward Martin, and Alejandro Jaquez-Caro
Geosciences students at the national Geological Society of America conference in Phoenix, AZ.
From left to right: Alejandro Jaquez-Caro, Nicole Mejia-Mendoza, and Josh Schlag
Student Learning Objectives
All CMU baccalaureate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in critical thinking, communication fluency, quantitative fluency, and specialized knowledge/applied learning. In addition to these campus-wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this program will be able to:
- Articulate the fundamental knowledge base and ideas of the major fields of geoscience (specialized skills in geoscience)
- Collect and interpret geoscience field data (problem solving skills)
- Collect and interpret geoscience laboratory data (problem solving skills)
- Use technology (e.g. computer software) for evaluating quantitative geoscience data (technology skills)
- Write an effective report on a geoscience study (communication skills)
- Give an effective oral presentation on a geoscience study (communication skills)
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