Thinking about becoming a geoscientist?
Geoscientists :
- Search for mineral and energy resources
- Recognize the economic and environmental impacts of resource extraction and use.
- Study natural hazards and environmental geoscience to clean up and reclaim land.
- Research watershed science to maintain and manage clean water sources.
- Investigate global climate change and oceanography
- Communicate cutting-edge geosciences research to our communities.
- Explore planetary geology to understand planets like Mars.
CMU Geosciences Video
Thinking about becoming a geology major? Check out our video!
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.
Geosciences Job Outlook
"Employment of geoscientists is projected to grow 7% from 2020 to 2030, about 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."
"As of December 2020, 91% of geoscience graduates who earned their degree between 2014-2018 were employed, while 75% of graduates from 2019 and 80% of graduates from 2020 reported the same. For geoscience graduates who earned their degree in 2020, 31% of bachelor's, 50% of master's, and 91% of doctorates had secured employment by December 2020."
Grand Junction Gem and Mineral Club Event Information
All geosciences students are welcome and encouraged to attend the bimonthly GJGMC meetings, field trips, and other events, including the fall Gem and Mineral show.
Grand Junction Geological Society: Monthly Speaker Information
All geosciences students are welcome and encouraged to attend the monthly GJGS events.
The Grand Junction Geological Society (GJGS) is community of geosciences professionals, students, and local people with multiple geo-interests. At its monthly meetings, the GJGS hosts guest speakers, including CMU Geosciences faculty and alumni, on hot topics in the geosciences.
For many years, the GJGS and its individual members have been dedicated supporters of the CMU Geosciences Program. Since 2012, the GJGS has awarded $18,250 in student scholarships, $2375 in student-speaker awards, and $6500 in other financial support to the Geosciences program. Each spring, the GJGS typically awards five, annual $750 field-camp scholarships to defray the cost of attending the summer course. The Society has also generously purchased and donated tents and other course materials for field-camp students. Individual GJGS members have established endowments that provide scholarships for CMU students, including the endowed Forrest Nelson scholarship, which was initiated in 2018 with a donation of $600,000 and will provide scholarships to CMU geosciences students for many years to come.
Each spring, the GJGS also runs the William Chenoweth Memorial Field Trip. Members and CMU Geosciences faculty and students use this trip to meet and greet new outcrops and new folks in our geo-community here in Grand Valley.
The GJGS is a very generous supporter of education of CMU Geosciences students. All of us at CMU Geosciences thank the GJGS for their generosity, strong ties to our Geosciences students, and commitment to their education and professional development.
CMU Geosciences News
Geosciences Applauds Generous Geo-Fundraiser
The Grand Junction Gem and Mineral Club is home to outstanding members of our geo-community and promotors of education. Every year the Gem Club hosts events, including the Annual Grand Junction Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show, which draws in people from all over the rock-hound world. The fall 2022 show attracted 1600 attendees. These folks brought their dollars and left with gem and mineral treasures!The Gem Club has been raising money for scholarships and awarding them to our CMU Geosciences students since 1980. Between 1980 and 2022, the Club generously awarded $36,000 in scholarships! The record turnout at this year’s Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show contributed to the $5000 the Club will award in 2023 to CMU Geosciences students and $1000 to scholarships for students in the CMU Criminal Justice Program.
CMU students from the Geosciences Program and the Criminal Justice Program volunteered to work at the fall 2022 show. Geosciences students helped out at the Silent Auction, the Kids’ Corner, and Lee Cassin’s vendor table. Lee, a Gem Club member added her proceeds to the Gem Club scholarship “pot” to fund CMU Geosciences students. CMU Criminal Justice students volunteered as security at the event and did such a great job, the Gem Club initiated a scholarship fund for their educational program, too.
The Gem Club is an important economic contributor to our local economy. Importantly, from a CMU Geosciences perspective, the club is also a very generous supporter of education of CMU students. All of us at CMU Geosciences thank the Gem Club for their generosity, strong ties to our university, and commitment to education of our Western Slope youth.
Check out some of our #cmugeosciences Instagram posts!
Interested in taking a Geosciences course for Essential Learning? We offer several courses, like:
- Geology of Colorado (GEOL 105)
- Introduction to Physical Geology (GEOL 111/111L and GEOL 113/113L)
- Oceanography (GEOL 104)
- Weather and Climate (GEOL 103)
Fall 2022 Geosciences Newsletter
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: PROFESSOR MARISA BORAAS-CONNORS
What Marisa enjoys most about teaching intro-level classes is finding ways to reach non-majors and peak their interests in geosciences and the world around them.
"There isn’t really a typical day in this job which is part of why I enjoy it!"
The World Around Us
Check out this CMUnow podcast featuring CMU Assistant Professor of Geology Cassandra Fenton, PhD. Dr. Fenton explains why geosciences is so much more than just rocks and why the Grand Valley is like Disneyland for geologists.
November CMU Faculty Colloquium
Student Learning Outcomes
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)
- Understand and reflect on responsibilities surrounding local, national, and/or global Geoscience problems including those related to accessing field areas on public land. (personal & social responsibility)