As geoscientists, we embrace the study of our Earth, other planets, and their moons for their composition, history, and constantly changing characters. This includes the origin and evolution of our planet, its chemical and physical properties, the history of life, and humanity's response to natural disasters and climate/environmental changes. A degree in geoscience will set you on an exciting path with many employment opportunities in industry, government, or education. In addition to the oil & gas and mining industries, which employ many geoscientists, this degree prepares you equally well for a career in the environmental industry, engineering firms, water utility companies, state and local regulatory agencies, federal government agencies including the US Geological Survey, the National Parks Service, NASA, or being an educator at the K-12 or university level. Additionally, to advance into management in most environmental companies requires becoming a licensed Professional Geoscientist, which requires 30 hours of Geology classes. All students of the Geosciences program complete this prior to graduation.
Internships allow you to obtain work experience, explore a chosen career path and increase your marketability to employers. Students can access Handshake, UTSA's jobs portal, to search for jobs and internships and recruiting and event information. UTSA's Career Center has a COS career counselor who provides internship opportunities and advice to students across every science major.
The B.A. Degree in Geosciences provides opportunities to prepare for careers in fields such as earth science education, law, insurance, financial services, energy business, and environmental management. It is not recommended for students planning to pursue careers as professional geologists or graduate studies in geology or related fields.
The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences offers a Minor in Geosciences and an Undergraduate Certificate in Geographic Information System. The department also participates in the Multidisciplinary Studies in Geoinformatics B.S. degree program. Completion of a basic science curriculum allows students to apply for entry into one of several highly specialized areas in geosciences and/or environmental science.
