Learn about the fascinating and complex world under your feet by exploring topics such as geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and hydrogeology. In its four-billion-year-old history, the Earth has changed – sometimes slowly (such as mountain building) and sometimes with violent and sudden transformations that can be devastating (such as a meteorite impact). In Earth Sciences you'll learn about the make up of our planet, from rocks and soil to water and the effects of climate change. We depend upon resources that come from the Earth, such as minerals, oil, organic materials, gases, and the water we drink. Who finds these hidden and valuable resources A geoscientist Dig deep with your choice of specialization: Geology, Geophysics, or Hydrogeology. And if you're up for it, apply your knowledge through the paid work experiences co-op offers. When you graduate, you’ll be eligible for a Professional Geoscientist designation — and be ready to develop meaningful environmental protection plans, predict natural disasters, advance health standards for water, and more. Get career-relevant skills. Right from your first term, you’ll gain practical experience in our advanced lab facilities. Or take part in research: our professors run projects in 15 countries on five continents. Meet other geo-geeks. Build bonds outside the lab and lecture hall. The Earth and Environmental Science club (WATROX) regularly organizes field trips, social activities, and other events. The Department of Earth and Environmental Science offers six specializations within its two undergraduate programs. Earth Science has three specializations (geology, geophysics, and hydrogeology) and Environmental Science also has three specializations (geoscience, water science, and ecology). All are offered through both regular and co-op streams of study.
Hydrogeology is an interdisciplinary field of study that integrates geological knowledge with the principles of subsurface fluid flow, contaminant migration, geochemistry, mathematics, and physics in order to understand and protect groundwater resources. It is a sub-discipline of hydrology and examines the relationship between geological materials and water flow, focusing on the storage and flow of water in soil, sediments, and rocks. Possible careers: Groundwater exploration, assessment and remediation of soil and groundwater contamination due to industrial, agricultural, and mining practices, assessment of urban and rural activities on watersheds.
