Bernie Housen- Chair WWU Geology Dept

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The Geology Department offers several scholarships each year ($500 to >$2000)
Other groups- Mt Baker rock and gem club,
Whidbey Island pebble-pushers, etc- also offer nice scholarships
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In many cases, we have had 1, or even zero, applications…so the odds might be pretty good!

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Marysville Rock & Gem Club scholarship application. This year it is for $1000. The deadline is Nov.30. Applicants are to be sophomore students (45 - 90 credits) enrolled in a western Washington college/ university and with a major in a geology or an earth science related field.
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As of today Zero applicants

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UNDERGRADUATE TUITION/FEE WAIVER
◦ This award is restricted to undergraduates and is a merit award.
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MYRL E. BECK, JR. SCHOLARSHIP
◦ This award will be in the form of an advance for support of research leading to an Honors Thesis. The amount of this year’s award will be $1,000.00. The award will only be available to students in their final year of study. Research should involve paleomagnetism and/or tectonics, and ideally should require use of the equipment in the Pacific
Northwest Paleomagnetism Laboratory housed in the Geology Department.
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JAMES L. TALBOT SCHOLARSHIP
◦ This award of $900.00 is given annually to a student who is declared as a B.S. in the Geology Concentration who can demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need.
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ANTONI “JONTEK” WODZICKI SCHOLARSHIP
◦ This award of $900.00 is given annually to a student who majoring in any of the specialties of the geological sciences, with preference given to students studying in fields related to economic geology, mineralogy, and/or attending summer field camps. Also, special consideration will be given to students from developing countries.
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Deadline for applications: November 30, 2011. Details available at the Geology Office, on posted notices all over the building, and even online.

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Demand for all types of Earth Science professionals (that will be you, soon) is growing
◦ Increasing need for Earth resources (water, land, gas, metals, rare earth elements, light elements (Li for those batteries), etc, etc)
◦ Increasing age of existing Earth Science workforce
◦ Small supply of new Earth Science folks

Opportunities
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Mineral exploration
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Environmental/Engineering
Geology
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Federal, State, local Government
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Oil/gas exploration
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Academic jobs
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K-12 teaching

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AME-BC “roundups”
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AAPG/SEG Student
Expos
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GSA, AGU
Internships http://www.amebc.ca/roundup/overview-2012.aspx
http://www.seg.org/web/aapg-seg-student-expo/
Meetings http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa/aboutshell/careers/students_and_graduates/

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Bachelor of Arts
◦ Geology Major
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Bachelor of Arts in Education
◦ Earth Science (Elementary) Major
◦ Earth Science (Secondary) Major
◦ Earth Science/General Science (Secondary) Major
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Bachelor of Science
◦ Geology Major
 Geology Concentration
 Environmental Geology Concentration
 Geophysics Concentration
◦ Geophysics Major
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Geology Minor

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96-106 credits
Professional or graduate school major
Three concentrations (share a common core)
Over 100 students as of 2011 (6+ years of growth)
Areas of growth in all three concentrations
Largest numbers in “classic” and environmental
Reputation: best professional geologists in WA

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WWU BS-Geology undergraduates have very good graduate school success rates
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MS degree: considered “terminal” degree for professional/industry geoscientists
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PhD programs: degree needed for academic positions, research labs, etc
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Application “season” is starting now

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Declaring as a Geology major is easy
◦ Finish Geology 211
◦ Drop by the office (ES 240)- Tues to Thurs- ask for our U.G. coordinator, Vicki
◦ She will sign you up- and provide you with a faculty advisor
◦ Meet with your advisor to discuss your goals, and set up an initial course plan

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Geology web page: http://geology.wwu.edu/dept/index.shtml
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“current students” menu for lots of good information
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The official WWU Catalog: http://catalog.wwu.edu/

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Winter 2012
◦ Registration starts tomorrow!
◦ Beginning majors: Geol 212, 213, 306*, 352*
 Pre-reqs! (Chem 121,122 for 306, Phys 121 for 352)
◦ Continuing majors: Geol 306*, 318*, 352*, 407*
◦ Junior/Senior majors: Geol 415*, 430*, 455*, 457*,
473*
◦ Huxley course: ESCI 442- Remote Sensing- open to
Geol majors

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Spring 2012
◦ Beginning majors: Geol 212, 213, 306*, 310*, 311*
◦ Continuing majors: Geol 406*, 413*
◦ Junior/Senior majors: Geol 409/410*, 452*, 463*

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Summer 2012
◦ Continuing majors:
 special summer section of Geol 318*
 Contact Liz Schermer for details ASAP
◦ Junior/Senior majors: Geol 409/410*
◦ 2012-2013:
 Likely only one (winter quarter) section of Geol 318
 No spring field camp (409/410)
 Budget/course offerings remain uncertain

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What is my paragraph?
◦ When you ask a faculty to write you a reference letter- for graduate school, for a job, etc- what will they be able to say about you? What have you been able to do to put your own unique “stamp” on your degree?

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Excel in a class-based research project
Complete a senior thesis
Work with faculty and other students on a project
Work as an intern
Teach as a teaching fellow
Volunteer for activities, open house, etc
Present a poster or talk at a meeting

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The Geology email listserve
◦ Events, jobs/internships, scholarships, etc
◦ To join, email Vicki critch@geol.wwu.edu
and ask her to add you
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The new AEG chapter/geology club
◦ See Bob Mitchell for more info
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Talk with faculty
Join an organization (AEG, GSA, AGU, etc)
Have a look at the website

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4:00 PM, Tues, Nov 29- ES 100
◦ “How to apply to Graduate School”
 – Jackie Caplan-Auerbach