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CONTACT US
UNDERGRADUATE
ADVISOR: Brooks Britt
OFFICE: S387 ESC
PHONE: 801.422.7316
EMAIL: brooks_britt@byu.edu
GRADUATE
ADVISOR: Mike Dorais
OFFICE: S335 ESC
PHONE: 801.422.1347
EMAIL: dorais@byu.edu
Oh look! It's a map. It will probably tell you where to go to find important people, room numbers, buildings, etcetera, etcetera,
etcetera. It may even lead you to buried treasure, but probably not.
RESEARCH AREAS
Both undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to work closely with our diverse
16-member faculty whose specialties include mineralogy and petrology, petroleum geology,
hydrogeology, geochemistry, structure and tectonics, planetary geology, glaciology/climatology,
and paleontology. Students are directly involved in conducting field research locally and across
the globe in regions as diverse as Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, Switzerland, Turkey, and New
Zealand.
CLIMATE CHANGE
GEOPHYSICS
IGNEOUS PETROLOGY
PALEONTOLOGY
PLANETARY GEOLOGY
SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates have the opportunity to work outdoors and in the laboratory, pursuing careers in
energy, mineral, and water resources, or in environmental evaluation with industry, government,
or consulting firms. The substantial preparation in basic sciences and mathematics obtained
through the program also leads to a broad spectrum of teaching opportunities. Some scholarship
money is available for those who pursue a Geological Sciences degree as a pre-law track. The
most marketable terminal degree in Geological Sciences is the MS. Starting salaries for this
degree are often very competitive with those of other disciplines. Numerous graduates proceed
to some of the best PhD programs in the country. Additionally, students are consistently placed
with prominent organizations such as Exxon-Mobile, Chevron, Anadarko, as well as other viable
companies in the environmental and mining industries.
GEOLOGIST // $52,100
HYDROLOGIST // $69,100GEOPHYSICIST // $114,000
PETROLOGIST // $67,500
PETROLEUM GEOLOGIST // $112,900
SEISMOLOGIST // $72,400
ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST // $61,800
PLANETARY GEOLOGIST // $58,000
GEOPHYSICS
X-ray vision? Not quite, but students in geophysics have their own methods for seeing down into the
Earth. Using seismic imaging and 3-D visualization, geophysicists are getting an insider's look at the
Earth's interior. Being able to visualize the hidden portions of the Earth furthers the science of planetary
formation and evolution, archaeological digs, the search for oil and groundwater, and earthquake
research. At BYU, the geophysics and visualization labs house valuable resources for these projects,
including ground penetrating radar and computer stations for interactive 3-0 work Students team to
integrate geology with physics and study these cutting-edge techniques as they get involved in actual
research projects.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Bill Keaoh
John McBride
Jani Radebaugh
IGNEOUS PETROLOGY
Enduring intense pressure, swirling around in molten lava, and being spit up from deep within the
Earth's crust: these igneous rocks have been through a lot. As a research student in igneous petrology,
you'll be asking why and how these volcanic rocks have come to their final resting place. Because the
formation of igneous rocks below the crust can't be directly observed, students must identify and
classify these rocks, employing methods such as chemical analysis. Using the college's mass
spectrometers, substantial research is done into how these rocks evolve through the process of mixing
and cooling. Students work alongside top geology professors exploring volcanic regions of the world,
including places like Italy and Hawaii.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Eric Christensen
Mike Dorais
Jeffrey Keith
PALEONTOLOGY
When it comes to dinosaurs, we've got them by the truck load. From gentle lumbering giants to fleetfooted predators, geology students get their hands on bones of every kind. Through the department’s
mentoring program, students are involved at every stage of the paleontological process. They excavate
fossils throughout the state, using dynamite, jack hammers, and various hand tools. Once a fossil has
been isolated and lifted from the surrounding rock, it gets transported back to BYU‘s Museum of
Paleontology. There in the “Costco of dinosaur bones,” students prepare and study fossils of all sizes,
adding to the Museum's collection of over 18.000 specimens. This is a great spot for students, young
and old, to see these colossal creatures recreated. The faculty behind the program and the museum are
dedicated and passionate about paleontology, keeping the dynamic program on the leading edge of
research.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Brooks Britt
Scott Ritter
PLANETARY GEOLOGY
Planetary geology is out of this world, really. Geologists in this area must combine their knowledge of
geology with a broad understanding of the solar system as a whole. By studying the processes that form
mountains, dunes, rivers, lakes, and volcanoes on other planets, researchers can greatly enhance what is
known about these formations on earth. Students and faculty at BYU are delving into what the moons of
Saturn, Jupiter, and Earth can teach us about our home. Even the methane rivers and rainfall on Titan,
Saturn's moon, give scientists new insights into the bodies of water we're used to. Though field trips to
these moons aren't yet possible, students and faculty do visit exotic locations, like Australia, which have
similar conditions to the celestial spheres.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Eric Christiansen
Jani Radebaugh
SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY
The key to understanding our changing world is right under our feet Since Earth's surface is composed
primarily of sedimentary rocks, students in sedimentary geology have an entire world open for
exploration. This science directly benefits society by finding important natural resources, including clean
water, fossil fuels and several industrial products. Students conduct research that can answer pressing
questions about climate change and help to mitigate natural and man-made disasters. In addition to
meaningful subject matter, our students get to study sedimentary geology in one of the greatest places
in the world. The Colorado Plateau of Utah, with its five national parks, is completely composed of
sedimentary rocks, giving students unparalleled access to some of the greatest rock exposures and
successions in the world. Because of their keen understanding and broad exposure to these
environments, many of our students obtain rewarding jobs in the energy sector.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Torn Moms
Scott Ritter
CLIMATE CHANGE
When it comes to climate change, our students are heating up the discussion Paleoclimatology research
examines the changes in global climate, taking into account the interactions of the atmosphere, ocean,
and land components of the earth's climate system. Within larger efforts to characterize climate, our
research group specializes in studying glaciers, which act as natural recorders and indicators of changes
in climate. Much of this research work requires in-field extraction of high alpine ice core samples.
Students travel along with faculty members to study glaciers in Switzer1and.Antarctica, and the
Himalayas.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Summer Rupper