Geology at JMU
Hydrogeology students measure the stream discharge
of the South River using a current meter
The Geology and Environmental Science Department at James Madison University is several decades old. The department is
committed to excellence in undergraduate instruction and undergraduate research. We direct all our attention to teaching
undergraduates as they form the pool for the next generation of geoscientists. The department offers two tracks, one in geology and
a new one in Earth science.
The geology track leads to a B.S. degree that prepares students for professional employment in applied geology and environmental
science or for graduate school in the geosciences. This track builds on several required courses called the geology core curriculum;
a year each of chemistry, physics and mathematics; a student research project, and a certain number of geology elective courses.
Students are also strongly advised to elect advanced courses in mathematics, chemistry and physics. Graduates electing not to enter
graduate school readily find employment in engineering geology, environmental geology, state geological surveys and other
specialties within geology and environmental science. For geology majors interested in environmental science the department offers
a geo-environmental concentration (beyond the core). This concentration consists of certain elective geology courses that are
important in environmental work such as hydrogeology, geochemistry, soils, geomorphology and others.
The Earth science track leads to a B.A. degree and employs a broader curriculum based in Earth systems. When combined with the
science education minor, the Earth science track prepares students for teaching in secondary education. Combining the Earth science
track with a minor or second major in a non-science field makes an ideal platform for careers requiring a general knowledge of
Earth systems, such as city planning, public policy, energy policy, business, and environmental law. Earth science is currently the
number one certification need area for Virginia teachers, and will remain so in the foreseeable future.
The undergraduate research experience is a very important part of education in science. Our geology students are engaged in
research projects of professional quality, and each year several of our majors present their research at regional and national
conferences. Past students have reported that this experience was a positive transforming force that shaped their career aspirations
in geology. All students in the B.S. track take part in one of several on-going research areas in the department or make
arrangements to have an approved research experience elsewhere.
Faculty Research Interests
Geology major Brendan Quirk presents his senior research on Arctic
sediments at the 2006 SE Geological Society of America meeting, Knoxville, TN.
Roddy V. Amenta:
His research group explores the boundaries between petrology, materials science and computational science to learn about
crystallization processes.
Steve Baedke:
Aqueous geochemical and hydrologic problems are investigated by the integration of field, lab, and groundwater
modeling methods.
L. Scott Eaton:
His research includes quantifying the frequency of debris flow activity and the effectiveness of debris flows at denuding mountainous
terrains.
Lynn S. Fichter ;
His focus is on understanding the tectonic evolution of Virginia and the mid-Atlantic region and on the application of complex
systems theory and chaos theory to evolution.
Michael J. Harris:
The most recent projects have been using Paleomagnetic data, with mineralogy, petrology and mineral chemistry, to decipher the
movements of various plates needed to build the northern Canadian Cordillera.
Lance Kearns:
His interests are in mineral chemistry, mineral locality assemblages and sequence of crystallization.
Eric J. Pyle:
His specialty in Geoscience Education focuses on the development and evaluation of instructional materials in Earth science
education and Earth science teacher preparation.
Cullen Sherwood:
His research interests center in the areas of soils applications, archaeological geology, and soils engineering.
Kristen St. John:
Her research is centered around reconstructing Cenozoic paleoclimatic histories using marine sediment records and in integrating
authentic data in Geoscience education.
Stan Ulanski:
His research interests focus on the transport of aerosols from arid regions to areas throughout the hemisphere .
Steve Whitmeyer:
Field and laboratory analyses of structural features (i.e. deformed rocks) are used to reconstruct regional and global tectonic events.
Geology student, Rahni Jenkins, working with the Scanning
Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer.
What courses do you take for the B.S. in Geology?
Consult the Undergraduate Catalog for the details, but briefly the entrance course to the major is Physical Geology (other entrance
courses are being planned), followed by Evolution of the Earth. Next you take Mineralogy and then Petrology. Other required
courses are Stratigraphy and Structural Geology. Field Geology is taken during the summer of the junior or senior year, and
geology research is done any time after the sophomore year.
What courses do you take for the B.A. in Earth Science?
This is a new program intended to prepare for high school teaching of earth science. It is also for students who plan to prepare for
study for environmental law, or who seek a public service career where a knowledge of Earth science would be an asset. The
curriculum consists of a broad selection of courses that include meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy and courses combined
from the geology areas above.
What can you do with a Major in Geology?
Many of our students find direct employment with environmental and geotechnical companies. Most company work deals with the
engineering properties of soil and bedrock, with groundwater supplies, and with study of agricultural and industrial pollution of
streams and groundwater. Some students work in federal and state government agencies that deal with geology and water resources
while other graduates have started their own companies. About 50% of our graduates continue their education by attending
graduate schools. A number of our graduates now have Ph.D.s and are teaching in universities and doing research in areas such as
sedimentology, geomorphology, soils, petrology, structural geology, and engineering geology.
In addition to employment opportunities in the geosciences, geology courses enrich one’s travel and recreation time. Geology gives
you an appreciation for the origins of landscape features when traveling to such places as the Grand Canyon, the Yosemite volcanic
caldera or the igneous and metamorphic rocks in Acadia National Park in Maine. Locally you can hike along the Appalachian Trail
and observe the geologic features of the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains.
Geology students learn to use soil auger on the fall Piedmont soils trip
Field Geology in western Ireland – the capstone geology course
The field geology course in western Ireland is a 6 credit course designed as a capstone geologic experience for upperlevel geology and environmental science majors. The field course synthesizes the full breadth of classroom experience
and knowledge within a challenging field environment. Important components of the course include glacial
geomorphology, bedrock field mapping, digital field mapping, and environmental mapping and assessment. Visit the
field course website at http://www.jmu.edu/geology/fieldcourse for continually updated information and pictures of our
students at work and play.
Students hiking across a stream at the JMU Geology Field Course in western Ireland.