Geology and Environmental Geosciences
Department Head
Associate Professor Sunderlin
Professor Lawrence (Acting Head, Fall Semester)
Geology is the study of the earth and its history. The department offers both the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts degree. The B.S. degree is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to become practicing geologists or environmental geoscientists, or who wish to pursue graduate degrees in the geosciences. One may pursue either a geology or an environmental geosciences track in the B.S. program. The A.B., in the tradition of liberal arts education, is designed to maximize flexibility for students who wish to study geology. The A.B. also is an ideal degree for students pursuing a double major; recent graduates have combined geology with areas such as Government and Law (environmental law), International Affairs, Economics (environmental management), and Chemistry.
The curriculum and the interests of the faculty span a wide range of topics from sedimentology, paleobiology, climate change, and geomorphology to geophysics, geochemistry, and earth materials. Field and laboratory work are integral parts of the curriculum and many opportunities exist for cooperative student-faculty research. Students have traveled as far as Alaska, Nevada, Mexico, Illinois and Cambridge, England, to perform cooperative research with Lafayette faculty, and many excellent projects also are available locally.
The James L. Dyson Scholarship Prize is given to a junior major for a summer field experience in geology, usually a summer field camp. The Arthur Montgomery Award is given to a student of high academic achievement whose leadership and participation has contributed to the Geology Community at Lafayette College. The Ted and Georgia Metropolis Prize is given to a junior or senior Geology major who has exhibited high academic achievement and demonstrated enthusiasm for geology and environmental geoscience both in class and outside the classroom, and through service.
The Guy and Joyce Hovis Award is given to a student majoring in geology who, by dedicated effort in a rigorous academic program, has achieved distinction in science and math throughout his/her academic career, or who has come to achieve such distinction through steady improvement.
The Germanoski Award is given to a student majoring in Geology or Environmental Science who achieves high academic standing through hard work and diligence and who demonstrates a particular interest in environmental systems, earth surface processes, or hydrogeology.
Geology and Environmental Geosciences Courses