FACULTY:
Meagen Pollock, Chair
Eva Lyon
Stephanie Sparks
Greg Wiles
The Department of Earth Sciences at The College of Wooster prepares students to address Earth’s complex challenges through systems thinking and multidisciplinary approaches. Our graduates develop expertise in analyzing planet-sized datasets, negotiating uncertainty, and integrating knowledge across scientific fields to understand Earth’s interconnected systems-from deep crustal processes and climate dynamics to natural hazards and environmental remediation. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of Earth Sciences, our graduates pursue careers in remarkably diverse fields, including education, environmental protection, disaster response, science communication, research in academic and government sectors, sustainable agriculture, and resource management, among many others.
The Earth Sciences major starts with a solid foundation in systems thinking and hands-on exploration, then offers flexibility to pursue specialized interests through two distinct tracks: Geology and Environmental Geoscience. In Geology core courses, students learn to work with incomplete datasets as they study the complex history of the planet and its continuing evolution. In Environmental Geoscience core courses, students learn to work with large, multidisciplinary datasets as they study our interactions with Earth’s systems. Students then create the rest of their major by choosing advanced focus courses that allow them to pursue their intellectual interests and career goals. The tracks have sufficient overlap so that students can start taking classes without immediately choosing between them.
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