Geology

Geologists want to understand our planet, including its past and what is happening now, inside it and on its surface, so that we can understand the sources and limits of resources, avoid natural hazards and live safe and healthy lives. Geologists apply concepts from across the sciences to explain the Earth and its history, so geology is a great choice for people with broad interests in science.

If you are curious about the natural world, interested in life in the past, concerned about providing water to people in developing countries or wondering why Lake Michigan has so many dunes, geology might be for you.

Hope’s Geology Program

Our program offers a solid grounding in the principles of geology, as well as insight into geology's connections with the other sciences. Our classes cover:

• Earth history and the history of life
• Earth materials including minerals, sediments and rocks
• Groundwater
• Geochemical reactions in large Earth systems
• Geology of the Earth's surface
• Deformation of rocks inside the Earth

We provide a broad survey of specialties in geology and a firm foundation for entering the workforce or specializing in graduate school.

Environmental Science

Environmental scientists examine how human actions — whether clearing forests for cropland or littering a roadside — affect the planet and its living things, and in turn how changes to the planet affect humans. Environmental science addresses some of the greatest questions facing humanity today, such as, “How do we best provide energy, food and water to current and future generations?” Environmental problems are broad, complex and mutifaceted.

If you enjoy working with others to rigorously understand complicated issues that matter to people in your hometown and around the globe, environmental science might be for you.

Hope’s Environmental Science Program

Our program in Environmental Science is built to encourage communcation and collaboration across disciplines. Environmental problems are solved when specialists from different fields work together to bring their insights to bear. Our courses encourage this kind of interdisciplinary work among students who bring a variety of backgrounds and interests.

We emphasize:

• Hands-on work with data and samples
• An interdisciplinary understanding of economic, political and scientific factors that underlie environmental decision-making
• Self-directed team research projects that provide a capstone experience for our graduates