New undergraduate concentrations in geology

Our School of Geosciences has expanded and updated their undergraduate concentrations in Geology to meet the growing private and public sector demand for jobs in the Geosciences. Starting this year, students seeking an undergraduate degree in Geology can now choose a concentration in Paleontology or Energy Resources. That’s in addition to existing Earth Sciences and Environmental Geology concentrations.

"The newest concentration in Paleontology includes courses in Micropaleontology, Invertebrate and Vertebrate Paleontology, as well as Museum Techniques and leverages the University’s new role overseeing the UL Lafayette Science Museum. Graduates of this concentration will be well prepared for careers in federal and state agencies, surveys, laboratories, and museums with additional career paths in the energy industry, mining and mineral industry, federal and state educational organizations, geospatial consulting companies, museum staff, and paleontology laboratory staff," Dean Azmy S. Ackleh said.

There is surprising overlap between the Paleontology and Energy Sectors, notes Dr. Brian Schubert, Professor and Interim Director of the School of Geosciences. “Paleontologists are commonly hired into the energy sector for their expertise in correlating and dating economically viable deposits using fossils preserved in sedimentary rocks.” For this reason the Energy Resources concentration requires students take Paleontology or Micropaleontology to complete their degree. “This is just another example of how our School gives students highly marketable skills for which employers are looking,” he added.

Learn more about these concentrations at this Geosciences webpage.