What kinds of work will I do? Why study geoscience at NIU?

Have questions?

Visit our website:http://www.niu.edu/geology/index.shtml

Get answers to your questions:askgeology@niu.edu

Call us:815-753-1943

Career Opportunitiesin Geoscience

Northern Illinois University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and doesnot discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin,disability, status based on the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) or statusas a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran. Further, the Constitution and Bylaws of NorthernIllinois University provides for equal treatment regardless of political views or affiliation andsexual orientation. 07/2015

The NIU Department of Geology and EnvironmentalGeosciences is small enough to feel like home, but bigenough to have world-class faculty, staff and researchfacilities. Having 60-80 undergraduate majors enablesus to give you the close personal interaction you deserve,including involving you in research.

•

•

•

http://www.niu.edu/engagedlearning/engaged_learning/CLAS_Engagement_Funding/

Check out the link below to see the NIU Career Serviceslist of career information for geoscience graduates.

http://www.niu.edu/careerservices/weblinks/majors/geology.shtml

We care about your Career Success!Our Geoscience Career Preparation course will startyour professional network of employer connections, andhelp you develop the professional and technical skillsnecessary to land the job you want!

Geoscience is not just rocks, minerals and fossils.Prospective students should appreciate that people withB.S. degrees in geoscience work in a wide variety ofpostions in research, industry, government, academiaand nonprofit organizations.

In most geoscience careers, you should expect to:•••

••

•

Studying geoscience prepares you for careers outsideof the field too. Did you know these people had geologydegrees...

•

•

•

•

•

collect and analyze data in the lab or the field,work with computers and other high tech instruments,effectively communicate the results of your work;

verbally, in writing, and in visual, electronic formatscollaboratively work with colleagues,integrate and interpret data from a wide variety of

sources and in a wide variety of formats,creatively develop new ways to solve problems.

General Colin Powell, former Secretary of State andChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States

Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 astronaut and formerU.S. senator

Cynthia Carroll, former CEO of Anglo American PLC,the world's largest producer of platinum

Greg Graffin, singer, songwriter and founder of theband, Bad Religion

We will challenge you to be your best, and help youget there!

We annually award nearly $3000 in undergrduatescholarships

NIU offers abundant support and opportunities forundergraduate research and engaged learning

Northern Illinois UniversityGeology and Environmental Geosciences

Why Geoscience?

What are my job prospects?

How much can I make?

Geoscience provides curious, creativeproblem solvers with a way to betterunderstand, appreciate, preserve,

protect, and wisely utilize the worldaround them. Geoscientists care about

the environment. They understand that theEarth is a system, and that humans impact the

natural world on which we depend for our survival.

Studying geoscience gives you an opportunity toput your curiosity and creativity to work definingand solving important societal problems; as well asfundamental scientific questions.

•

•

•

Answering these and other questions requires anunderstanding and integrated application of geology,chemistry, physics, engineering, biology, math, geographyand anthropology. It can also involve politics, law,medicine, ecology and communication.

Would you like to see the world?

•

•

The best insurance for good job prospects is to earngood grades and the respect of the faculty with whomyou work. Our Geoscience Career Preparation coursewill help you network with employers, develop a strongrésumé, and build your interviewing skills. Our curriculumwill provide you with the technical knowledge, writing,computer and field skills necessary to impress a widevariety of employers.

Your job prospects increase tremendously with a M.S.degree. Graduate school isn't for everyone, but the M.S.degree is widely considered the “working” degree forgeoscientists.

•

•

•

•

Check out the link below to see the NIU Career Serviceslist of career information for geoscience graduates.

http://www.niu.edu/careerservices/weblinks/majors/geology.shtml

Salaries vary with the economic climate, with employmentsector (e.g., private vs. public, environmental vs.petroleum), and with individual skills and knowledge.

•

•

•

M.S. degree holders will have significantly higher startingsalaries and job growth potential than B.S. degreeholders.

Many students work for a few years after graduation andthen return to complete an M.S. degree. Employers oftenprovide incentives for this retraining.

Check out these resources for more salary info...

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/geoscientists.htm

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Geologist/Salary

http://www1.salary.com/Geologist-I-Salary.html

How will we balance the need for inexpensive energyresources with the impact of fossil fuel consumptionon the global climate system?

Can we develop tools and models to accurately predictand prepare for natural hazards like earthquakes, floods,volcanic eruptions, climate change and mudflows?

How can we wisely manage our water resources tomeet the growing demand for clean water?

Many geoscience careers provide an opportunity totravel the world and work in beautiful, exciting settings.

NIU undergraduate geology students have worked inplaces like Antarctica, Israel, Mexico, Portugal,Svalbard, Peru, Chile, and many of our National Parks.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a 16%growth in geoscience jobs between 2012 and 2022.

In 2012 Forbes Magazine listed Geology as #7 ontheir list of the 15 most valuable college majors.

In 2014 the Washington Post listed geology as oneof the least underemployed majors.

A 2008 article in The Guardian reported that in a surveyof 220,000 students across the U.K., 95% of thosestudying geology were happy with their degree choice.

In their 2013 survey, the American GeosciencesInstitute reported that most bachelors graduates foundstarting salaries ranging from $20,000 - $60,000.

In their 2014 survey of industry salaries, the AmericanAssociation of Petroleum Geologists reported salariesin the petroleum industry for M.S. degree holderswith 0-2 years of experience averaged $102,400.

In 2012 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported$98,890 as the annual median salary of geologistsacross all states and all employment sectors.

- the lowest 10% earned less than $48,270- the highest 10% earned more than $187,200

2013 Median Annual Salaries for Geoscience-Related Occupations

$96K

$128K

$117K

$75K$82K

$87K

$132K

$61K $59K

$87K

$65K

$92K

$76K $75K

$53K

$42K $46K

$63K

$91K$82K $78K

$71K

$52K

$140,000

$120,000

$100,000

$80,000

$60,000

$40,000

$20,000

$0

Manag

emen

t Occ

.

Engine

ering

Man

agers

Natural

Scienc

e Man

agers

Archi

tect

ure a

nd E

ngin

eerin

g Occ

.

Enviro

nmen

tal Eng

ineers

Mining a

nd G

eolog

ical E

ngine

ers

Petrole

um Eng

ineers

Life

, Phy

sical

and

Social

Scie

nce O

cc.

Soil an

d Plan

t Scie

ntists

Atmos

pheri

c and

Space

Scienti

sts

Enviro

nmen

tal Scie

ntists

and S

pecia

lists

Geosci

entist

s

Hydrol

ogists

Geogra

phers

Geolog

ical a

nd Petr

oleum

Tech

nician

s

Env. S

cienc

e and

Protec

tion T

echn

icians

Educa

tion,

Tra

inin

g an

d Li

brar

y Occ

.

Postse

cond

ary Te

ache

rs

Engine

ering

Postse

cond

ary Te

ache

rs

Atmos

pheri

c, Eart

h, Mari

ne an

d Spa

ce

Env. S

cienc

e Pos

tseco

ndary

Teac

hers

Geogra

phy P

ostse

cond

ary Te

ache

rs

K-12 Te

ache

rs

Scienc

es Pos

tseco

ndary

Teac

hers

All U.S. Occupations $35,080