Geology students learn about how applying knowledge of Earth's processes and time scales is fundamental to locating resources such as groundwater, petroleum and minerals, and understanding climate and other environmental changes. As most of Australia's mineral and petroleum resources are in Western Australia, UWA is the ideal place to study geology.

About the Course

A major in Geology involves the study of how the Earth formed and evolved during the past 4.4 billion years, including the origin of continents, oceans, atmosphere and life, and how natural processes deep within Earth's interior shape the surface on which we live. You'll learn to interpret geological processes and Earth history and discover the formation of important resources and how climate and environments change through time. Teaching consists of lectures from leading experts and industry professionals, computer and laboratory classes, and tutorials. This course includes extensive fieldwork, with several field trips. UWA is well equipped for teaching and research in geology, with access to some of the world's most advanced analytical equipment and super-computing facilities.

Career Pathways

Employment opportunities are diverse and include the resources industries (e.g. minerals, petroleum, groundwater) or research fields such as planetary geology, volcano or earthquake hazard prediction. Additional employment opportunities exist in government agencies dealing with resources or environmental consultancies and agencies. Many graduates continue to develop their specialist skills in industry or government agencies around the world, while others join academic institutions.

Further Study

Honors in Geology provides you with an opportunity to undertake coursework units with direct application to important resources in Western Australia, as well as a research project. As a graduate you will be well positioned to find employment in the resources industries (e.g. energy, mineral deposits and groundwater) and environmental fields. The honors specialization will strengthen and expand the knowledge and skills you gained during your undergraduate degree and will provide experience in completing a major research project, which requires high-level scientific writing and oral presentation skills. An honors degree may also lead you to the completion of a higher degree by research and further employment opportunities in industry, university, or government research organizations. The Bachelor of Science with a major in Geology is recognized by the Australian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (AusIMM). Students undertaking this course may be eligible for bursaries and scholarships offered by the AusIMM, and are eligible to apply for membership on completion of their degree.