Geology is a science concerned with the Earth - its relationship to the solar system, its origin and developmental history, its structure and composition, its dynamic processes, and its evolution. Geology also relates to human endeavors and needs, including the use of natural resources, the preservation of the environment, global change, and the mitigation of geologic hazards.
The University of Colorado at Boulder is ideally suited to the study of geological sciences. At the junction of the high plains and the Rocky Mountains, the Boulder area represents a natural outdoor laboratory where you can study geological features of all ages in diverse settings, and observe earth processes firsthand. Fieldwork in the Rocky Mountain region is an essential part of instruction and research.
The department considers the diverse opportunities for field studies in the high plains and central Rocky Mountains of Colorado a particular strength of its undergraduate programs. In addition, the department has research laboratories for studying rock and mineral deformation, soils, sedimentation, geomicrobial processes, petrology and mineralogy.