What Career Paths Can You Explore After a Geology Degree?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around potential career paths for individuals with a geology degree who are considering further education in physics and mathematics. Participants share their experiences, resources for self-study, and thoughts on transitioning to new fields after completing their geology degrees.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses dissatisfaction with their geology degree and contemplates further education in physics and mathematics, seeking recommendations for self-study resources.
  • Another participant suggests specific online resources and textbooks for physics and mathematics, emphasizing the availability of free materials online.
  • There is a discussion about the feasibility of teaching high school geography as a career option for geology graduates, with differing opinions on the necessity of additional qualifications.
  • Some participants share personal experiences regarding their motivations for studying geology and their current career paths, highlighting the challenges of transitioning to new fields.
  • Questions arise about the requirements for graduate school admission, particularly regarding the need for undergraduate coursework in mathematics or physics for those who are self-taught.
  • One participant mentions the importance of contacting graduate programs directly to understand their specific admission requirements.
  • Another participant reflects on their renewed interest in learning and the emotional maturity gained over time, paralleling their journey with that of the original poster.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share similar feelings of uncertainty about their career paths and the transition from geology to other fields. However, there are differing views on the necessity of additional undergraduate courses for graduate school admission and the viability of teaching geography with a geology background.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention limitations in their previous educational experiences and the impact of personal circumstances on their career choices, which may affect their current options and decisions.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals with a geology background considering a shift to physics or mathematics, those interested in self-study resources, and anyone exploring career options related to their degrees may find this discussion relevant.

Jeff Ford
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I finished a bachelors degree in Geology 3 years ago, but haven't used it yet. In fact, after 4 years of it I'm happy to never look at another rock again. I've been thinking about going back to school when my wife finishes her Ph.D. but I'm not sure what to go in to.

I've always enjoyed physics and math, but didn't take much of either in college and was thinking about getting some textbooks and doing some self-taught work for awhile while I think about whether or not I want to go back to school.

My career is currently doing ethical reviews of doctoral students research, and it's interesting, but probably not lifelong interesting.

Anyway, any advice on books to read in physics, mathematics, or the philosophy of science would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Jeff
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You can find plenty of books online for free.

I'm currently going through...

Basic Concepts of Mathematics by Elias Zakon.

Get the book here.

I'm writing a journal about it too. Here is the link to the journal...

View my journal.

You can follow along with me. I just started not too long ago.

You might want to search for a text on Calculus and Linear Algebra. If you can't find any, let me know. I'll spot some for you.

As for Physics, they can be found the same way online, but your best bet is to buy one at a used bookstore. Get the Halliday/Resnick text, which I got mine for like $10CDN or less.
 
I found them:
https://www.physicsforums.com/local_links.php?action=links&catid=5

This has over 50 links to different online physics links.
Cheers,
Ryan
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jeff Ford said:
I finished a bachelors degree in Geology 3 years ago, but haven't used it yet. In fact, after 4 years of it I'm happy to never look at another rock again.

Jeff

Damn. I hope I'm more excited about my career once I graduate. If it is not a problem could you tell me how did you decide to study something you hate so much now?

Good luck man!

Don't give up!
 
How about you go to teach high school geography? Teachers have a very good Collective Agreements= excellent salaries and a very good Pension Plan.
Good Luck and do not give up. You can do it. It is never 2 late.
 
He said Geology.
 
YES! and Geologists are the most suitable to teach Geography since there are no geology courses in high school and Geologists are well trained in geography too.
 
ludi_srbin said:
Damn. I hope I'm more excited about my career once I graduate. If it is not a problem could you tell me how did you decide to study something you hate so much now?

Good luck man!

Don't give up!

Geology was interesting for about the first two years. Then I ran out of paleontology courses and was stuck with subjects I didn't enjoy and I prof I couldn't stand until I got to my senior thesis. At the time I had a serious back injury and didn't have the grades to get into grad school. Without a grad degree in geology all you do is pick up rocks. Not an option with my bad back so I went into academics instead.

Serbian - I looked into teaching, but most schools don't offer geology or geography at the high school level. They lump it in with things like general science or social studies. I'd need to go back to school full time for at least a year and part time for another 2 to get the degree needed to teach.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I picked up a few texts at Half Price books last night and I'll check out some of the online sites when I get back from a trip I have to take today.

I've now got texts on physics, calculus, chinese, psychology and ethics. I just need to find something good on the philosophy of science and I think I'll be equipped to make an informed decision about a future career.
 
  • #10
I've started reading some of the texts I bought and feel like I have a renewed vigor to learn. It took me awhile, but I think I'm at the point in my life where I could stay dedicated do well in school. At 18 I was a little too into beer, and was not emotionally mature enough to take learning seriously.

What I wondering is, if I go back to school in a few years, what will my options be? Without a strong undergrad basis in mathematics or physics, will I be able to get into grad school with high GRE subject scores from being self-taught? Or will I need to get some undergrad classes in before applying?
 
  • #11
Your best bet here is to contact the school's graduate program and ask. It may be that you won't have to before but they may require you to once you are in the program. Truly the best course of action here is to directly contact the departments you are interested in and ask them. Good luck.
Cheers,
Ryan
 
  • #12
hello, Jeff

Jeff Ford said:
I've started reading some of the texts I bought and feel like I have a renewed vigor to learn. It took me awhile, but I think I'm at the point in my life where I could stay dedicated do well in school. At 18 I was a little too into beer, and was not emotionally mature enough to take learning seriously.

What I wondering is, if I go back to school in a few years, what will my options be? Without a strong undergrad basis in mathematics or physics, will I be able to get into grad school with high GRE subject scores from being self-taught? Or will I need to get some undergrad classes in before applying?

I feel it's a very interesting thing, for I'm facing exactly same condition just as you: I also graduated 4 years ago with bachelor degree and now want to study in maths & physics after working for 4 years.(similar with you, I graduated from China University of Geosciences, which is a school famous in Geology, except I'm a chinese and you probably be a native english speaker, and you have a wife and I'm alone :)
there's my previous thread https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=82702
what ever, I strongly feel it's interesting and worth thinking: two men with different background and in different places far away between, but they choose geology in their 18 and now want to turn to maths and physics...
your opinion?
 
  • #13
We sound like kindred spirits. I'm also interested in learning to speak Mandarin.
 
  • #14
Jeff Ford said:
What I wondering is, if I go back to school in a few years, what will my options be? Without a strong undergrad basis in mathematics or physics, will I be able to get into grad school with high GRE subject scores from being self-taught? Or will I need to get some undergrad classes in before applying?

Rather than repeat everything that was said, let me just point out to an older thread on here:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=64966&highlight=so-and-so+degree

Zz.
 
  • #15
Thanks Zz! That's very helpful. It will be a few years before I am ready to start and at that time I'll have to see where I'm living, as it's based on where the wife finds work. She wants to go into teaching, so I'll definitely be at a university. In the meantime I'll probably ask the math and physics departments at the U of M for old qualifying exams, just to see what I'm in for.
 

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