Geology
Program Description
An Associate in Science (AS) degree in Geology emphasizes a process-oriented approach to studying phenomena that shape the earth’s surface and ultimately impact all of our lives. The program articulates with the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Environmental Science-Geology Emphasis as part of AWC’s “2+2” partnership with Northern Arizona University-Yuma. Students may also be interested in the AS degree in Environmental Sciences with an Applied Geology Emphasis offered by Arizona Western College.
Graduates of this program will successfully complete the following learning outcomes:
- Collect and correlate geologic data
- Prepare and interpret graphs and diagrams of geologic data
- Identify and explain the origins of minerals and rocks
- Describe the inter-relationships between geology and the other areas of science
- Become informed of the one-world concept of geological processes affecting humanity
- Identify and recognize major fossils of animals and plants and understand their evolution
- Write reports from field data and compiled maps
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Schedule NowDegree(s) / Certificates(s)
| Title | Local Bachelor's |
|---|---|
| Geology - A.S. Transfer Degree | - |
| Environmental Sciences - Applied Geology Emphasis - A.S. Transfer Degree | - |
Career Outlook
Successful completion of this program can open doors to various employment opportunities, many of which require further higher education at the university level. Below are examples of related occupations and their annual mean wages in Arizona, based on career and wage data from Pipeline AZ, which utilizes government sources for its reports and forecasts.
Description
Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.
Duties/Tasks
- Design or conduct applied biodiesel or biofuels research projects on topics, such as transport, thermodynamics, mixing, filtration, distillation, fermentation, extraction, and separation.
- Analyze data from biofuels studies, such as fluid dynamics, water treatments, or solvent extraction and recovery processes.
- Prepare, or oversee the preparation of, experimental plans for biofuels research or development.
- Provide technical or scientific guidance to technical staff in the conduct of biofuels research or development.
- Propose new biofuels products, processes, technologies or applications based on findings from applied biofuels or biomass research projects.
- Conduct experiments on biomass or pretreatment technologies.
- Prepare biofuels research and development reports for senior management or technical professionals.
- Develop lab scale models of industrial scale processes, such as fermentation.
- Oversee biodiesel/biofuels prototyping or development projects.
- Develop methods to estimate the efficiency of biomass pretreatments.
Salary Information (AZ)
$157,910
$99,900
$156,410
N/A
$75.92
$48.03
$75.00
N/A
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Description
Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.
Duties/Tasks
- Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
- Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
- Gather, package, or deliver forest products to buyers.
- Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa.
- Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.
- Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.
- Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.
- Drag cut trees from cutting areas and load trees onto trucks.
- Sort tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts or verbal instructions.
- Operate skidders, bulldozers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Description
Teach courses in forestry and conservation science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Duties/Tasks
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics, such as forest resource policy, forest pathology, and mapping.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise students' laboratory or field work.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Salary Information (AZ)
$79,180
$37,690
$77,170
$122,840
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Typical Education Level
Doctoral Degree
Description
Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.
Duties/Tasks
- Create and modify maps, graphs, or diagrams, using geographical information software and related equipment, and principles of cartography, such as coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map scales.
- Analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, or global scales.
- Write and present reports of research findings.
- Gather and compile geographic data from sources such as censuses, field observations, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps.
- Teach geography.
- Study the economic, political, and cultural characteristics of a specific region's population.
- Collect data on physical characteristics of specified areas, such as geological formations, climates, and vegetation, using surveying or meteorological equipment.
- Locate and obtain existing geographic information databases.
- Conduct field work at outdoor sites.
- Provide geographical information systems support to the private and public sectors.
Salary Information (AZ)
$70,410
$47,720
$63,750
$101,340
$33.85
$22.94
$30.00
$48.72
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Description
Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.
Duties/Tasks
- Supervise employees in geothermal power plants or well fields.
- Oversee geothermal plant operations, maintenance, and repairs to ensure compliance with applicable standards or regulations.
- Communicate geothermal plant conditions to employees.
- Identify and evaluate equipment, procedural, or conditional inefficiencies involving geothermal plant systems.
- Perform or direct the performance of preventative maintenance on geothermal plant equipment.
- Inspect geothermal plant or injection well fields to verify proper equipment operations.
- Develop or manage budgets for geothermal operations.
- Prepare environmental permit applications or compliance reports.
- Negotiate interconnection agreements with other utilities.
- Obtain permits for constructing, upgrading, or operating geothermal power plants.
Salary Information (AZ)
$124,170
$74,730
$117,580
$206,530
$59.70
$35.93
$56.00
$99.30
Typical Education Level
Some College Courses
Description
Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation and its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and return to the ocean and atmosphere.
Duties/Tasks
- Prepare written and oral reports describing research results, using illustrations, maps, appendices, and other information.
- Design and conduct scientific hydrogeological investigations to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is available for use in water resource management decisions.
- Measure and graph phenomena such as lake levels, stream flows, and changes in water volumes.
- Conduct research and communicate information to promote the conservation and preservation of water resources.
- Coordinate and supervise the work of professional and technical staff, including research assistants, technologists, and technicians.
- Study public water supply issues, including flood and drought risks, water quality, wastewater, and impacts on wetland habitats.
- Apply research findings to help minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, and sedimentation.
- Study and document quantities, distribution, disposition, and development of underground and surface waters.
- Install, maintain, and calibrate instruments such as those that monitor water levels, rainfall, and sediments.
- Develop computer models for hydrologic predictions.
Salary Information (AZ)
$102,520
$50,460
$81,700
$187,630
$49.29
$24.26
$39.00
$90.21
Typical Education Level
Masters Degree
Description
Plan, develop, and conduct programs to inform public of historical, natural, and scientific features of national, state, or local park.
Duties/Tasks
- Conduct field trips to point out scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, historic sites, or other attractions.
- Prepare and present illustrated lectures and interpretive talks about park features.
- Plan and organize public events at the park.
- Provide visitor services, such as explaining regulations, answering visitor requests, needs and complaints, and providing information about the park and surrounding areas.
- Develop environmental educational programs and curricula for schools.
- Research stories regarding the area's natural history or environment.
- Perform emergency duties to protect human life, government property, and natural features of park.
- Confer with park staff to determine subjects and schedules for park programs.
- Assist with operations of general facilities, such as visitor centers.
- Plan, organize and direct activities of seasonal staff members.
Salary Information (AZ)
$65,110
$30,220
$63,750
$88,300
$31.30
$14.53
$30.00
$42.45
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Description
Research or study range land management practices to provide sustained production of forage, livestock, and wildlife.
Duties/Tasks
- Regulate grazing, such as by issuing permits and checking for compliance with standards, and help ranchers plan and organize grazing systems to manage, improve, protect, and maximize the use of rangelands.
- Manage forage resources through fire, herbicide use, or revegetation to maintain a sustainable yield from the land.
- Coordinate with federal land managers and other agencies and organizations to manage and protect rangelands.
- Measure and assess vegetation resources for biological assessment companies, environmental impact statements, and rangeland monitoring programs.
- Maintain soil stability and vegetation for non-grazing uses, such as wildlife habitats and outdoor recreation.
- Study grazing patterns to determine number and kind of livestock that can be most profitably grazed and to determine the best grazing seasons.
- Offer advice to rangeland users on water management, forage production methods, and control of brush.
- Plan and direct construction and maintenance of range improvements, such as fencing, corrals, stock-watering reservoirs, and soil-erosion control structures.
- Mediate agreements among rangeland users and preservationists as to appropriate land use and management.
- Study rangeland management practices and research range problems to provide sustained production of forage, livestock, and wildlife.
Salary Information (AZ)
$65,110
$30,220
$63,750
$88,300
$31.30
$14.53
$30.00
$42.45
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Contact Information
Department Contact(s)
Faculty/Staff Contact(s)
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine Hill | Professor of Geosciences | (928) 344-7719 | catherine.hill@azwestern.edu |