Department of Earth Sciences

The Department of Earth Sciences at Millersville University of Pennsylvania offers comprehensive programs of study leading to Bachelor of Science degrees in Meteorology, Environmental Earth and Ocean Sciences with concentrations in Environmental Earth Sciences, Environmental Geology and Environmental Ocean Sciences, Emergency Management, and Secondary Education in the Earth and Space Sciences.

In addition, the department offers two Master of Science degrees in Emergency Management (MSEM) and Integrated Scientific Applications (MSISA). The Accelerated MSEM/BSEM program provides an integrated undergraduate/graduate degree program in emergency management allowing students to complete both programs in five years. Graduate Certificates in Emergency and Disaster Management and in Space Weather and Environment: Science, Policy and Communication (SWEN) are also offered through the Department of Earth Sciences.

All eleven faculty members in the department have terminal degrees in their respective fields, and there are over 250 students pursuing the various degree programs. The department is dedicated to providing a rich student-centered learning environment focused on the undergraduate education and augmented by faculty research projects, internships, and experiential learning opportunities. A direct consequence of these robust programs is the success our graduates exhibit in finding employment upon graduation or being accepted to post-graduate degree programs.

There are several opportunities for students to engage with clubs and organizations that are related to their field of study. These organizations include the Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), Ocean Science Club, Geology Club, and the Student Chapter of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).

The geology curriculum meets all requirements for licensure as a professional geologist.  The Meteorology curriculum conforms to the American Meteorological Society's Guidelines for a B.S. in Meteorology and the GS-1340 National Weather Service requirements. The department is a founding member of the Chincoteague Bay Field Station (formerly known as Marine Science Consortium) located on Wallops Island, VA. Field courses are offered at the Field Station where students will have the opportunity to work with instruments and learn onboard a 46-foot research vessel. There are a number of practical experiences focused on field work in all programs. Students in all of the department offerings benefit from fully-equipped classrooms and laboratories and have complete access to state-of-the-art networked computers and research-grade instruments and equipment. The Department maintains licenses for FORTRAN 95, Interactive Data Language (IDL), MatLab, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and has the latest versions of interactive data visualization applications for education and research. Millersville University is a member institution of Internet2 and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR).

We invite you to further explore our Earth Sciences Web site by clicking on the icon below or by selecting any of the tabs on the right-hand side of this page. We invite you to visit us. To schedule a visit or if you have any questions, please contact us at esci@millersville.edu.