Earth Sciences

Degrees: B.S., B.S.E.

Go above and beyond for a rewarding career in the Earth Sciences field with a variety of faculty research projects, internships, co-operative educational experiences and a well-rounded curriculum available at Millersville University.

Why Study This Program?

A passion for understanding our planet drives everything we do in the Department of Earth Sciences.  We offer rigorous and comprehensive programs in the physical sciences of environmental earth and ocean sciences, geology, and meteorology.  We also offer a unique program in emergency management that provides cross-disciplinary expertise in the science of natural hazards and the preparation for and management of those disasters.  In addition, we educate and prepare our future Earth Science teachers through our comprehensive bachelors in secondary education.

Our faculty are dedicated to delivering rich, authentic, and intellectually stimulating learning experiences. Our curriculum is designed to be both current and comprehensive, ensuring that students develop a solid understanding of theory while gaining hands-on experience using state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.  Students in all the Earth Sciences programs 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, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

Beyond the classroom, our students immerse themselves in meaningful extra- and co-curricular activities that further enhance their learning and foster community. These opportunities include involvement in the Campus Weather Service, Geology Club, and Ocean Science Club, where students can deepen their knowledge, collaborate with peers, and apply their skills in real-world contexts.

By combining rigorous academics with engaging activities, we strive to equip our students with the expertise and practical experience they need to excel in their chosen fields.

What Will You Learn?

With an enrollment of over 200 undergraduate students, our department fosters a vibrant academic community that is committed to both intellectual growth and practical experience.  We pride ourselves on providing ample hands-on opportunities for our students whether it is launching weather balloons during winter weather events, collecting geologic samples to better understand tectonic history, modeling fluvial transport and coastal sedimentation on our Emriver platform, or sampling coastal waters at our Chincoteague Bay Field Station.  Our work continues inside where our students learn valuable skills such as geospatial information systems (GIS) and programming languages including IDL, FORTRAN, and Python.  Our curriculum emphasizes real-world applications, ensuring that our graduates are well-prepared to tackle complex challenges.

A direct consequence of this diverse program is the success our graduates exhibit in finding employment upon graduation or being accepted to post-graduate degree programs.  

These programs stand out in a variety of ways, including:

  • 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 B.S. Environmental Geology degree meets all of the curricular requirements to qualify for licensure as a professional geologist. 

  • Our Environmental Ocean Science students practice their oceanographic skills at our Chincoteague Bay Field Station in Wallops Island, VA during at least one summer of their academic career.

  • Each year, we send dozens of undergraduate students to attend annual meetings of the American Meteorological Society, International Association of Emergency Managers, Geological Society of America, and Ocean Sciences meetings.