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The Wayne State University Geology Department was established in 1949. It has a well established track record of preparing undergraduate and graduate students for successful careers in the geosciences. In recent years, we have responded to the increasing need to address environmental problems in urban areas by adopting an environmental focus for our teaching and research. In partnership with faculty members from the Department of Biology, we developed an Environmental Sciences Program that lead to the establishment of a new undergraduate major at WSU in 2003. The program is designed to prepare students for graduate study or careers in the environmental field while promoting research efforts that cross interdisciplinary lines.
The Geology Department is growing. We have hired two new tenure-track faculty members since 2002, and enrollments in our traditional and environmental courses have increased significantly. As a result, we have been able to upgrade our computers, microscopes, and other instructional equipment and facilities in our teaching labs. Nevertheless, we remain a small department that can offer its students lots of individual attention and a sense of belonging within a close-knit academic community. We stress academic excellence in all of our pursuits, but still find time to socialize and enjoy each other's company on traditional geologic field trips.
At present, there are four full time faculty, five part time faculty, and three staff members in the Geology Department. We also have an active, student-led Geology and Environmental Science Club. There are approximately 50 undergraduates and 8 graduate students majoring in geology and environmental sciences. In addition, we serve a large portion of the WSU student body. Approximately 1,000 students take our Physical Geology (GEL 1010) course each year. Many continue with additional coursework in Geology. Whether you are a non-major who needs to fulfill a General Education Requirement or a student considering a career in Earth Sciences, we hope you will join us to learn more about the planet Earth and its environmental systems.
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