Program Overview

Geology (BSc)

The earth sciences deal with the history of the Earth and its life, especially the history recorded in rocks. The Department of Earth Sciences gives students the theoretical and instrumental expertise needed to tackle many resource extraction, mineral processing, and environmental problems.

Program Details

Bachelor of Science Geology (major and honours)

• Expected duration: 4 years
• Geology is the study of Earth systems and their interactions, including:
  • the history of the Earth and the formation of natural resources
  • natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and mudslides
  • classification of fossilized life forms, rocks, and minerals
  • scientific predictions of global climate change based on the study of past processes

Sample Course Offerings

• GEOL 1340: The Dynamic Earth
• GEOL 1400: Time-Trekker's Travelog: Our Evolving Earth
• GEOL 2500: Introduction to Mineralogy
• GEOL 2520: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
• GEOL 2800: Optics and Spectroscopy of Minerals
• GEOL 2770: Principles of Inorganic Geochemistry
• GEOL 3310: Paleontology
• GEOL 3490: Glacial Geology and Geomorphology
• GEOL 4260: Applied Geophysics Field Course
• GEOL 4670: Global Tectonics

Learning Outside the Classroom

• Field trips: The university organizes optional geological field trips every two to three years to locations such as the Colorado Plateau and the Rocky Mountains.
• Professional registration: The professional practice of geoscience in Canada is governed by provincial and territorial law and is regulated by professional geoscience associations. In Manitoba, Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba (EGM) regulates professional practice.

Admission Requirements

• The following are minimum requirements for entry into the BSc (Earth Science) general program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
• Direct entry applicants are those who have not attended a post-secondary institution or have completed fewer than 24 credit hours at a recognized university or college.
• Advanced entry applicants are those who have completed one year (24 credit hours) or more of studies in another faculty at the University of Manitoba or another recognized post-secondary institution.

How to Apply

• To apply, please complete the online application to the Admissions Office. The online application includes several parts, and you may be required to submit transcripts, proof of English Language proficiency, and other documents.

Career Opportunities

• Areas of employment include:
  • Mining/mineral resources companies
  • Environmental consulting firms
  • Petroleum industry
  • Government (municipal, provincial, and federal) e.g., geological survey divisions
  • Resource exploration companies
  • Engineering firms
  • Universities
  • Science centres and museums
  • Professional geoscience consulting
  • Geological software development firms

Develop Valuable Skills

• Many employers are interested in the skills possessed by geology graduates, including:
  • An understanding of the Earth and Earth materials and a broad scientific background
  • Skills used in the exploration for, and sustainable development of, natural resources including minerals, energy resources, and water
  • Field mapping and sampling skills
  • 3-D visualization, graphic presentation, and computer skills
  • Technical writing, communication, research, and analytical skills
  • Preparation of geological maps, diagrams, technical reports from field work and analytical laboratory research
  • Integration of field, geochemical, and petrological data
  • Examination and interpretation of the effects of erosion, sedimentation, and tectonic deformation

Curriculum Approved by Geoscientists Canada

• Geoscience is a regulated profession in Canada. To practice in a province or territory in Canada, geoscientists must register with the respective professional regulatory body and have a license to practice in that jurisdiction. Geoscientists Canada represents the ten provincial regulatory bodies that govern geoscience registration in Canada.
• Major and honours programs in geology provide the breadth and depth of study needed to meet curriculum guidelines set by Geoscientists Canada.