Students work with minerals, rocks, fossils and water; learn scientific methods of data collection and analysis; and apply quantitative reasoning, observations and deductions.
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Direct exposure to earth materials through field work is an integral part of studying Geology at Amherst.
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Students participate in research in courses or during the summer, with faculty or independently—in the field, on campus or via internships.
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One of New England’s largest natural history museums, the Beneski is a learning resource for geology students.
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Learning and investigating the Earth together, students and faculty work on a first-name basis and form an effective scientific team.
Summer research opportunities
Amherst Geology majors develop critical thinking skills that help them succeed in any career they choose.
Alumni DirectoryOur courses explore the science of the Earth—its physical makeup, its history and how it works. Geology at Amherst is not confined to classrooms and labs: field trips take students from the mountains to the beach.
In this course, we will address questions such as "Is climate change happening? Is it us? Where are we headed? How fast? How do we know?" with a focus on building an interdisciplinary understanding of Earth's climate system.
As the population expands in a future marked by climate change, the search for and preservation of our most vital resource, water, demands thoughtful policy and greater scientific understanding. This course is an introduction to surface and groundwater hydrology, geochemistry, and management for natural systems and human needs.
In this class, students learn to interpret the sedimentary rock record, on scales ranging from individual grains to kilometers-thick sequences of strata, and develop an understanding of sedimentary processes in modern environments.
There are abundant opportunities for students to do research with faculty in our department. These opportunities provide invaluable experience doing laboratory and field geology research.