Programs
Get in Touch!
Lisa Ely
509-963-2177
lisa.ely@cwu.edu
Environmental Geosciences focuses on the interactions between solid Earth and the atmosphere and hydrosphere, including groundwater, soils, and climate.
Geoscientists are highly sought after in fields such as environmental consulting, assessing geologic hazards, naturalists in state and national parks and forests, in oceanography, geophysics, geochemistry and engineering geology, oil and gas exploration, and searching for new mineral deposits.
You will learn and perform research in CWU’s new $64 million state-of-the-art science building that has specialized labs designed for the geological sciences department, including optics and lasers labs, and an ice core lab. CWU offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Geological Sciences and Environmental Geoscience and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Geology and Geology Teaching. You can also earn a minor or a master's degree in geology.
Anne Egger
509-963-2870
anne.egger@cwu.edu
Geoscientists provide critical insight for preparing for and reducing the risks associated with climate change, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, landslides, and changes in water and mineral resource availability.
Through all of the degree programs in geology, you will gain real-world experience in the field, in the laboratory, and in computation. You will have opportunities to conduct mentored research with faculty, starting early to build your skills for independent research. Our faculty and staff will help you develop the skills necessary for a successful career as a geoscientist, which are in high demand and where you can make a difference.
Throughout the courses and degrees in Geological Sciences at CWU, you will work closely with faculty and other students in real-world field and laboratory settings. Our faculty are dedicated teachers and scholars. The department is housed in Discovery Hall, which includes the Murdock Research Lab, an ice core lab, an interactive rock garden, and excellent classroom facilities built to facilitate engaged learning.
Why geology at Central Washington University?
CWU is home to the Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array (PANGA), a unique geodesy laboratory that tracks the Earth’s movements with more than 350 continuously operating high precision GPS sites across the region.
CWU geology students are trained on Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) equipment, which means they build high-resolution 3D models of surfaces and objects with up to sub-centimeter precision.
The geology department at CWU is housed in a brand new $64 million state-of-the-art science building that has specialized optics and lasers labs, and an ice core lab.
CWU Geology Career Opportunities
Hands-on Learning
Experience geology at CWU.
Photo Gallery
Points of Pride
For nearly 15 years, Central Washington University’s Geodesy Laboratory has been the national collection point for data about changes in the earth’s crust that may predict a “geologic event”—an earthquake.
CWU is the only facility in Washington that monitors public infrastructure with real time GPS. PANGA operates stations on the Alaskan Way Viaduct; the I-90 and 520 floating bridges and Tacoma Narrows Bridge; Seattle’s Columbia Tower; the Tolt, Howard Hansen and Columbia River dams; and ferry piers.
Two CWU geology professors, Lisa Ely and Breanyn MacInnes, received more than a quarter of a million dollars to study historic geological data in south-central Chile in order to better understand and assess the effects of powerful earthquakes and tsunamis, like those that occur in the Northwest.