How to Become a Geologist?

Have you ever wondered what constitutes the earth and the landscape around us? If you are curious about the physical landscapes of the earth and want to dig more insightfully into its layered mysteries, a career in Geology is the best one for you. Geologists mainly focus on the intrinsic study of the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter that constitutes the Earth or any other terrestrial planet in the solar system. Want to follow this intellectually stimulating and rewarding career path? Read this blog to explore how to become a Geologist and what a career in Geology has on offer!

Who is a Geologist?

Geologists can be referred to as Earth Science specialists who mostly study the solid earth and its multifarious properties and characteristics and explore how rocks are composed and evolved over time. They also work in the energy sector dredging different natural resources such as petroleum and valuable metals. They carry out extraction of different types of rocks to learn more the earth’s physical structure and further carry out studies which consequently are employed to predict future disasters and preempt any destruction thereof. In simple words, a Geologist works to understand the history of the planet we live on, to better predict the future and explain current and future occurrences as well. 

What does a Geologist do?

In order to understand the essentials of how to become a Geologists, you must be familiar with what a Geologist does. The work of Geologists includes a comprehensive study of the history of our planet Earth or any other terrestrial planet in the solar system. The more they study and analyze Earth’s history, the more precise their predictions of impending events become. They examine Earth processes, like landslides, earthquakes, floods, and other calamities posing danger to Earth’s inhabitants. These processes have to be studied to build mitigating structures to minimize potential destruction. Geologists also investigate different Earth minerals and rocks that contain vital metals and other components. They also examine Earth’s history to extract more information about the past climatic conditions of Earth to map different factors that induced a change in it today. 

Skills Required

As one of the rigorous branches of Earth Science, the study of Geology requires individuals to have certain skills and competencies to thrive in this career field. Here are the most important skills you need to become a Geologist:

• Sharp Analytical Skills
• Highly Passionate about Natural Environs
• Competent enough to Comprehend Fundamental Engineering and Statistical Principles
• Ability to Map Landscape with Precision
• Flexible to Work in Tandem with People from Diverse Backgrounds
• Possess Exceptional Physical Health

How to Become a Geologist? 

In recent times, Geology has turned into a popular field of study that helps a learner to be accustomed to the study of the earth, its environment, climate, history as well as minerals, etc. But getting into a field of geology needs proper educational qualifications in the related field.  

To pursue your career as a Geologist, you need to obtain a Bachelor’s and/or a Master’s degree like an M.Sc. in Geology in the field of Geology. After the successful completion of your study and deep learning in the subject matter and the field of study of Geology, you will be able to explore lucrative career opportunities in reputed organizations and establishments. Glance through some of the important steps that will keep you informed about how to become a geologist. 

• The basic eligibility you need to fulfil to follow a career in Geology is a bachelor’s degree like BSc Geology. Further, you can then opt for a postgraduate degree to build on your expertise and gain a certain specialisation in Geology such as Geotechnical Engineering, Mining, etc. 
• While pursuing your UG and PG programs, keep on doing field study work as part of your degree programs to gain on-the-job and on-field experiences.
• Since Geology is an extensive field, it offers many lucrative research careers for which you must have a doctoral degree like PhD in Geology.

Geology Courses

A bachelor’s degree will familiarise you with the foundational knowledge of Geology in order to carve a successful career as a Geologist. While an undergraduate program is just the beginning step, Geologists also commonly have a master’s and doctoral degree to gain the expertise of the specialisation they are working in. Thus, here are the top Geology courses offered at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level for those aspiring to become a Geology:

• BSc in Geology 
• BSc in Environmental Geology
• B.Sc. (Hons) Exploration Geology
• B.Sc. in Applied Geology
• B.Sc. in Geology – Physics/Mathematics
• Master of Mineral Resources – Exploration Geology
• M.Sc. in Hydrogeology
• Master of Geology in Earth Science and Resource Management
• Master of Science in Petroleum Geology
• Master of Science in Engineering Geology
• Ph.D. in Geological Sciences
• M Phil in Applied Geology
• M Phil in Geology 

Eligibility Criteria

Here are the general eligibility criteria you need to fulfil to apply for any of the above-mentioned courses to become a Geologist:

• The applicant must qualify 10+2 in Science with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
• For a postgraduate degree, applicants must possess a bachelor’s in Science as well as clear the specific entrance exam required for their chosen program.
• You must also qualify the GATE exam to apply for master’s degree programs in Geology in India.
• If you are planning to study a degree in Geology abroad, you might be required to provide SAT/ACT scores for bachelor’s programs and GRE scores for postgraduate and doctoral courses in Geology. Along with these, you will also have to provide English language proficiency scores of IELTS/TOEFL, etc. as well as SOP and LORs.

Top Geology Colleges & Universities

Once you have chosen the right course to become a Geologist, the next step is to find the right university to pursue the program. Here are the top Geology courses and universities in the world

• The University of Queensland
• The University of Western Australia
• University of Birmingham
• The University of Otago
• Brown University
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Delaware
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of Maine
• Victoria University of Wellington

Geology Careers

Now that you are familiar with how to become a Geologist, you must know that the fielf of Geology offers many lucrative opportunities in the research and public sector. Here are the most popular Geologist jobs:

• Hydrogeologist
• Geophysicist
• Geoscientist
• Geological Technicians
• Geological Technologists
• Geological Mapper
• Wellsite Geologist
• Geochemist

Some of the most popular employment areas for Geologists are:

• Petroleum and mining companies
• Manufacturing
• Environment protection firms
• Construction and utility companies
• Environmental consulting firms
• Contracting firms
• Mining firms 
• Government educational institutions
• Engineering firms
• Teaching

Government Jobs in Geology

The public sector is one of the top employment areas for Geologists as it offers many high-paying jobs across oil companies, the mining industry as well as research institutes in India. Here are the most popular public sector organisations offering promising government jobs in Geology in India:

• Coal India Ltd
• Bharat Gold Mines Ltd
• Hindustan Zinc Ltd
• Steel Authority of India Ltd
• Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
• Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)
• Geological Survey of India (GSI)
• Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC)
• National Mineral Development Corporation

Salary of a Geologist

Geology is one of those fields which is filled with immense research opportunities. A Geologist can expect a salary of Rs 12 to 15 lakhs per annum which can vary as per the employer as well as job profile. Further, with more experience and expertise, you can expect a higher pay package at a profitable organization, even surpassing Rs 20 lakhs per annum as well as different incentives.

Thus, we hope that this blog helped you explore the essential details pertaining to how to become a Geologist. Puzzled about deciding the right course to start your career in Geology? Don’t worry, Let our experts at Leverage Edu help you find the right course and university based on your interests and preferences. Sign up for a free session with us today