Bachelor of Science in Geology
Please do not mistake geology for geography. While geographers study Earth’s surface, geologists delve deeper, in search of underlying structures. The outer 100 kilometres of Earth’s crust harbour various processes that can affect the surface.
What
Although Geology is not part of the secondary school curriculum, the secondary school subject ‘Geography’ does cover a number of geological topics: how did life on earth come into existence? How did mountains emerge? How does ore formation work? Where does drinking water come from? An answer to any of these questions will lead you to the study of geology.
Geology is often mistaken for or confused with geography. Geographers study Earth’s surface. Geologists, on the other hand, focus on Earth’s structures at greater depth. These depths harbour various processes that may affect the surface. Think for instance of volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. At an even greater depth still, geologists try to penetrate to the very core of our planet. In so doing, they study processes that have occurred millions or even billions of years ago. Geological knowledge has many practical perspectives: a sustainable mining of natural resources (minerals, ores, sand, gravel, ...), the sustainable management of groundwater reserves, understanding and predicting natural disasters, soil conservation and soil decontamination, and many more.
For whom
Being an all-round discipline, geology calls on many auxiliary sciences. Ideally, you possess a sound prior knowledge of mathematics. Having successfully completed a secondary school curriculum containing six hours of maths will serve to your advantage. What is equally important is a comprehensive scientific basic knowledge and interest. You are not afraid to stretch your legs and embark on long and high-paced walks in the open in the context of field work (excursions, work placement, geological sample collections). Daltonism may be a deterrent factor: the identification of minerals, microscopic work, the interpretation of geological maps, ... call for an excellent command of colours and tones. Finally, spatial understanding is a useful asset: three-dimensional insight is a basic quality in geologists. If you are in any way challenged, please let us know as soon as possible. The sooner we know, the better we can look for solutions, so you are able to complete the programme successfully.
Structure
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Bachelor
The first- and second-year curriculum contain basic scientific training in maths, physics, chemistry and biology. In addition to the basic sciences, the first-year curriculum also already comprises a set of typical geology course units, a set which is expanded in the second year. In the third year, you can either opt for the Geology track containing the Bachelor’s project (which takes the form of a work placement at a company or a research institution). A more comprehensive field experience on land or at sea is also a possibility. Or you can opt for the Education track, which allows for direct access into the subsequent Master’s Programme of Teaching. The third-year curriculum also contains a study abroad window at another European university. Conversely, it is also possible to schedule your international experience in the Master’s curriculum.
After completing the Bachelor’s degree, you can either choose the Dutch-taught or the English-taught Master’s programme.
- Master
Your Bachelor’s degree gives you access to either the Dutch-taught or the English-taught Master’s programme in Geology. The Dutch-taught Master’s programme addresses current challenges in research and employment, while drawing lessons from the past to help safeguard our future on Earth. This approach is reflected in two pillars that together form the backbone of the two-year Master’s programme. The first pillar focuses on the past. You learn how the evolution of the climate, life, landscapes and tectonics can be ‘read’ primarily in sedimentary rocks. As these ‘archives of the Earth’ are best studied in the field, the curriculum includes two fieldwork placements. The second pillar focuses on the future and the sustainable management of natural resources. In addition to these two pillars, the Dutch-taught Master’s programme offers a choice of two minors: Professional Development and Education. Both are broadening tracks that prepare you for a career in industry or education. Through your Master’s dissertation, you demonstrate your ability to independently apply the scientific knowledge and skills you have acquired to a topic of your choice. The English-taught Master of Science in Geology is mainly research-oriented and focuses on developing academic skills such as conducting research and exploration, reporting, and collaborating with fellow students and researchers. This Master’s programme is jointly organised by Ghent University and KU Leuven. You choose one of two majors: Past & Futureproof Earth or Geosciences.
Labour Market
There is a real demand for geologists on the (inter)national labour market. With its comprehensive scientific training our study programme offers a wide range of opportunities on the geology-specific labour market, and beyond. A first group of graduates ends up in the environmental sector: the Flemish Decree on Soil Remediation and Soil Protection, and the Flemish Decree on Integrated Water Policy that are in place increasingly call for specific expertise. Other branches of the industry attract Geology graduates as well: offshore wind energy, ore exploration, the dredging sector, groundwater extraction, the construction sector, the geophysical exploration sector, ... . This type of career usually requires extensive stays abroad. A second group of graduates find employment in the research sector, either at universities or other scientific institutions. Lastly, a third group ends up in government service and education Government services may include research on water supply, waste disposal, preliminary investigations at important construction sites, detection of soil contaminants, ... .
Quality Assurance
At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality.
Ghent University continuously focuses on quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.
More information:
Unique Selling Points
- Multiperspectivism: Geology does not stop at national borders and is by definition an international discipline. Our study programme strongly focuses on problem-solving thinking based on interdisciplinarity, and aims to stimulate a critical attitude towards geological thinking. Throughout the curriculum, we train our students to apply their acquired knowledge in the field, we encourage them to think about scientific new angles, and cultivate an attitude of lifelong learning.
- Curriculum: the renewed curriculum aims to consolidate a broad scientific training by gradually building up the basic knowledge and skills of geology during the Bachelor’s. The ensuing Master’s curriculum (120 ECTS-credits) are centered around two axes that reflect the research expertise, namely geology of basins and orogens (folding region of the earth’s crust), and groundwater and mineral resources.
- Curricular freedom: sufficient room is created in the Master’s curriculum (30 ECTS-credits) for further in-depth study (elective course units), a work placement (professional development), internationalization (Erasmus+) or the Master’s Programme of Teaching.
- Integration of theory and practice: in the Master’s curriculum, students are able to choose a long professional work placement at a company or scientific institute at home or abroad, during which they goes through all stages of the professional field with special attention to problem-solving and applied thinking skills. Our graduates quickly find work.
- Four-dimensional thinking (space-time) is a unique aspect of the Geology programme. The contemporary geologist is a conscious scientist with the ability to offer efficient solutions for long-term sustainable natural resource management.
Strengths
- Motivated team of lecturers: we aim to apply the latest findings of geological research in the education we provide. During the master years, research-based education is strongly covered in the course units of the majors ‘Groundwater and Mineral Resources’ and ‘Basins and Orogens’.
- Relationship with the professional field: at the students behest, a professional work placement in a company or scientific institute was integrated into the master’s curriculum, bringing them into contact with real-life situations. Within the regular course units, the relationship with the professional field comes to the fore by inviting alumni as guest lecturers or by means of partnerships (including the Flanders Marine Institute, Geological Survey of Belgium).
- Approachability: we are a relatively small study programme, which means that we can uphold low-threshold and efficient consultation and coordination between students and lecturers.
- Teaching methods: we take care to ensure that the variety of teaching and assessment methods prepare students for the challenges of the future, the geological professional field, and problem-solving thinking, all the while paying sufficient attention to both oral and written communication.
- Fieldwork work placements: the field is and remains the geologist’s primary area of activity. Our study programme focuses strongly on (international) fieldwork work placements, during which students have to apply their acquired spatial geological insights in a dynamic geological dimension.
Challenges
- Monitoring study results for generation students. We will pay more attention to communication about the expectations and the exact content of first-year course units.
- We monitor a balanced workload in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programme via assignment rota that include scheduled feedback sessions. After all, our programme consists of a variety of teaching methods in which students receive interim assignments (reports of field work placements or excursions, writing papers, discussing case studies, etc.).
- The social relevance of geology should be emphasized more.
Accreditation
This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (Dutch: NVAO). Accreditation was extended following the positive outcome of the institutional review in 2022. Programme quality was validated by a quality review, i.e. a screening of the Education Monitor by the Education Quality Board. The Quality Assurance Resolution (in Dutch) can be found here.
This information was last updated on 01/02/2023.
In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.