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The Department of Geosciences at Western Michigan University resides in Rood Hall. Additional lab and teaching space is in Haenicke Hall and Wood Hall. The Department comprises 15 board appointed faculty (including 3 joint appointments). Undergraduate majors typically total in excess of 100 students in 5 majors areas; Earth Science (including Science Education dual majors), Geochemistry, Geology, Geophysics, and Hydrogeology. Graduate enrollments typically numbering 40-50 students are enrolled in a range of specialization in either Earth Science or Geology Masters Degree programs. The Ph.D. program typically has 10-15 students in a range of disciplines including hydrogeology, environmental geology, and geochemistry/isotope geochemistry.

The undergraduate Geology major was founded in 1959 and an Earth Science Major and minor were established in 1963 (within the combined Departments of Geography and Geology). The Department of Geology was founded in 1965 with Graduate degrees, MS Earth Science Education and MS Geology, established in the late '60's and early ' 70's, respectively. An active research program was initiated in the department at this time with successful external, federal funding. The purposeful establishment of an applied, environmental geology/hydrogeology emphasis in the department in the early '70's resulted in substantial, external funding in the late '70's in this area and subsequent development of an undergraduate Hydrogeology major and regionally reputable hydrogeology emphasis at the graduate level. A PhD program with Hydrogeology emphasis was established in 1990. The Department changed its name to the Department of Geosciences in 1997 in an effort to reflect the increasing diversity of our departmental offerings.

Currently, there is a very diverse applied as well as basic research emphasis in the department. The faculty of the Department of Geosciences at Western Michigan University has a well-funded and active research program that addresses a wide range of research topics in the general fields of geochemistry, geophysics, hydrogeology, geotechnical geology, glacial geomorphology, Earth science education, and sedimentary systems and basin analysis. Over the past twelve months there has been a number of new initiatives pertaining to research activities, and construction of new research facilities.

The Department of Geosciences has historically emphasized employment opportunities for its graduates and the training of geosciences professionals. We boast an alumni cadre placed in a wide range of geosciences professions including: Science Educators; resource exploitation scientists; environmental scientists, both private sector consulting, and public sector regulatory and research positions; and a wide range of natural scientists, including park rangers and naturalists. Our PhD graduates (12) have been very successful in the job market with most currently employed in either higher education or private sector consulting.

Department of Geosciences
1187 Rood Hall
1903 West Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Phone: (269) 387-5485
Fax: (269) 387-5513
mohamed.sultan@wmich.edu

Any questions concerning the website should be directed to: johnson.haas@wmich.edu
©2007 Department of Geosciences, WMU