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Overview
Geosciences is the study of the solid earth and how it changes over time with regard to its structure, composition, erosional and tectonic processes, and environments. If you have an interest in geology, our program will give you an opportunity to explore the various complexities of Earth. To excel in Geosciences, you should enjoy working outdoors, be able to identify and solve complex problems, and be able to develop advanced spatial reasoning skills. It is a physical science and therefore requires a solid background in mathematics, chemistry, and physics. Additionally, geologists need to have good computer and communication skills. Geologists find employment in a wide array of fields in both the public and private sectors. Career opportunities include mineral exploration and extraction, oil and gas exploration and extraction, environmental consultation, evaluation of water resources, soil science, academic research, climatology, natural hazard mitigation, and civil engineering, among others
Mission
The geosciences program prepares students to transfer to a four-year institution with a good understanding of basic geology and the processes that indicate how our world is shaped.
Why This Program
The geosciences program is designed primarily to prepare you to transition to a four-year institution to finish a bachelor’s degree. It will expose you to the fundamentals of geology and help you understand what is needed prior to attending upper division courses.
What You Will Learn to Do
- Identify major geologic formations and understand their causes
- Understand the history of Earth and how it came to look as it does
- Understand the processes that shape Earth, including natural disasters and the environment
Additional Opportunities
A very important aspect of geosciences is being able to identify geologic features when you see them. Rock samples may be brought to class to help students be able to identify them when they see them, but field trips are used in the program to really get students involved and to be able to see geologic structures that are impossible to bring into the classroom setting.
Requirements and Costs
Degrees and Certificates
Explore the resources below for information, dates, and deadlines related to admissions, financial aid, registration, and next steps.
Dates & Deadlines for Credit Programs | Summer 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 |
---|---|---|---|
Priority Registration Begins 1 | N/A | Apr 10 | Nov 13 (2023) |
Open Registration Begins | Feb 27 | Apr 17 | Nov 20 (2023) |
Financial Aid Priority Deadline | May 13 | Jul 29 | Dec 16 (2023) |
Admission Deadline 2 | May 27 | Aug 12 | Jan 6 |
Last Day to Register for Classes | Jun 2 | Aug 18 | Jan 12 |
Tuition and Fees Due | Jun 2 | Aug 18 | Jan 12 |
Classes Begin 3 | Jun 5 | Aug 21 | Jan 16 |
1 Priority registration is limited to continuing students. Students are assigned a registration time based on their cumulative credits earned. Students should check myCWI and their CWI email to learn their assigned registration time. Students may register online anytime on or after their assigned registration time.
2 The Admission Deadline for international students is earlier than the deadline for non-international students and is only available during the fall and spring semesters. Please consult the Academic Calendar for the international student admission deadlines.
3 Classes in shorter sessions (including 4-, 5-, and 8-week sessions) may begin before or after this date. Please refer to the specific class session sections beneath the full Academic Calendar for more information.
Skills, Traits, and Prep Classes
- Enjoy working outdoors
- Be able to identify and solve complex problems
- Be able to develop advanced, spatial reasoning skills
- Solid background in math, chemistry, and physics
- Good computer and communication skills
Advising
Navigating your way through college can be confusing, especially if you try to go it alone. CWI offers advising assistance to help in deciding which courses you need to take to reach your education and career goals. Visit Advising or contact One Stop Student Services for more information.
- Please be sure to check the courses required for your final degree at the four-year institution you plan to attend after finishing at CWI. It is absolutely imperative that you know which classes are required to obtain a bachelor’s degree at that institution.
- If you plan to attend the University of Idaho, you can visit their website (https://www.uidaho.edu/registrar/transfer/transfer-pathways) to determine how the various courses taken at CWI will transfer. The University of Idaho does not have lower-level GIS coursework, but does offer a GIS certificate program that starts at the junior level. Therefore, our GIS courses do not directly transfer as a GIS course into their program. Our GEOL 101 and 102 courses transfer fairly well. The other geology courses would transfer as elective credit at this time.
- If you plan to attend Boise State University (BSU), you can visit their website (http://registrar.boisestate.edu/transfers/transfer-equivalency/) to determine just how the various courses you take will transfer. GEOL 101, 102, and 275 all transfer into their Geoscience program.
Connecting With Ideas
Connecting With Ideas (CWI 101) is the first semester student success course designed to help CWI students become engaged members of the academic community and cultivate habits for lifelong achievement and success. Each semester, students can select from a variety of themes. More information about next semesters CWI 101 themes
Transfer
Look beyond your degree at CWI and plan for continuing your education by working closely with CWI advising and representatives of your intended transfer school. Planning before you transfer can save you time and money. Visit Transfer Information for more information or contact One Stop Student Services.
Financial Aid Available
Did you know that as a student in this program you may be eligible for financial aid? Through grants, scholarships, and loans, more than 60 percent of first-time, full-time CWI students receive some form of financial assistance. To learn more about financial aid options and whether you may be eligible, visit Financial Aid.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for a full-time CWI student averages half the cost of a state university and a third of the cost of a private college. Tuition and fees vary based on program and residence. Visit Tuition and Fees for more information.
Career Info
Professions
- Mineral exploration and extraction
- Oil and gas exploration and extraction
- Environmental consultation
- Evaluation of water resources
- Soil science
- Academic research
- Climatology
- Natural hazard mitigation
- Civil engineering
Locations
Instructors
Instructor(s)
Respectful Community
College of Western Idaho is committed to maintaining a Respectful Community by providing equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate in services, benefits, or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status, age, or any other legally protected status. More on Title IX
News and Blogs

Join University of Idaho professor, Jason Barnes, April 13 to learn more about the Dragonfly space mission, a project to explore Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.

CWI's Common Read Series invites you to join them for an informative panel discussion all about science featuring CWI faculty.

CWI student, Westin Juarez, teams up with CWI professor, Ander Sundell, and the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology to design a new exhibit.

Seismic waves from an earthquake in Honduras on Jan. 9 were detected at College of Western Idaho, 2,500 miles away!

College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs are excited to share new episodes of the video blog series, Science is a Verb. CWI faculty share some of their favorite experiments, as well as tips and tricks for bringing science to life. In this...
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