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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
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 designed to prepare students with the skills to succeed in college, a career, and life. Completion of CWI 101 is a general education requirement of students seeking to earn an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree from CWI. Students are encouraged to take CWI 101 during their first semester.
Explore CWI 101 PathwaysTransfer
Individuals admitted to CWI as a degree-seeking student who have earned college credit from another institution may transfer their credits to CWI. Visit Transferring to CWI to learn more.
Plan ahead for your transition to a four-year college or university. Students are encouraged to work closely with their advisor and representatives from the intended transfer school to ensure a smooth transition beyond CWI. Visit Transferring From CWI to explore our transfer partnerships.
Cost & Aid
As a student in this program, you may be eligible for financial aid and scholarships. Visit Cost & Aid to view tuition and fees, explore types of aid, apply for federal financial aid, and more.
Are you a 2024 Idaho high school graduate? Learn how to get up to $8,000 of your tuition and fees covered at CWI through Idaho LAUNCH.
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
Program Department Chair
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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