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What is Geology?

Geology is the study of the earth, with an emphasis on the surface and everything below. Modern geology engages in understanding complex Earth systems, and goes well beyond identifying rocks or minerals. For example, it includes investigating the past record of climate change, the risks posed by an array of natural hazards, the behavior of fluids in the crust, and the interplay between biologic and geologic forces, among many other endeavors. Geology naturally lends itself to interdisciplinary studies in areas of common interest with Biology, Chemistry, Geography and Physics, Oceanography, Climatology and many other disciplines. Many subdisciplines exist, including :

• environmental geology - the use of geology in living wisely on the earth.
• geoarcheology - the use of geology in archeology, often to reconstruct environmental conditions and changes.
• geobiology - looking at the interplay between geologic and biologic processes with a focus on microbes.
• geomorphology - the study of surface landforms and surficial deposits.
• geophysics - the study of the interior of the earth using physical phenomena such as gravity or magnetism.
• igneous petrology - the study of the character, and formation of rocks that solidify from magma or lava.
• paleontology - the study of fossils and the history of life.
• sedimentology - the study of how surface sediments are formed, transported and deposited and the environments in which this occurs.
• stratigraphy - the study of the temporal and spatial relationships of rocks and what they can tell us of Earth's history.
• structural geology - the study of faults, folds and how rocks deform.
• tectonics - the study of large scale earth crust movements (e.g. plate tectonics).
• volcanology - the study of volcanic rocks, processes and landforms.

Careers for geologists have diversified greatly from exploring for oil, gold or other earth riches as was prevalent in the 1950s. Job titles now include, but are not limited to geohydrologist, engineering geologist, environmental geologist, forensic geologist, geophysicist, geochemist, structural geologist, sedimentologist, petrologist, glaciologist, paleontologist, petroleum geologist, exploration geologist, geomathemetician, professor, or research geologist. Employment is found in a wide array of jobs throughout public and private sectors, and involves natural hazard assessment, environmental remediation, resource exploration and development, education, and public policy development. Working conditions vary greatly, but often include a diverse mix of travel, field work, lab work, computer modeling, office work, and report writing. Much more specific information can be found on the web (see links below). In addition, a degree in geology provides students with a broad suite of skills and a foundation of critical reasoning that allows for migration into other endeavors such as environmental law, computer modeling, science journalism, and more.

Employment prospects at present are quite good. An American Geological Institute report press release summarizes - "With a large percentage of the workforce retiring in coming years, job opportunities for recent graduates are plentiful with more openings than applicants to fill them."
Some idea of the career potential can be found in this list of places our alum have been employed at.

Some sites describing geoscience careers:

• Careers in the geosciences brochure.
• AGI on Geoscience careers.
• AAPG site on Geoscience careers.
• Geoscience jobs.
• Jobs in geology.
• USGS Scientists in action - careers in natural science.

Exploring geology on the web: There is a wealth of geoscience related material on the web. Good entry points with a lot of breadth and depth are below.

• American Geological Institute.
• American Geophysical Union.
• American Institute of Professional Geologists.
• American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
• Geological Society of America.
• United States Geological Survey.

Geoscience Degrees at UNO.

• B.S. in Geology (list of courses):

• Graduate Track: designed for those who plan to eventually pursue a M.S. or Ph.D. in Geoscience or Environmental Science after graduation.
• Industry Track: designed for those who plan to work in industry upon completion of their B.S..
• Liberal Arts Track: for those pursuing careers in education, business or other fields and who want a deeper understanding of Geology as part of a general education and/or those who wish to use geology as a springboard to other careers, such as science outreach, environmental law, etc..

• B.S. in Environmental Studies, Earth Science Option (list of courses).
• UNO course catalog.
• Syllabi and course materials for many of the Geology courses can be found on the home pages of the relevant faculty,
• Field camp capstone course policy.
• Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like more information or questions answered. We will be happy to discuss possibilities with you.

• Dr. Michael Bishop, mbishop@mail.unomaha.edu, 402 554 4808
  • expertise in remote sensing, GIS, and alpine environments.
• Dr. Lisa Boucher (appointment in the Biology Department). llboucher@mail.unomaha.edu, 402 554 2477
  • expertise in paleontology, paleobotany, paleoecology, specifically Cretaceous plant fossils and paleoenvironmental reconstruction.
• Dr. George Engelmann, gengelmann@mail.unomaha.edu, 402 554 4804
  • expertise in vertebrate paleontology, mammalian evolution, North American Mesozoic stratigraphy.
  • presently Department chair.
• Dr. Harmon D. Maher Jr., harmon_maher@mail.unomaha.edu, 402 554 4807
  • expertise in structural geology and tectonics, regional expertise in Svalbard, Norway.
• Dr. Jeffry Peake, jpeake@mail.unomaha.edu, 402 554
  • Climatology, Resource Management, Remote Sensing, Wetlands, Geographic Information Systems.
• Dr. Jack F. Shroder , jshroder@mail.unomaha.edu. 402 554 2770
  • expertise in geomorphology and landslides in particular, in the geology of Afghanistan and Pakistan (esp. Nanga Parbat area), in geoarchaeology.
• Dr. Robert Shuster, rshuster@mail.unomaha.edu, 402 554 2457
  • expertise in granites, growth of the North American continental crust, radiometric dating and isotope geochemistry, geoarchaeology, and specifically in anorogenic granites.

In addition, Dave Becker, Larry Bradley, Robert Goodwin, Mark Gutchewsky, and Bill Moak teach for us part-time. These individuals have extensive geotechnical and/or teaching experience and are an important asset to the program.

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• Senior thesis:
  • description of senior thesis.
  • list of senior theses completed at UNO.
  • examples: Justin Covey's senior thesis, description of William Moak's senior thesis.
• Field trips (GEOL 2500): The best place to learn geology is in the field. Therefore, every spring we take a major field trip to some locality.
  • 1996 field trip: Grand Canyon.
  • 1997 field trip: Colorado Plateau ( in conjunction with UNL).
  • 1998 field trip: Black Hills.
  • 1999 field trip: Lake Superior.
  • 2000 field trip: Arches.
  • 2001 field trip: Ireland.
  • 2002 field trip: Death Valley.
  • 2003 field trip: Missouri Breaks, Montana.
  • 2004 field trip: Black Hills.
  • 2005 field trip: Rio Grande Rift, New Mexico.
  • 2006 field trip: Grand Canyon
  • 2007 Suggestions!

Students and professors on Death Valley field trip.

• Field camp capstone experience.

• Internships: this is a list of organizations majors have had internships within the past:
  • United States Geological Survey.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Student Conservation Service.
  • Terracon, Omaha
  • United States Department of the Interior
  • National Park Service.
  • URS Group Inc.
  • Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District
  • Geotechnical Services Inc.
  • ALW Environmental Services
  • PSI Inc.
  • City of Council Bluffs, IA - Department of Public Health
  • Fontenelle Forest
  • National Forest Service - thru SCA
  • Great Plains Testing Laboratories, Inc.
  • Thompson, Dreesen, and Dorner
  • Nebraska State Recycling
  • Maxim Technologies
  • AMI Group Inc.
  • HWS Consulting Group
  • Kansas Geological Survey
  • Geological Society of America Geocorps.

Geology related facilities at UNO:

• Two dedicated computer labs shared with Geography.
• UNO GLIMS project.
• X-ray diffraction instrument for precise mineral identification.
• 12 channel seismic reflection/refraction survey system.
• Laser theodelite.
• GPS satellite surveying equipment.
• 12'-long stream table
• Thin section and rock prep lab.
• Nikon research scope with digital photo set-up.
• Extensive rock and mineral sample lab.
• ICPMS for trace element geochemistry, shared with the chemistry department, and funded by NSF grant.

Student accomplishments:

We strongly encourage our students to pursue grant and scholarship opportunities, and to present their undergraduate research results in professional forums as part of their educational experience, and believe this is one measure of their success.

Student presentations and publications. (Student's names in bold in the lists below.)

• Ron Johnsen, 1984, Glaciers in Pakistan, Nebraska Academy of Sciences.
• Larry Carter, 1984, Thermal Maturation of Hydrocarbons in the Forest City Basin, Nebraska Academy of Sciences.
• Mark Capps, 1987, Microstratigraphy of units of the Kansas Group exposed at Richfield P.W.A. quarry, Nebraska Academy of Sciences.
• Mike Sonderman, 1987, Microbiostratigraphy of some members of the Kansas City Group in the Pennsylvanian System, southeast Nebraska, Nebraska Geological Society.
• Harmon D. Maher, Scott McIntyre, Paul Sacks, and Donald T. Secor,1987, Road log for Saturday and Sunday, November 14-15, 1987: in Anatomy of the Alleghanian orogeny as seen from the Piedmont of South Carolina and Georgia, Carolina Geological Society, 50th Anniversary meeting, 1987, ed. Donald T. Secor, Jr..
• Shroder, J.F., Khan, M. Saqib, Lawrence, Robert D. , Madin, Ian P., and Higgins, Sean M., 1989, Quaternary glacial chronology and neotectonics in the Himalaya of northern Pakistan, in Geophysics and Tectonics of the Western Himalaya, GSA Special Volume, ed. L. Malinconico and R.J. Lille
• Daniel L. Inman, 1989, The triple junction geometry of continental rifts in Africa, Nebraska Academy of Sciences.
• John F. Shroder, Jr., and Tom Lowndes, 1989, Slope failures and the Bonneville Flood in Red Rock Pass, Idaho, AAG Annual Meeting.
• Shroder, J.F., and Lowndes, Tom, 1989, Threshold modeling, slope failure and the Bonneville Flood, Geol. Soc. America Annual Meeting.
• Pray, J., Maher, H. D., Jr. & Welbon, A. I., 1990, Evidence for and ruminations on Carboniferous deformation in Bellsund and St. Jonsfjorden, Western Svalbard, Symposium on Post-Devonian Tectonic evolution of Svalbard, Oslo, Norway.
• Patricia E. Helland, 1991, Evidence for Late Tertiary glacial climatic conditions in source areas during deposition of parts of the Ash Hollow Formation, Ogallala Group, of western Nebraska, Nebraska Academy of Sciences.
• Maher, H.D., Boland, I., Brueggemann, M., Pospisil, M., Pray, J., Sacks, P., Secor, D.T., Steinke, T., and West, T., 1992, Tectonic architecture of central Georgia Eastern Piedmont, Geol. Soc. America Annual Meeting.
• Pray, J. R., Maher, H. D., Jr. & Welbon, A. I. 1992, Ruminations on Tuttle lamellae (fluid inclusion planes) in Carboniferous strata from Bellsund and St. Jonsfjorden, Western Svalbard, Norsk Geologisk Tiddskrift, v. 72, p. 77-82
• Maher, Harmon D., Shuster, Robert, Swearingen, Jann, and Honke, Jeff, 1994, Undergraduate involvement in the development of an Environmental Geology Lab: Council on Undergraduate Quarterly, v. 14, no. 3, p. 131-133.
• Castelhano, T. A. R., Maher, H. D., Jr., Berger, D. R., Bergh, S., and Braathen, A.,1995, Kinematic evolution of the Tertiary fold-thrust belt Broggerhalvoya,Spitsbergen, Norway from slip-linear plots; Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts, v. 27, no. 3, p. A-42.
• Berger, D., Castelhano, T. A. R., Maher, H. D. Jr., Braathen, A., and Bergh, S., 1995, Tertiary deformation of Lower Cretaceous diabase sills in Carboniferous strata, West Spitsbergen, Norway ; Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts, v. 27, no. 3, p. A-39.
• Silence, Teresa, Mandel, Rolfe D., and Shuster, Robert D., 1995, Study of sedimentation processes within the Akrotiri Aetokremnos rockshelter, Cyprus: Geol.Soc. America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 27, no. 3, p. 85.
• Timmons, J. Michael, Shuster, Robert D., and Karlstrom, Karl E.,1995, Geology of the Monte Largo Hills area, New Mexico: structural and metamorphic study of the eastern aureole of the Sandia pluton: Geol. Soc. America, Abstracts with Programs,v. 27, no. 3, p.90.
• Shroder, J.F., Jr., Scheppy, R., and Bishop, M.P., 1996, Debris flows and denudation rates, Nanga Parbat Himalaya: Geol. Soc. America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 28,no. 7, p. A-395.
• Turco, J.J., Maher, H.D., Reeder, P., and Nealson, John S., 1997, A pilot study of electromagnetic conductivity and microtopographic surveys in mapping pioneer gravesites in loess, Mormon Pioneer cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska: Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts, v. 29, no. 4, p.76.
• Jacobs, M., Heim, K., and Maher, H.D., Jr., 1997, Initial Component of Urban Geology Database for Omaha, NE; Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts, v. 29, #6, A-223.
• Maher, H.D., Jr., Alder, T., Heim, K., Nihsen, M., Persing, D., and Welch, J., 1997, Neotectonic Joints in Loess of Omaha, Nebraska; Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts, vol. 29, #6, P. A-417.
• Maher, H. D., Jr., Covey, J., Heim, K., Elvebakk, G., Worsley, D., 1998, Mesozoic Reactivation of Paleozoic Structures in the Formation of the Loppa High on the Barents Shelf; EOS, Transactions, AGU v. 79, # 45, p. F809
• Blair, Jason Dennis, 1999, A petrographic analysis of potsherds from Tell-Hisban, Jordan: American Assoc. Advancement of Science, Midwest Regional Meeting, vol. 39, no. 2, p. 15.
• Blair, Jason D., London, Gloria, and Shuster, Robert, 2000, A petrographic analsis of potsherds from Tell Hisban, Jordan: Geol. Soc. America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 32, no. 4, p. A-5.
• Blair, Jason D., London, Gloria, and Shuster, Robert, 2001, A petrographic approach to potsherd analysis: potsherds from Tell Hisban Jordan: American Assoc. of Geographers, RM/GP meeting, Omaha, NE.
• Hays, Troy D., 2001, Lab simulation of plume separation at a viscosity boundary: Geol. Soc. America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 33, no. 4, p. A-51.
• Hays, T., Maher, H. D. Jr.,& Shuster, R. D., 2002, Sedimentologic Record of the High Arctic Large Igneous Province in the Cretaceous Strata of Midterhuken, Svalbard, Norway; Program and Proceedings of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, p. 57.
• Maher, H.D., Jr., Hays, T., Shuster, R. D., & Mutrux, J., 2002, Signature of a mafic volcanic source in Barremian to Albian sandstones on Spitsbergen, Norway; GSA Abstracts w Programs, vol 34, # 6.
• Mutrux, J. G., Maher, H. D. Jr, Shuster, R.D., & Hays, T. D., 2003, Chamosite ooid horizons of the Carolinefjellet Formation, Spitsbergen, Norway; GSA Abstracts w Programs, vol. 35, no. 4. This won the SEPM best undergraduate poster award.
• Godek, S. L & Shuster, R. D., 2003, Geochemical spatial analysis of the Middle Proterozoic Granite-Rhyolite Province; GSA Abstracts w Programs, vol. 35, no. 4.
• Brock, J. & Todd, L., 2003, Multiple glacial tills in an exposure along the Lower Elkhorn River, Nebraska; GSA Abstracts w Programs, vol. 35, no. 4.
• Maher, H. D., Jr., Hays, T., Shuster, R. D., & Mutrux, J., 2004, Sandstone Petrography of Lower Cretaceous sandstones on Svalbard; Polar Research, Norsk Polarinstitutt, v. 23, 147-165.
• Maher, H. D., Jr., Braathen, A., & Mutrux, J., 2003, Devonian Kinematics Along the Long Lived Billefjorden Fault Zone, GSA Abstract w Programs, vol 35, # 3, p. 47.
• Shuster, R. D., Mutrux, J. G., & Maher, H.D., Jr., 2004, Neodymium isotopic analysis of Cretaceous rocks from Svalbard, Norway; GSA Abstracts w Programs, vol. 36, #3, p.46.
• Moak, W., Tegels, J., & Maher, H. D., Jr., 2004, Faults and veins in White River Group Strata of Toadstool Geologic Park, Northwest Nebraska; GSA Abstracts w Programs, vol. 36, #3, p.41.
• Maher, H. D., Jr., Berrigan, J., Dervin, R., Firkins, J., Hart, B., Marshall, L. & Moak, W., 2004, Relationships between veining and faulting at Toadstool Geologic Park, Northwest Nebraska; GSA Abstracts w Programs, vol. 36, # 6.

Recent student grants. fellowships and awards:

• Troy Hays, 2002, Best undergraduate student paper at Geoscience Division of Nebraska Academy of Science.
• Jessica Brock and Lee Todd, 2002, Yatkola-Edwards grant from the Nebraska Geological Society.
• Amanda Hassler, 2003, Received the Condra Scholarship from the Conservation and Survery Division.
• Amanda Hassler, Jeremey Mutrux, and Justin Tegels were awarded scholarships from the LeLander funds, and from the Omaha Gem and Mineral Club.
• Jeremy Mutrux, 2003, SEPM Best Undergraduate Paper Award at North Central GSA meeting.
• Michael Riggle 2006, Yatkola-Edwards grant from the Nebraska Geological Society.
• Nicholas Valentour, 2006, NSF sponsored REU at Mesa State University.
• Erin Young, 2006, NSF sponsored REU participant at Mesa State University, Colorado.

List of organizations our students work for and graduate schools they have attended. One of the best measures of student outcomes is where they go after graduation. This is an incomplete list.

Possible sources of undergraduate support: * - sources of support utilized by UNO geoscience majors in the past. Please do not hesitate to talk to the faculty if you are interested in pursuing any of these.

• Department Lela Lander grants.*
• Department field camp grants.*
• University Committee on Research student grants.*
• UNO external grant support (e.g. PRF grants).
• Dean's support for going to meetings.*
• Local industry.
• Yatkola-Edwards Nebraska Geologic Society grants.*
• North-central GSA student research and travel grants.*
• NAGT Field Camp Scholarships.*
• Council of Undergraduate Research summer grants.
• USGS Volunteer Intern Program*
• Student Conservation Service Program Internships.*
• Research at Undergraduate Institutes Internships.
• SEPM undergrad research grants.
• Sigma Xi.

UNO Geology Society (student geoclub). This is a student run group for geoscience majors or people with an interest in the geosciences. They engage in a number of activities, including organizing field trips, talking to K-12 groups about geology, attending regional conferences, bakesales, and arranging for professional development opportunities (e.g. haz-mat training). They also have cooperated with the student environmental club in various endeavors.

If interested contact one of the faculty.

Geoscience outreach efforts at UNO:

Faculty regularly give talks on a great variety of geology-related topics for a wide range of audiences. Some topics faculty can speak on are listed below. Contact information follows.

Dr. George Engelmann:

• Dinosaurs.
• Nebraska's fossils.
• Mammalian evolution.
• Evolution and Creationism in Education.

Dr. Harmon D. Maher Jr.:

• Earthquakes and volcanoes (for K-8).
• Earthquakes in Nebraska.
• Geology of Nebraska.
• Tertiary tectonics of Svalbard, Norway.

Dr. Jack Shroder:

• Landslides and glaciers.
• Breakout floods in the geologic record.
• Geomorphology of the Nanga Parbat area.
• Geoarchaeology.

Dr. Robert Shuster

• Volcanoes and volcanic eruptions (for K-8).
• Diving to the bottom of the ocean in Alvin.
• Evolution of the North American Continent.
• Anorogenic granites.

Students associated with UNOGS also conduct outreach.

How to contact us: You can contact us at any of the above listed emails or at Dept. of Geography and Geology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182-0199.