Bachelor in Geology/Earth Science (Bachelor's)

Tuition is Tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year is $52,500 per year for full-time undergraduate students..

Students in the geology major conduct fieldwork in locations such as the Bahamas and New Zealand, studying coral reefs and glacial landscapes. They perform lab-based research using rock and mineral samples collected from remote regions including Australia and Sweden. The programme uses a block plan that allows frequent off-campus field courses during the academic year. Students gain experience through hands-on projects and research supported by departmental and external funding.

Focus areas include Climate change, Environmental geology, Marine science, Fossil and ancient life studies, Mineral and rock analysis, Glacial and mountain systems.

The geology major requires a total of 120 credits, distributed across core geology courses, laboratory work, field studies, and interdisciplinary electives. Two off-campus field courses are offered each February, one in the Bahamas and one in New Zealand on an alternating basis.

Graduates work in federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Geological Survey, as well as in environmental consulting, oil and utility companies, and academic research.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Required documents include official transcripts, standardized test scores, and a personal statement. International students must also submit English proficiency test results.

The programme totals about 120 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, four-year programme with field courses offered during the academic year. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 81% of applicants.

For nearly 50 years, Cornell College has organized its campus around One Course At A Time. Students take one class for 18 days before beginning the next, creating extended periods for engagement with a subject, hands-on learning, and relationships with professors and classmates. The approach is designed to support deeper study and the confidence that comes from concentrating fully on one course.

Cornell offers students room to shape an individual academic path. Students may pursue majors such as Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or Spanish, and many double major. Academic and professional interests extend into areas including engineering, art, and infectious disease research, with students gaining experience through internships and other practical opportunities. The block plan can also make it easier to connect intensive coursework with projects, classes, and campus activities.

The college occupies a hilltop campus in Mount Vernon, Iowa, known within Cornell as the Hilltop. Campus visits can include student-guided tours, class attendance, meetings with professors or coaches, and time at the Hilltop Café. International students are welcomed each year and can receive help through the application process. They should also consider how the 18-day course format fits their preferred pace of study and plan for Iowa's changing weather, which moves through all four seasons.