The U.S. Department of Labor projects that the employment of geoscientists will grow by 16 percent over the next 20 years, a rate that is faster than the average for all occupations. "The need for energy, environmental protection, and responsible land and resource management is projected to spur demand for geoscientists in the future," the Department reports.
KU Geology easily places its graduates in lucrative positions in industry, academia and government. Graduates entering the energy industry, for example, can start with six-figure salaries and signing bonuses. Alumni work at ConocoPhillips, BP, Chevron, Shell and ExxonMobil, among many other corporations, or work as independent consultants. Students with an interest in academia can follow the path of KU Geology graduates who have landed tenured positions at the University of Texas-Austin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Ohio University, and other top-ranked universities. Graduates with an interest in the environment and/or governmental work have found rewarding careers with many organizations, including the U.S. Geological Survey and state departments of natural resources.