Open Your Eyes—We inhabit the surface of the water planet - one that is made of rocks and minerals, that is rocked frequently by damaging earthquakes, that is threatened occasionally by catastrophic volcanic eruptions, whose surface is carved by racing floods and grinding glaciers, and whose scenic treasures are mainly geologic wonders protected in national parks. Learn about these features and processes in a geology course, and we can guarantee that you will always see the Earth differently ever after.

Read the Rocks—The Earth has a history whose pages are read in its rocks. Learn about ancient seas with exotic creatures that once flooded the continents. Learn how the continents themselves were scattered about the Earth's surface much differently than today. Learn how those continents split and make ocean basins, collide and make mountains. Learn how and where earthquakes happen, how and why volcanoes erupt, how the Earth manufactures it oil and mineral wealth. Learn how geologists know when all these events happen by studying fossils and by using sophisticated chemistry. Learn how geologists can x-ray the Earth to understand its internal structure and workings. Learn about how Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and Meteorite Crater formed and if the events that shaped those places could happen again.

Get a Great Job—Geoscience degrees open up an exciting array of career opportunities . Many geoscientists work in industry finding the mineral resources our society needs or addressing environmental problems. Other geoscientists work in the academic field as university professors, community college instructors or public school teachers.




Academic Excellence—Our campus is experiencing phenomenal growth in research activity and academic excellence. Science Watch ranked our Geosciences research 3rd among public universities (8th overall).

Personal Attention—Our Undergraduate teaching philosophy guarantees that you will get close personal attention from our faculty, many days of field experience in some of the most beautiful and interesting locations in the world, and access to cutting edge laboratory research instrumentation.

Quality of Life—And then there is Santa Barbara, where you will enjoy a quality of life unmatched elsewhere. Sitting on an active plate margin, with immediate access to islands, ocean, beaches, deserts, and mountains, Santa Barbara enjoys the active geology and mild climate that enables you to work comfortably in the field year-round.

Community—We think there is something special about this department; a warm community of people who love to work and play together. You’ll see what we mean when you visit.

Entering freshmen or transfer students must adhere to the academic requirements for admission to the university. Please contact the Admissions Department directly at (805) 893-2885 or visit their website at www.admissions.ucsb.edu.

For information or questions regarding undergraduate studies in the Earth Science Department, please contact our Undergraduate Program Assistant.