Bachelor of Geology at Colorado State University

Many opportunities exist for geology graduates in the private and public sectors within a wide range of societally important and satisfying careers. Environmental management, energy resources, water resource and management, construction services, mining, power generation, computer software, and many other industries employ geoscientists in exploration, development, production, communications, building, management, and research. Federal and state agencies employ geoscientists for resource mapping and assessment, oil-gas-coal-groundwater-geothermal resource evaluation and development, resource and environmental water studies, leasing and conservation, resource restoration and rehabilitation, hazards assessment and mitigation, regulatory activities, national defense, and basic and applied research. State and local governments employ geoscientists for geologic and soils mapping and resource management, natural resources, hazards evaluation and mitigation, public information activities, consulting, management, and communications. Environmental, engineering, and water resources firms further employ geoscientists for mapping, restoration and rehabilitation planning, monitoring and evaluation of geologic and built environment hazards, and in site feasibility evaluation and implementation of construction projects, water management and reuse evaluation, groundwater pollution assessment and remediation, and contaminant prevention and treatment. Schools, colleges, universities, national laboratories, and private research firms employ geoscientists in a variety of teaching, research, and administrative positions.

Participation in internships, volunteer activities, collaborative team-building activities, professional societies, education, and public outreach and engagement are highly encouraged and supported by the department via faculty, staff, and alumni mentoring to enhance training and career opportunities. Graduates who go on to pursue advanced degrees acquire a strong disciplinary base for diverse areas of graduate study, including environmental studies, energy, seismology, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, and the space sciences. Geoscientists with advanced degrees can often more effectively attain management-level and research positions. Careers include, but are not limited to: instructor, professor, environmental or geological entrepreneur or consultant, exploration professional geologist, petroleum geologist, environmental geologist, geophysicist, hydrologist, mining geologist, oceanographer, production geologist, researcher, resource evaluator, geobiologist, or seismologist. With additional training and diversification, geosciences graduates may pursue associated career directions in business, law, medicine, public policy, and other diverse professional fields. By obtaining teaching certification, graduates can become primary and secondary educators in geosciences.

Application Materials

All applicants for admission must submit an online application, $50 application fee or fee waiver request, and academic transcripts. Freshman/first-year applicants are required to submit a personal statement. The application includes an optional Academic Explanation section for applicants to provide more context for their performance and/or enrollment history. Recommendations and ACT/SAT scores are not required. The Office of Admissions may request additional information before completing a full review of an applicant’s application file.

Refer to the appropriate application guides for details.

Application Fee or Fee Waiver

An application fee is required as part of a complete application; a decision cannot be rendered without it. If payment of the application fee presents a financial hardship, applicants can request a fee waiver.

Refer to the Office of Admissions website for the application fee refund policy.

High School Transcript and proof of graduation (or equivalent)

High school performance, as reflected on a student's transcript(s), is an essential component of the admission decision for all freshman/first-year applicants and for transfer applicants with fewer than 30 post-high school credits.

High school transcripts for transfer applicants with more than 30 post-high school credits are considered only when needed to satisfy the admission requirement in mathematics.

All freshman/first year applicants and all transfers with fewer than 60 post-high school college credits must submit proof of high school graduation or equivalent prior to the start of their first semester of enrollment.

ACT/SAT results

ACT or SAT test scores are not required. Our review process is individualized, includes a range of academic and personal factors and emphasizes students’ efforts and achievement demonstrated over 3-4 years. Test scores are not given much weight in the admission decision and are not considered at all for scholarships. Students who wish to have their scores considered in the admission decision should email [email protected] with this request.

ACT or SAT results can be used for composition placement purposes and thus can be helpful to submit by any incoming student before orientation/registration.

College Transcript(s)

Freshman/first-year applicants typically are required to submit an official college transcript at the point of application only if college enrollment is being used as their full-time high school curriculum (such as early college, ASCENT and fifth-year programs, and some homeschool curricula). Refer to College-Level Courses Completed by High School Students for additional information.

Transfer applicants must submit an official college transcript from each college attended, regardless of the type of institution, amount or type of credit earned, and age of the credential, even if the work will be reflected in transfer on another transcript. No part of the previous collegiate record may be disregarded. Failure to include all institutions previously attended may result in the rescinding of admission, loss of credit, or disenrollment. Transcripts reflecting courses taken at vocational-technical institutes or colleges that are not regionally accredited can be helpful documentation and may be required, though they do not qualify an applicant for transfer applicant status or advanced-standing credit. 

Second Bachelor applicants are only required to submit an official transcript from the college/university from which they earned their first (or most recent) bachelor's degree. Official transcripts from other colleges/universities attended (if applicable) are encouraged if an applicant is seeking a competitive major or to demonstrate explicit pre-requisites for their new degree program.

Advanced standing credit (transfer credit) is only awarded from an official transcript.

International Applicants: Additional Requirements

In addition to the documents outlined above, applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the US also may be prompted to submit the following:

• A certified English translation of any academic credentials not in English
• Evidence of English Proficiency to be considered for direct admission
• An Immigration Information Form, financial support documentation and a copy of the passport identification page for immigration documentation

Application Timelines 

Students can begin their enrollment during fall semester (August start), spring semester (January start) or summer term (May/June start; not recommended for freshman/first-year students).

Applicants are encouraged to apply 6-12 months prior to the start of the term. Freshman/first-year applicants must have completed at least 75% of their high school curriculum (through junior year equivalent) before a decision can be rendered; transfer applicants must have no more than one academic term in progress when a decision is rendered. Second bachelor’s/post-bachelor candidates must be finished with their first degree or in their final term of enrollment with degree pending for a decision to be rendered.

Refer to the appropriate application guides for more detail about application dates and timelines.