Qualifications
Hundreds of universities and colleges offer bachelor's degrees in geology, Earth Science, or other related fields. Some of these fields include geohydrology, paleobiology, geophysics, geological sciences, and climate and environmental emphasis. While in an undergraduate program, focus your energy on making good grades, especially in science. It will help you get into a good graduate program.
If you decide to avoid the debt from graduate school, you can get an entry-level geologist job. McDonald's needs a geologist to break up their asphalt parking lot.
No, seriously. Private industries and consulting firms look for geologists, who can effectively communicate, know the basics of technical geology areas, work independently, and are able to travel if necessary. Some companies look for geologists who are certified by the Mine Safety and Health Administration or National Association of State Boards of Geology.
For those who want to focus on a geology specialization or get a higher paying job, you need to have a master's degree. After years of banging on rocks, this is the time to choose a specific focus. Master's degrees focus on specific areas. For example, a Master of Science in Applied Geosciences Program allows students to choose from fields like hydrogeology, environmental geology, and engineering geology (source).
This program requires geologists to learn more about waste disposal, soil and water contamination, safe energy extraction methods, and human-induced disasters (like the 2011 Academy Awards). After graduate school, a geologist can go on to work for the federal government, the State Environmental Protection Agency, private industries, geochemical laboratories, city planning offices, or schools.