rainbow over the mountains

Geosciences & Natural Resources Department

Build a career that can shape the world we live in through WCU's leading programs on the environment. Students have extensive opportunities for hands-on learning through field experiences, undergraduate research, and professional mentorship by internationally-recognized faculty.

Students gain hands-on learning in the field while our campus and region provide many fieldwork opportunities. The department maintains close relationships with affiliates that support educational and research experiences for students. 

        field Experiences                                         Undergraduate Research                                      Faculty / Contact Us

 

Our Degree Programs

The Geosciences and Natural Resources Department is comprised by a wide range of geoscience-based disciplines, which are represented through 5 different programs.

Offered as -

With four concentrations, students to gain a deep understanding of their chosen field, while maintaining an broader knowledge of another discipline while preparing them to teach science at the secondary level.

Offered as a Bachelor's Degree - Major ; which requires to be taken as a in conjuction with another major degree. 

Flexibility and customization is the hallmark of this interdisciplinary program where students interested in protecting the environment develop expertise in evaluating the human effects and building sustainable solutions.

Offered as Bachelor's Degree - Minor only

Offered as both a Bachelor's Degree - Major or Minor

An interdisciplinary science, students explore a curriculum in the heart of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. They gain a solid foundation applicable to many careers with hands-on projects, field research, and career-focused concentrations.

Offered as both a Bachelor's Degree - Major or Minor

Located in one of the most bio-diverse regions globally, students have access to resources in a natural laboratory for hands-on studying focused on the conservation and sustainable management of our natural resources. 

 

 

A teach educating a student in an outdoor classroom Earth Science Education With four concentrations, students to gain a deep understanding of their chosen field, while maintaining an broader knowledge of another discipline while preparing them to teach science at the secondary level. /learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/arts-and-sciences-interdisciplinary-programs/secondary-science-education.aspx
Students studying in an outdoor classroom with fall leaf colors on the trees Environmental Science Flexibility and customization is the hallmark of this interdisciplinary program where students interested in protecting the environment develop expertise in evaluating the human effects and building sustainable solutions. /learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/science-and-math/gnr/environmental-science.aspx
Students studying soil samples in a classroom Geology An interdisciplinary science, students explore a curriculum in the heart of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. They gain a solid foundation applicable to many careers with hands-on projects, field research, and career-focused concentrations. /learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/science-and-math/gnr/geol/index.aspx
Students measuring trees Natural Resource Conservation and Management Located in one of the most bio-diverse regions globally, students have access to resources in a natural laboratory for hands-on studying focused on the conservation and sustainable management of our natural resources.  /learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/science-and-math/gnr/nrcm.aspx