The world needs professionals who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
Geophysicists are closely involved in gathering subsurface data for laboratory interpretation—and a bachelor’s degree in applied geophysics from Michigan Tech will equip you with the skills needed to conduct site investigations using advanced technology and geophysical techniques, such as signal processing.
You will also gain a rock-solid understanding of the Earth’s climatic history and paleogeography, the identification of oil and gas reserves or water supplies, and the evaluation and mitigation of natural hazards. The program’s curriculum focuses on the application of physics to studying the Earth, with the benefit of humankind and the environment at its core. Specialty areas in geophysics include the following:
- Volcanology
- Oceanography
- Natural hazards mitigation
- Remote sensing
- Geographic information system (GIS) mapping
- Natural resources (ecology and/or forestry)
- Oil or gas exploration and recovery
- Seismology
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18students for average class size
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14schools nationally offering geological or mining engineering programs
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5:1undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio
Tomorrow Needs Applied Critical Thinking
The daily duties of geoscientists, such as geophysicists, could include investigating natural phenomena and collecting data on location, interpreting the results in a lab, and writing reports. Field studies bring geoscientists to diverse landscapes around the globe—from volcanoes to oceans to oil fields. Geoscientists must have the ability to develop a picture of a field site based on limited data; therefore, sound critical-thinking skills are advantageous in this discipline. Due to the nature of their work, these professionals must adapt to a variety of situations and working conditions.
Be Career-ready
Discover a world of opportunity. A bachelor’s degree in applied geophysics will prepare you for a career in industry or graduate study. Generally, geophysicists employed in industry spend part of their working time outdoors enjoying nature and, if desired, traveling the world. Students interested in certain sectors of industry, such as oil exploration, or a career in academia should explore graduate education options. An advanced degree provides greater specialization.
Each year, more than 400 employers come to campus to recruit Huskies at our career fairs and our business grads go on to work at Fortune 500 companies, tech startups, small businesses, and everything in between.
Career Opportunities for Applied Geophysics
- Groundwater and surface water monitoring and cleaning
- Natural-hazards mitigation
- Satellite remote sensing of environmental processes
- GIS mapping of environmental data
- Site investigations of underground hazards
- Slope failure investigations
- Oil or gas exploration and recovery
- Subsurface visualization
- Natural and induced seismicity evaluation