Geophysical Engineering

Experiential Major Menu

BS, Geophysical Engineering

WHERE GEOPHYSICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS GO

Students pursuits one-year post-graduation:

  • Employed: 36%
  • Further Education: 50%
  • International: 7%
  • Seeking: 7%

Industries of employment for students one-year out:

  • Aerospace/Defense/Aviation
  • Civil/Construction & Building Trades
  • Consulting
  • Energy – Oil & Gas
  • Government/ Public Sector
  • Mining

Job titles of our graduates one-year out:

  • Software Engineer
  • Field Geophysicist
  • Staff Geologist
  • Scientific Researcher
  • Geophysicist

*Data from 2022 graduates

This menu is a tool for you to use to explore opportunities at Mines outside of the classroom. These are not requirements, but rather recommendations to help you leverage what Mines has to offer. Just like at a restaurant, choose what looks best to you and start from there! This menu can help you create your own pathway and customize your experience during your time at Mines.

The activities are placed in specific years below based off staff and faculty recommendations, but you can participate in most of them at any time. There is never a wrong time to get involved if you’re looking, and no pressure to do any of these things!

Get to know Geophysical Engineering

The Department of Geophysics has an international reputation for excellence in applied geophysics. It is the oldest and broadest program of applied geophysics in North America, was the first U.S. university to offer a bachelor’s degree in geophysical engineering and is evenly balanced between undergraduate and graduate students and between research and teaching. Our degree in geophysical engineering allows you to specialize in one of six areas by choosing a track of courses in Climate, Energy, Hazards, Humanitarian, Minerals, or Space.

Geophysics and geophysical engineering have important roles to play in solving challenging problems facing Earth’s inhabitants, such as providing fresh water, food, and energy for the growing population, evaluating sites for underground construction and containment of hazardous waste, monitoring aging infrastructure, mitigating the threat of geohazards to populated areas, contributing to homeland security, evaluating changes in climate and managing society’s response to them, and exploring other planets.

Academic options in Geophysical Engineering

Explore the options below to see how to expand upon a Geophysical Engineering degree and what to expect from the course load.

Commonly Pursued Minors

4+1 Programs

  • Humanitarian Engineering, Engineering and Technology Management, Hydrologic Science and Engineering, Space Resources, Computer Science, Data Science, Geology & Geological Engineering

Academic Catalog

 

Get Involved

Attend Celebration of Mines in August to get to know campus organizations and academic departments, sample food, and play games. Below are some departments that offer many great opportunities to enhance your experience here at Mines.

I love geophysics not only because it is the best major but also because I have never met a group of people like the geophysics department; they are a group who wants to see you succeed

Peyton Chandler

Contact Us: 

924 16th Street, Room 283, Golden, CO 80401     https://geophysics.mines.edu      (303) 273-3451 geophysics@mines.edu 

Experiential Major Menu Opportunities

DOWNLOAD PDF of EMM

Browse the different opportunities within each year and themed Ore Cart to find ways to get involved. All activities are general campus opportunities unless they are in bold and have Departmental listed afterwards, then they are degree specific ways to get involved.

First Year

Leadership & Innovation

  • Explore opportunities to get involved with the Undergraduate Student Government
  • Explore options to get involved with RHA and Community Councils
  • Apply for the Environmental Leadership Lab trip and Scholars Program. Check the Daily Blast for more information in April.
  • Sign up to be a part of an Innov8x Challenge and explore the world of entrepreneurism by solving real world problems

Professional Development

Research, Creative & Scholarly Achievement

  • Explore the option of a summer with SURF
  • Pick up copies of The Oredigger to see what is going on at Mines and maybe contribute a written piece.
  • Explore how to get involved with research through different opportunities on campus

Inclusive & Impactful Civic Engagement

  • Join the department’s DI&A committee (Departmental)
  • Apply to work at College View Middle School in Denver as a tutor
  • Join Society of Women Engineers as a mentee
  • Attend the Study Abroad Fair this Fall to start exploring your options. Additional scholarships may be available.
  • Attend the annual Celebration of DI&A at Mines

Health & Wellness

Academic Success

  • Sign your family or support system up for the CASA First-Year Family Newsletter so they can support your academic success
  • Attend the Major Fair and declare a major in late April at Declaration Day with CASA. Keep an eye out for an announcement in the Daily Blast

Second Year

Leadership & Innovation

Professional Development

 

Research, Creative & Scholarly Achievement

Inclusive & Impactful Civic Engagement

Health & Wellness

Academic Success

  • Check out CASA for academic advising to go over your schedule and academic opportunities
  • Explore Bounce Back if you are needing to retake a course, on academic probation or returning from academic suspension

Third Year

Leadership & Innovation

  • Look into becoming a student assistant in Geophysics (Departmental)
  • Become an officer in your student organization
  • Apply to be an Undergraduate Writing Fellow, a peer tutor in the Writing Center. Check the Daily Blast for information in early October. 

Professional Development

  • Consider opportunities for graduate schools
  • Take Introduction to Research Ethics (SYGN 502) or Professional Oral Communication (LICM 501), both are graduate classes but accessible to Undergraduates.
  • Write an article for SWE’s annual newsletter
  • Be a tutor or lead core review with CASA 

Research, Creative & Scholarly Achievement

  • Show your research outcomes in Reuleaux
  • Explore options to join a musical group on campus or Mines Little Theater
  • Take Research, Values, and Communication (HASS 360)
  • Co-author a paper with a fellow student or faculty member
  • Manage departmental or student organization’s web and/or social media presence

Inclusive & Impactful Civic Engagement

  • Assist with Trick-or-Treat so Golden Can Eat, more information in Daily Blast
  • Tutoring at local high schools
  • Explore DI&A workshops along with trainings from SHAPE
  • Join the departmental DI&A Council
  • Serve as a panelist at Making The Connection or other recruitment events
  • Coordinate an S2S community service event 

Health & Wellness

Academic Success

  • Meet with CASAto go over your schedule and talk about possible graduate opportunities including 4+1 programs
  • Start to request letters of recommendation from faculty or supervisors for graduate school or jobs

Fourth Year

Leadership & Innovation

  • Expand your leadership in your organization
  • Take CSM 350: Special Studies in Leadership & Small Group Dynamics

Professional Development

  • Look for full time employment at Career Day and on DiggerNet.
  • Take advantage of the Career Center’s Offer Letter Review

Research, Creative & Scholarly Achievement

Inclusive & Impactful Civic Engagement

  • Tutor at a local high school
  • Volunteer as a mentor for K-14 student with Rocky Mountain MESA
  • Take Art & Environmentalism in Italy
  • Apply for a Mines DI&A community grant to help promote an inclusive campus
  • Facilitate a workshop at Celebration of DI&A at Mines. Keep an eye on the Daily Blast for calls for proposals.

Health & Wellness

  • Show your loved ones everything you love about Mines at Family & Friends weekend
  • Participate in the Imposter Syndrome Peer Education workshop before heading out into the workforce or graduate school
  • Help manage your stress with a Balanced Box
  • Take a Self-Check at YOU@Mines
  • Do a QPR refresh 

Academic Success

  • Mandatory senior design research  experience
  • Apply to graduate school and/or jobs