Geology degrees combine science and business

New degrees at one of Idaho’s post-secondary institutions will give students more opportunities upon graduation and seeking work in their preferred industry.

Idaho State University recently added a master’s degree in geology with a concentration in geology management, the school announced. The degree will give graduates the ability to enter geosciences with an eye toward the administrative side of the industry.

“This degree is specifically intended for people who are chomping at the bit to enter their geosciences career and move up into managerial roles,” said Shannon Kobs Nawotniak, professor and chair of the geosciences department at Idaho State. “While the traditional research-track offers a student an opportunity to gain expertise in a very narrow application, the new master’s with a concentration in geology management replaces the thesis work with targeted courses from the Master’s of Business Administration program at Idaho State to ensure that the student has training in how businesses and management actually work.”

The degree differs from the course offering research concentration, ISU stated. The new degree requires students to take graduate-level geology classes and courses with a focus on management, leadership, decision making and negotiation, applied economics and other related topics.

“We are delighted by this partnership and the opportunity to offer courses toward this degree,” said Alex Bolinger, interim dean of ISU’s College of Business. “These courses address an array of skills that are crucial to successfully managing projects and teams in the geological sciences, from managing conflict and fostering collaboration to making strategic decisions and negotiating effectively across competing interests and priorities.”

Kobs Nawotniak added that the degree will help launch students into careers.

“Graduates of this program are not only qualified for careers as working geologists and environmental scientists, they are strategically positioned for management roles or to start their own consulting firms due to their increased knowledge of business,” Kobs Nawotniak said.

More information on the degree can be found at ISU’s Department of Geosciences website, isu.edu/geosciences.