[geo driver (OP)]

you sign up to take you degree its everything you want to do. then they give you more options planetary geology enviroment or earth science. i'm cursed to be interested in everything so the question is

which one covers the most science disciplines. i love it all and want to have a sound knowlage in everything instead of being ignorant in everthing

and i love geology

[geo driver (OP)]

yep tough choice eh

[geo driver (OP)]

sold then,

environmental science it is, cheers buddy, that should stop me being too stupid  []

[JimBob]

Hold on thar, Matilada!

[geo driver (OP)]

hold on to what

[JimBob]

I had to take a business call.

Plain old geology isn't so plain. Geology is the only science that I know of thaat has degree requirements for biology, chemistry and physics. For me to graduate with a degree in geology, I had to have taken courses in all of the other sciences in order to be able to just "get by."

Chemistry is a must to understand how rocks are formed from the basic elements in magma, how the minerals are put together, and how they are changed by different process both beneath and on the surface of the earth. Geochemist are a hardy lot, peering into volcanoes, digging miles beneath the surface and getting into hot water - literally.

Physics - How do the minerals get moved from one place to another. What are the forces involved? How much energy is needed? Where does the energy come from? How does the earth's surface move? What are the physics of earthquakes? How do layers of rock react to sound waves? How can these sound waves be used to deduce the structure of the earth and the types of rocks underneath the surface? What does the magnetic properties tell us about the present and the past? How do the electrical forces generated within the earth (magnetotellurics) help us understand the earth?

Biology - without a sound knowledge of the biology of organisms, trying to reconstruct the earths history is impossible. The fossils found are indicators of the environment they lived in. They tell us how old the layer they are in is. And, depending on the type, they are very good time indicators. Both plant and animal fossils are indicators of time and environment.   

On top of all of this, fitting all of the pieces together takes more art than science. The better right brain function you have the better you are at solving some of the more difficult problems that a geologist faces.

Making a simple geologic map requires a command of all of these disciplines of science. Geology is based on all the other science and requires one to know the other science well to do the job.

[geo driver (OP)]

hum im liking the geology

geez i like all of it.

i have bought books on chemistry, background fun reading cos i thought that i might need it for the corse.  its hard but i like it that way.

you got any reading suggestions? must have books to recommend? i think i need to read a lot more before decision time, the options are  compulsery in addition the the corse, so the degree is geo science but you major in geology or plantery ... ect

[geo driver (OP)]

in think at this point i should give you the motives for my taking this degree.

my daughter.  There is something wrong in the world if dads dont know everything
this isnt for a job. just sh1ts and giggles

geology sounds better leave the politics well out if it, it just does not intrest me, i have enough of that at work, and thats only in a group of pubs

[frethack]

in think at this point i should give you the motives for my taking this degree.

my daughter.  There is something wrong in the world if dads dont know everything
this isnt for a job. just sh1ts and giggles

geology sounds better leave the politics well out if it, it just does not intrest me, i have enough of that at work, and thats only in a group of pubs

Good thinking.  Politics has no place in science!

Im in a very similar situation to yours.  I dont have a daughter, but I am an older student (when I say older I mean thirty something older...not JimBob older  []).  UT doesnt allow you to declare your major until youve taken your basics, and by basics I mean intro geology thru mineralogy, and 2 semesters each of chemistry, biology, and physics.  By that time you have a good idea of what field you want to go into.  Do they want you to decide on a degree plan right away? 

If so, you should still be able to switch plans pretty easily up to your Junior year. 

My advice...do what you love most within the discipline...and get a graduate degree of some sort.  It takes a while, but a bachelors in geology will only guarantee you a job as a geotech for an oil company and not much more (still better than most other baccalaureate programs).  Have fun and talk with your professors about your interests and they will give you great advice on which program to go into.  Oh yeah...and get a BS...not a BA.

One last thing...find a mentor...someone with patience and knowledge.  Without JimBob I would have never made it as far as I have, and I would have missed out on a beautiful friendship.  It helps more than you realize.

[JimBob]

Awww, shucs ...


but you still have some things to work on, a hole - such as not correcting your betters.

[frethack]

I assume by "betters" you mean "elders".  Even the ant has something to learn from the grasshopper!

[JimBob]

No, I meant "betters."

geo driver, there are people with no gratitude everywhere. Don't take this as an indication of what to expect from most geologist. This above poster chose to live in Houston for most of his life. Once there, I got out as soon as I could. That should speak volumes about his judgment and mental capacity - just plain bad all around.  I took him on as a charity case.
 

[frethack]

JimBob can remember when schist was shale, so there really is no catching up to his wealth of knowledge and geologic wisdom, and yes it is true, without JimBob, I probably would have moved back to Hell (to be read: Houston) after my first semester.

The grasshopper can still be right now and again  []

[JimBob]

You see, he still love me - like his crazy uncle. Ah, the price of fame.

[geo driver (OP)]

Awsome guys. 

no the uni is not making me decide just yet and yeah i do have to do the basics like learn how to speeel,  but hay its always handy to have a plan, ideas, think ahead.

oh and its a bs i hopeing for

fret just remember the reason there older is normaly that there more cunning then mr fox,

but having said that........

[Geezer]

Woops! Sorry. I was about to take a cheap shot. I misread the title of your post. I thought it was

   "i'm a bit of a poser."

Just as well I checked again. []

[JimBob]

No comment on the subject - geo D , ignore this poor man - just too old for anything except causing trouble.

[Geezer]

Pay no attention to old JimBob. He's so old he didn't need to sit a driving test. Just as well really, 'cos he'd never get a license now.

[Mazurka]

... can remember when schist was shale

Is possibly the best geologist to geologist put down i have heard.

Filed away for futrue referrence, thank you.

 

[geo driver (OP)]

you mean theres a driving test in usa

the last / only time i was there i saw no evidence