February 17, 2023
Double majoring in Geology and Biology at Shawnee State University, sophomore Layne Williams has found herself able to discover her interests on campus. The Flatwoods, Kentucky native chose to attend SSU because of how close it was to home and the scholarships that she received. Picking her education path was one more easy fit for her.
“I have always been interested in the natural sciences,” said Williams. “I like learning about rocks, animals, plants, and other things like that.”
Within her Geology major, Williams has enjoyed being able to gain hands-on experience by traveling to conventions and geological sites within the region. Recently, she had the opportunity to travel with her classmates to the National Geology Conference held in Denver, Colorado.
“It was really cool,” she said. “We listened to a lot of different presentations and learned a lot while we were there.”
Although Williams is still narrowing down what she wants to do with her majors after graduation, she feels that SSU has fully prepared her for her next steps.
“The small class sizes have made it helpful to have that interpersonal connection with professors and feel comfortable enough to ask questions,” she said.
SSU’s Geology program offers two tracks within its bachelor’s degree – Professional and Environmental. The two tracks allow students to choose a path where they can enter the workforce immediately with the skills they’ve gained or they can apply to graduate school to prepare for a master or doctorate level degree. Studying the Earth’s materials, structures, and processes and how they have changed through time, SSU geology students can apply their classroom education In field and research opportunities. Most careers within geology will include a mix of fieldwork, laboratory work, and office work, meaning SSU’s unique field-oriented curriculum prepares students for the next step in their career.
To learn more about the Geology program at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/geology.