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Admissions Office

Financial Aid Office

ACCEPTANCE RATE

68.71%

FINANCIAL AID RATE

88%

STUDENT TEACHER RATIO

17:1

DEGREE OFFERED ONLINE

38

FINANCIAL AID AWARD AVG.

$6,218

Average Grants + Scholarship Aid Awarded to Undergraduate Students

Percent of Full-Time Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid

Percent of Students Paying In-State Tuition vs Out-of-State Tuition

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Geology Degree

The geology degree program at Western Carolina University will help students gain knowledge in the earth sciences, including the behavior of solids, liquids, and gases that compromise the earth, as well as the forces that act upon it. Students who graduate the geology degree program may follow a career path in paleontology, stratigraphy, geological mapping, and more. Courses include instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, and geophysical principles. Get more details below including other North Carolina colleges that offer geology degrees.

Learn more by requesting information now!

Western Carolina University (WSSU)

601 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Winston-Salem, NC

Western Carolina University is a public institution located in Cullowhee, North Carolina and provides a large number of degree programs for students. Approximately nine thousand students are enrolled per year at WCU.

Here is a list of some of the popular programs WCU offers:

  • Education
  • Health And Clinical Professions
  • Security And Protective Services
  • Business And Marketing Studies

The admissions process starts with the submission of an application, transcripts, records, and test scores, which are then evaluated by the admissions office. Either the ACT or SAT exam must be taken in order to be able to apply to WCU. Scores between 19 to 24 on the ACT or 1390 to 1660 on the SAT are needed to greatly increase the chance of getting accepted. This school has an acceptance rate of about 39 percent of which only 25 percent chose to attend. More information from the admissions office can be found at wcu.edu.

The cost of undergraduate tuition is different for in-state and out-of-state residents. In-state residents pay nearly $5,900 and nonresidents pay $16,000 annually. The cost of on-campus housing is about $3,700 annually. Some students at this school may be eligible for financial aid, which is generally offered as scholarships, grants, and loans.

The Western Carolina University "Catamounts" compete in a number of intercollegiate sports through participation in the NCAA. Available athletic programs offered may include but not limited to:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division I-AA)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division I-AA)
  • Track & Field (NCAA Division I-AA)
  • Football (NCAA Division I-AA)

Students who would like to get more about Western Carolina University can take a look at their website at http://www.wcu.edu.

Students Enrolled in the Geology Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Western Carolina University offers a bachelor's degree program in geology.

Students by Gender (2019)

 Graduates
Male10
Female2

Students by Race (2019)

 Graduates
Asian1
Hispanic3
White8

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Students who have completed the Geology program at WSSU, have entered into some of these more popular career paths listed below:

Natural Sciences Managers

Description

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, natural sciences managers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 3.3% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

  • Winston-Salem, NC
    • Total Employment: 50
    • Average Hourly Rate: $63.87
    • Average Annual Salary: $132860

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

Description

Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, crystallographers, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 10.5% from 2014 to 2024

Hydrologists

Description

Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation, its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and its return to the ocean and atmosphere.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, hydrologists employment is expected to grow at a rate of 6.9% from 2014 to 2024

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Admission Requirements & Details

The admissions information below may give you an idea of the candidates Western Carolina University accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college or dual credits that may be transferred.

College Credits Accepted

  • Dual Credits
  • Life Experience Credits
  • AP Course Credits
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Academics & Student Services

Student Services

To help support students, Western Carolina University may offer student services including:

  • Online classes
  • Career path counseling
  • Employing students to lower education costs
  • Helping students find work after graduation
  • Day care for children

Intercollegiate Athletics

Western Carolina University is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports being in the NCAA Division I-FCS classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:

  • Baseball (Southern Conference)
  • Basketball (Southern Conference)
  • Track and Field (Southern Conference)
  • Football (Southern Conference)
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball