Geology is a major branch of science that studies the Earth's surface, its various physical components and their properties, environment, the processes involved in the functioning of the river, tsunami, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters.
Candidates can pursue several undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses in this field such as BSc in Geology, MSc in Applied Geology, etc. For further higher studies, they can also pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Geology and many more. Apart from these courses some diploma and certification courses are also available.
There are many government and private colleges that offer courses in Geology. Admission to these colleges is granted based on the rank secured in the entrance exam or marks obtained in 10+2. Some of the popular colleges for Geology are Presidency College Chennai, St. Xavier's College Mumbai and many others.
The job opportunities in the field of Geology are increasing day by day. Graduates from this field are in high demand by both private as well as government sectors. Some of the most popular professions are Petroleum Geologists, Environmental Geologists, Volcanologists, Paleontologists, etc. In India, the average starting salary in this field is INR 5,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 per annum.
Check out: How to become Geologist
Table of Contents
2.1 Diploma Courses
2.3 Master’s Courses
2.4 PhD Courses
2.5 Why study Geology Courses?
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Geology Courses
- UG Syllabus for Geology
- PG Syllabus for Geology
- PhD Syllabus for Geology
- Geology Courses Jobs Scope
7.1 Average Salary
Courses in Geology: Highlights
| Course Name | Duration | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma of Associateship in Applied Geology | 1 year | A minimum of 55% in 10+2 level or equivalent from a recognized Board. (Main subjects: Physics, Mathematics & Chemistry) |
| Bachelor Courses | 3 years | A minimum of 55% in 10+2 level or equivalent from a recognized Board. (Main subjects: Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry) |
| Bachelor of Science in Geology | ||
| Bachelor of Science Honours in Geology | ||
| Master of Science (MSc) in Applied Geology and Geoinformatics | 2 years | A minimum of 55% in Bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized college or university. |
| Master of Science in Applied Geology | ||
| Master of Geology in Earth Science and Resource Management | ||
| Master of Science in Geology | ||
| Master of Science in Petroleum Geology | ||
| Master of Science and Technology in Geology | ||
| Master of Philosophy in Applied Geology | ||
| Master of Philosophy in Geology | ||
| Doctorate Courses | 3 years | A minimum of 55% in Master’s degree in Geology from a recognized University. |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences | ||
| Doctor of Philosophy in Geology | ||
| Specialized Courses of Geology | 5-year Integrated Course 2 years M.Tech Course | 10+2 level with PCM & JEE scores. & BTech/MSc/BE degree & GATE scores |
| Integrated course in Exploration Geophysics | ||
| MTech in Geology & Geophysics |
Check: BSc Geology Colleges in India
Types of Geology Courses
The table below shows the list of courses and their average course fees.
| Type of Course | Average Course Fee |
|---|---|
| Diploma Course | Varies based on the Institution |
| Bachelor’s Course | INR 10,000 - 1,00,000 per annum |
| Master’s Course | INR 30,000 - 1,00,000 per annum |
| Doctorate Course | INR 1,00,000 - 2,00,000 per annum |
Check: MSc Geology Colleges in India
Why Study Geology Courses?
Geology course deals with the quest and discovery of various unknown facts about the Earth, Universe, Natural resources, Soil conservation & Agricultural Productivity, Strategies to reduce human suffering & property loss from natural disasters, and sustainable development of ecosystems.
Moreover, students must opt for a geology course because of the following reasons.
- Opportunity to travel, gather practical experiences and broaden one’s horizon.
- Freedom of working outdoors.
- High recruitment of 1st class jobs in public sector companies like ONGC, CIL, NMDC, AMD, & MECL.
- A decent salary.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Geology Course
The Geology course has a broader scope both in India and abroad. It depends on the students how they engage themselves in developing their career after pursuing Geology.
Students seek job opportunities in industrial sectors, and various Departments in the Ministries of India like the Archaeological Department, Disaster Management, etc. They can also go for research activities in the academic field.
In the present time, the Geology course is in great demand among students because it prepares them to be full-fledged dynamic thinkers and researchers to carry out good research. Though there are many advantages of the course there are some disadvantages too.
Advantages of the course
- Learning will be fun for those students interested in adventure and exploration.
- Every day offers a new experience with new ideas.
- Huge career opportunities.
- Discovery of new concepts, facts, & theories related to Earth.
- Students can take up many advanced projects.
Disadvantages of the course
- No physical security.
- Physically challenging in work at risky locations.
- Irregular working hours while working in a field.
- No control over job security is directly proportional to the value of a commodity.
- Funding scarcity in research projects.
Geology Subjects for Bachelors Courses
The table below shows the list of Bachelor’s courses and their subjects.
| Semester | Subjects of Geology for Bachelor’s Degree |
|---|---|
| Semester I & II | Structural Geology Physical Geology & Geomorphology Mineralogy Crystallography & Mineral Optics |
| Semester III & IV | Stratigraphy Palaeontology Petrology I Petrology II |
| Semester V & VI | Exploration Geology and Remote Sensing Economic Geology Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Engineering Geology and Mining Geology |
Check: B.Sc in Geology Subjects
Geology Subjects for Masters Courses
The table below shows the list of Master’s courses and their subjects.
| Semester | Subjects of Geology for Master’s Courses |
|---|---|
| Semester I | Sedimentary Petrology Metamorphic Petrology Igneous Petrology Mineralogy, Optics, and Crystallography |
| Semester II | Economic Geology Structural Geology and Geo-Technics Remote Sensing and Geomorphology Stratigraphy & Paleontology |
| Semester III | Geochemistry Geophysics & Exploration Methods Hydrogeology An optional paper: Geoinformatics Mining Geology Gemology and Industrial Mineralogy Marine Geology |
| Semester IV | Environmental Geology Natural Resource Management Geo-Techniques and Engineering Geology Dissertation |
Check: M.Sc of Geology Subjects
Geology Subjects for Doctorate Courses
The subjects for Doctorate courses of Geology are mentioned below:
- Literature Review
- Geological Survey
- Remote Sensing
- Sampling
- Microscopy
- Geochemical Analysis
- Geo-Scientific Writing, etc.
Check: PhD in Geology Subjects
Geology Courses Jobs Scope
The Geology course has innumerable options to study Earth and nature like ecological balance, protection of ecology, minerals exploration, resource management, soil conservation, rock formation, etc.
Due to the rapid increase in global warming and other environmental problems resulting in hazardous consequences, new trends are arising in geology.
The upcoming trends are Interdisciplinary work, Quantification, and Monitoring. A different isolated system should be created as an alternative model to conduct research and get expected results.
Salary After Geology Courses
The table below shows the job profiles and average salaries for Geology students.
| Job Profiles | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Geologist | INR 5,00,000 to INR 6,00,000 |
| Geographer | INR 6,00,000 |
| Petroleum Geologist | INR 8,00,000 to INR 9,00,000 |
| Marine Geologist | INR 7,00,000 to INR 8,00,000 |
| Hydrogeologist | INR 5,00,000 to INR 6,00,000 |
| Palaeontologist | INR 5,00,000 to INR 6,00,000 |
| Oceanographers | INR 8,00,000 to INR 9,00,000 |
| Seismologist | INR 9,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 |
| Meteorologists | INR 7,00,000 to INR 8,00,000 |
| Mining Geologist | INR 9,00,000 to INR 11,50,000 |
| Environmental Scientists | INR 5,00,000 |
Top Recruiters of Geology in Public Sector
Listed below are the top recruiters in the public sector for the graduates of Geology courses:
- Geological Survey of India(GSI)
- Central Ground Water Board
- Oil & Natural Gas Commission(ONGC)
- Coal India
- Indian Bureau of Mines
- Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO)
- Minerals & Metal Trading Corporation(MMTC)
- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
- Hindustan Zinc Limited
- National Hydroelectric Power Corporation(NHPC)
Top Recruiters of Geology in Private Sector
Some of the top recruiters in the private sector provide employment to the graduates of Geology Courses are:
- Accenture
- Shell
- Reliance Industries
- Emerson
- Schlumberger
- Cairn Energy India Private Limited
- Paras Defence & Space Technologies Limited
- C.E Testing Company Private Limited
- Petral GeoEngineers Private Limited
- MNF Valves Private Limited
Geology Courses FAQs
Ques. What are the colleges & universities in India to offer M.Sc. in Geology?
Ans. The colleges & universities in India to offer M.Sc. in Geology are Hans Raj College, IIT Kharagpur, Fergusson College, Ravenshaw University Cuttack, Manipal Institute of Technology, M.G. Science Institute Ahmedabad, Delhi College of Mines, Banaras Hindu University, Jadavpur University, Pondicherry University, University of Madras, Acharya Nagarjuna University, etc. Check Top colleges & universities of M.Sc Geology
Ques. What are the entrance exams for M.Sc In Geology?
Ans. The entrance exams for M.Sc. Geology is:
- Joint Admission Test for Masters(JAM) is conducted by IITs to get admitted into the top IIT colleges of India,
- IIT- ISM Dhanbad. The Indian School of Mines conducts this exam which has been incorporated with JAM from 2018.
- BHU, Pondicherry University, Jadavpur University conduct separate entrance exams for M.Sc. In Geology.
Ques. What are the skills required for Geology?
Ans. Students interested in Geology must have some required set of skills like analysis, observation, data collection, patience, time management, teamwork, cooperation, problem-solving, decision-making skills, organizational skills, verbal & written skills, technical knowledge, the idea of planning programs, and developing projects, ability to understand basic concepts of engineering, etc.
Ques. What are the top universities abroad to offer PhD programs in Geology?
Ans. The top Universities abroad to offer PhD programs in Geology are:
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
- University of Oxford
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of Cambridge
- Harvard University
- The Australian National University
- California Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of Washington
Ques. What are the branches of Geology?
Ans. The branches of Geology are Geochemistry, Oceanography, Paleontology, and Sedimentology. There are also some additional branches. They are:
Benthic Ecology, Biostratigraphy, Geochronology, Geophysics, Marine Geochemistry, Marine Geophysics, Marine Surveying, and Spectral Geology.
Ques. Which universities in India provide M.Phil in Geology?
Ans. Universities like Utkal University, Gulbarga University, Karnataka University, Khallikote University, Periyar University, Pt. RaviShankar Shukla University, Shivaji University, Solapur University, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Delhi University, University of Kerala, Madras University, Vikram University offer M.Phil in Geology.
Ques. What are the topics for IIT JAM Geology?
Ans. The topics for IIT JAM geology are: Planet Earth, Structural Geology, Stratigraphy, Petrology, Palaeontology, Mineralogy, Geomorphology, Economic Geology, and Applied Geology.
Ques. What are the books for preparation of M.Sc. Geology entrance exam?
Ans. For the preparation of M.Sc. the geology entrance exam, students can refer to books-
Physical Geology by Mukherjee Geo-Dynamic, Geomorphology by M.J Selby, Structural Geology by Professor Haakon Fossen, Introduction to Palaeontology by Arnold, Stratigraphic Principles and Practice by J.M Weller, Optical Mineralogy by P.K Verma, Igneous Petrology by M.K Bose, Industrial Minerals & Rocks of India by Deb, and Groundwater Hydrology by Trodd & Karanth.
Ques. Which is the highest-paid job profile of geology in India?
Ans. Well-site Geologists earn the highest salary of INR 33,00,000 in a year, followed by chief geologists who get INR 30,00,000 and consultant geologists who receive INR 25,00,000 per annum.
Ques. What is the salary of geologists at OIL?
Ans. The starting salary of geologists at Oil India Limited is INR 40,000 every month. It also increases from time to time, based on the pay scale.







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