About UVU's Earth Science Department | Utah Valley University

Department Chair Welcome

In the Department of Earth Science at UVU, our #1 goal is to provide students with rewarding, dynamic educational experience. We pride ourselves on being able to offer personal attention to the needs of students with diverse backgrounds and educational goals. Our degree programs provide a wide range of skills and knowledge that are applicable to today´s earth science job markets, as well as a broad-based general science education that´s ideal for students planning to continue to graduate programs in law, business, or medical fields. We incorporate field trips and/or practical working experience in nearly all of our courses. Our easy access to the geology of the Wasatch Range and Utah´s National Parks, our ties to local employers, and our diverse, dynamic faculty make the UVU Department of Earth Science a natural choice for anyone pursuing an education in the earth sciences.

Weihong Wang

Professor
Department Chair

Geography

[email protected]

More Information

801.863.7607 | PS 218 | MS: 179

Earth Science Department Mission

The Department of Earth Science is dedicated to preparing students for professional and personal challenges through rigorous and interdisciplinary programs focused on Earth systems and resources. Our high-quality instruction and exceptional support equip graduates with transferable skills and practical knowledge, empowering them to pursue impactful careers, tackle complex environmental and geoscience issues with integrity and expertise, and emphasize sustainability and the ethical use of Earth's resources. Students can tailor their educational journey by choosing to focus on geology, environmental science and management, Earth science education, and geography and environmental studies, allowing them flexibility to specialize in their area of interest while benefiting from our comprehensive approach to Earth sciences.

About the Earth Science Department

The Earth Science faculty at UVU is devoted to dynamic, effective undergraduate education. Our department includes 13 full-time faculty members who have expertise in soil and water resources, earthquake and landslide hazards, natural resource management, environmental policy, geochemistry, geographic information systems, the growth of mountain ranges, the formation of rocks and minerals, and paleontology. Our courses emphasize the practical aspects of the course material, and we take great advantage of Utah’s amazing opportunity for course-related field work. In addition to great classes, our students participate in extracurricular field trips throughout the western U.S., and they are active in a variety of research projects.

If you are interested in any of these areas, please contact the Earth Science Advisor, or Department Chair.

Earth Science Advisors

Research Areas & Faculty

Anthropology

Anthropology explores the study of human societies, cultures, and their evolution over time.

Biogeochemistry

Biogeochemistry investigates the chemical processes and cycles that occur in the environment, involving the interactions between living organisms and the Earth's geological systems.

Environmental Science & Management

Environmental Science & Management focuses on understanding and addressing environmental issues, emphasizing sustainable practices and resource management.

Geomorphology

Geomorphology examines the formation and evolution of Earth's landforms, studying processes like erosion, weathering, and deposition.

Geoscience Education

Geoscience Education involves the study and improvement of methods for teaching and learning geoscience concepts.

Human Geography

Human Geography explores the spatial relationships between people and their environments, analyzing patterns of population, culture, and economic activity.

Hydrology

Hydrology investigates the distribution, movement, and properties of water in the atmosphere and on Earth's surface.

Paleoclimatology

Paleoclimatology studies past climates by examining climate proxies such as ice cores, tree rings, and sediment layers.

Paleontology, Sedimentology

Paleontology involves the study of fossils to understand the history of life on Earth and the evolution of species.

Petrology, Geochemistry Petrology, Geochemistry

Petrology examines the composition, origin, and classification of rocks to understand Earth's crustal processes.

Physical Geology

Physical Geology focuses on the study of Earth's materials, processes, and features, including rocks, minerals, and landforms.

Structural Geology

Structural Geology investigates the deformation and arrangement of rocks in the Earth's crust, analyzing the forces that shape the Earth's lithosphere.

Faculty & Staff

Rachel Atkins

Assistant Professor