Geology Field Experience

The State System’s Geology Field Experience is an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills to the investigation of Pennsylvania’s unique and varied geology. Students will work independently and in groups during a 3-week immersive, field-based course, to collect, analyze, and interpret field-based data and to develop scientific reports and presentations. Fundamental skills in Geology, such as lithologic and stratigraphic descriptions, surficial and bedrock mapping, and geophysical and environmental analyses, will be developed. The course is offered throughout Pennsylvania with field-based modules taught by experts from across the State System. 

The Geology Field Experience is part of a collaborative project, originally funded by the National Science Foundation, creating a Geoscience Learning Ecosystem (GLE) throughout the State System.  The GLE is a multi-faceted, sustainable initiative to foster statewide collaboration among faculty, industry partners, and all State System universities with Geoscience programs. Also part of the GLE are Geology Short Courses (GeoSLIP-STREAM) for high school students. Focused on underrepresented minorities, these courses will be interwoven and enhanced by participation with local/regional professional Geoscientists.   We expect the GLE to improve field-based instruction and learning for Pennsylvania students, with the goal of increasing their workforce and graduate school preparedness. The GLE will also introduce pre-college students to geoscience career pathways, with the goal of increasing URM participation in the geosciences. 

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Summer 2025 Highlights

In the summer of 2025, the Geoscience Field Course was jointly taught by faculty from Shippensburg University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with assistance from faculty at Kutztown University and PennWest University. The course involved students from six PASSHE universities and included activities at both host universities.

Twenty-three students developed essential traditional and modern geological field skills, including surficial and bedrock mapping, measured sections, geophysical imaging, drone imagery collection, and GIS analysis of landslides, karst topography, hydrology, and environmental geochemistry related to acid mine drainage remediation sites.

Throughout the course, students had opportunities for networking and professional development by engaging with industry professionals at the TopoGeo Survey in Middletown, PA, New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co.: Hinkletown Quarry, and the Allegheny Mineral: Harrisville Limestone Quarry. Participants also took part in an outreach event at an abandoned mine drainage remediation site in Lowber, PA, where they helped local high school students collect and test water samples to assess the effectiveness of the remediation efforts.