Academics, opportunities and resources in the Jackson School of Geosciences

The Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin unites one of the largest and most respected academic departments of geological sciences with two world-renowned research units, the Institute for Geophysics and the Bureau of Economic Geology.

Covering the full breadth of geoscience research and practice, the school is one of the few earth science institutions to combine a strong tradition of basic, collaborative research with a robust program of applied research, creating a unique opportunity for students and scientists at all levels.

The mission of the Jackson School is

• To develop and pursue bold initiatives in the geosciences.
• To promote teaching and research excellence in the geological sciences.
• To develop strengths and synergies from the combined resources of the Department of Geological Sciences, the Bureau of Economic Geology, the Institute for Geophysics, and other academic units to achieve prominence and quality ranking among the top geoscience programs in the United States.

Opportunities and Resources for Geoscience Students

• Interested in reading more about the Jackson School? Take a look at our most recent news articles.
• Get an overview and learn about the benefits of the Jackson School’s undergraduate program.
• Learn what you can do with a degree in Geological Sciences.
• Do you think looking at rocks is fun? Find out about the Undergraduate Geological Society.
• Are you interested in teaching? UTeach prepares and supports secondary mathematics, science, and computer science teachers at UT Austin.

Departments and Research Units

The Department of Geological Sciences is one of the largest and most diverse geoscience departments in the United States. The Department's doctoral programs in stratigraphy, sedimentology, paleontology, hydrogeology, and tectonics are highly ranked. Internationally recognized research programs span the spectrum of the earth sciences around the globe.

The Bureau of Economic Geology is the oldest organized research unit at UT Austin. It enjoys an international reputation for excellence in energy and environmental research. Serving Texas as the State Geological Survey, it maintains an archive of down hole geophysical logs from oil and gas wells and manages the largest public core repository in the United States.

The University of Texas Institute for Geophysics was founded in 1972 by renowned geophysicist Maurice Ewing. Today, scientists conduct a variety of research programs investigating the geophysical processes that influence Earth's structure and climate. An international leader in marine geophysics, UTIG's research programs always include large-scale, multi-institutional field projects. It also has a long-standing involvement in multinational ocean drilling programs including the Deep Sea Drilling Project, the Ocean Drilling Program, and the planned Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.

Special Requirements

In addition to completing an application for admission, prospective Jackson School students should also learn about special application and program requirements for freshman applicants and transfer applicants.

Applying to the Jackson School of Geosciences

Looking for information about the majors offered by the University of Texas at Austin? Visit the Majors page for a list of freshman and transfer majors in each college and school, many with links to details about the program.

Think you’re ready to select geosciences as your major choice? Learn about applying for freshman admission or transfer admission.