Pitt does not offer its own field camp, so you get to pick one that best meets your interests and summer schedule. Here is a list of field camps. Not all of these field camps will count for the geology degree--in general avoid those that are fewer than 4 credits. For example, there are a number of 3-credit field camps to exotic places like Iceland, Nepal, and the Galapagos. While interesting, these camps tend to focus on sophomore-level learning, and they are not true capstone experiences that allow you to cement and advance your undergraduate learning.
What Counts as a Geology Summer Field Camp
The geology summer field camp is the capstone course for the geology major. A capstone course should reinforce and advance all of the skills you acquired as an undergraduate. People often return from field camp full of enthusiasm because they finally feel like a real geologist.
A geology field camp should be 4 to 6 weeks long. It should include mapping several different areas, drafting cross-sections and plotting other data, and writing final reports that summarize the observations and discuss the inferred geologic history of the map areas. Some field camps include hydrogeology or other specialized components.
When to Sign Up for Field Camp
It is best to take your field camp after you’ve completed your core geology classes, especially GEOL 1100 Structural Geology. Many students take their field camp in the summer after they have completed their senior year. Seniors can still go through the spring graduation ceremonies (no one gets their diploma at graduation!). The only difference is that you apply for August graduation instead of April. Once you've picked a field camp, get you advisor's approval by completing item 1 "Before you go" below!
Exceptions
Every geology major must take some sort of field course that involves geology. Exceptions to the standard field courses tend to be made only when a student has an exceptionally focused interest and identifies an alternative that is rigorous and clearly functions to advance career or academic interests.
The most common exception is when a student decides to take a hydrogeology field camp. There are several out there, but you want to pick one that lasts at least four weeks and that works up to capstone projects in which you gather data, create maps and other diagrams, and write reports describing your results and how they helped address a particular question. Note: Some regular geology field camps include hydrology (e.g. Indiana University)!
Scholarships
Please check out the Scholarships and Grants link (at right) to learn more about funds to pay for field courses, undergraduate research, and more..
Getting your Geology Summer Field Camp approved by Pitt
There are only two things you need to do to get your summer field camp approved by Pitt:
- Before you sign up for your camp, get Dr. Jones's approval by sending him a link to the field camp course description. He will then send this approval to Student Records so that it will transfer in as GEOL 1960 Geology Summer Field Camp.
- After the field course is completed, get the transcript sent directly to Pitt's Student Records from the university that ran the field camp. The host university can e-mail an official electronic transcript to studentrecords@as.pitt.edu, or they can mail an official transcript directly to:
Student Records
140 Thackeray Hall
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Student Records will not accept unofficial transcripts, and your grade must be a C or better for the credits to transfer.