Discover the fascinating world of earth sciences by pursuing an Associate of Science degree in Geology at WCJC. Our program prepares you for further education and opens the door to a dynamic career in this ever-evolving field.
Explore career paths in geological surveying, environmental consulting, natural resource management, education, research, and more. Our program not only prepares you for immediate entry into the workforce but also serves as a stepping stone to continuing your education and earning a bachelor's degree at a four-year institution. The world of Geology is full of potential, and our comprehensive curriculum ensures you're ready to seize these exciting opportunities.
Find more information, including wages and education requirements, on Career Coach!
Inks Lake at a Glance: Come visit the Devil's Waterhole," at Inks Lake State Park and see the oldest rocks in Texas. These Proterozoic metamorphic rocks (~1.2 Ba) are crosscut by intrusions of bright pink granites ~1.0-1.1 Ba). In their heyday, the mountains here would have been as tall as the Rockies, and all that is left now are the metamorphic cores, and igneous intrusions. We even have rocks that tell us there used to be an ocean here and as the mountains were formed the oceanic crust disappeared back in to the mantle.
Badu at a Glance: Weird, radioactive and partly covered by the highland lakes, the Badu Pegmatite (~1.0 Ba), exposed at the Badu Quarry, contains some of the most interesting and rare elements you can find throughout the state of Texas.
Serpentinites and their importance: In short, this river contains pieces of rock, serpentinite (~1.2-1.3 Ba) that are often associated with metamorphosed ocean crust, a partial Ophiolite, and this is the evidence of our lost ocean.
Mr. Anderson received his B.S. in Geology from West Virginia University in 2009. Upon his completion of his B.S., he moved to Texas and began his M.S. in Geology at the University of Texas at San Antonio completing it in 2012. Shortly after graduation, he started his Ph.D. in Geology at the University of Houston. Upon receiving candidacy for his Ph.D., Mr. Anderson left the University of Houston to pursue a career in teaching. Beginning Spring 2018, Mr. Anderson has taught full-time at Wharton County Junior College. Currently, he teaches both physical and historical geology (lectures and labs). In addition to teaching, Mr. Anderson runs and organizes public geology/fossil talks at local K-12 schools around Texas.
Office: Wharton Campus, Science S129
Phone: (979) 532-6506
Email: andersonp@wcjc.edu
Mrs. Copeland received her B.S. in Geology from Florida State University in 2007. After completing her undergraduate degree, Mrs. Copeland spent 2 years as the team Geologist for an NGO in Central Asia. Upon her return to the States, she attended Louisiana State University and graduated with her M.S. in Geology in 2011. Mrs. Copeland moved to the Houston area where she spent 4.5 years working in the Oil and Gas Industry. In 2024, Mrs. Copeland joined the faculty at Wharton Country Junior College.
Office: Sugar Land Campus, Brazos Hall 240
Phone: (281) 243-8568
Email: copelandl@wcjc.edu
Archived Administrative Master Syllabi
