With a few regional exceptions, geology programs at colleges and universities face significant global challenges that have led to declining student interest and enrollment. Contributing factors include limited exposure to geology in K–12 education, misconceptions about what geologists do, cultural attitudes, competition from other majors, concerns about job prospects, and frustration with geology curricula. As a result, some programs have been closed, rebranded, or merged with other disciplines. While not all these challenges are easy to resolve, several are within our control.

As a faculty in a center offering degrees in geology, environmental science, ecology, and environmental planning, I’ve observed how students often choose between majoring in geology or environmental science. Comparing these curricula reveals both strengths and weaknesses, and points to ways geology programs might adapt.

Many students are drawn to environmental science because they see it as more directly relevant to real-world problems. This suggests a need to better convey geology’s role in addressing those same challenges. Environmental science programs often include courses focused on policy and regulation (e.g., environmental planning or policy).  The courses help students understand how science informs decision-making. Similar content can be integrated into geology curricula without adding new courses.

A more concerning issue is that many students—and even many faculty—view geology as peripheral or irrelevant to environmental science. Environmental issues are frequently framed around biologic or atmospheric processes, ignoring geologic processes. However, incorporating more geology into environmental science programs could enhance student understanding of environmental problems and issues. Geology provides essential insights into regional and long-term processes, cycling, and methodology that are essential to our understanding of environmental systems.

Geology programs would benefit from curricular adjustments that emphasize the field’s applicability to environmental concerns. By highlighting geology’s relevance to pressing global issues, we can engage a broader group of students and strengthen the discipline’s role in interdisciplinary environmental education.