Geology
Stockton’s Geology curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in the basic sub-disciplines of geology, so that students have the background to pursue a career in almost any area of geology.
Beyond the basic core, students may concentrate their studies in subjects as traditional as earthquakes, volcanoes, minerals, and sedimentary rocks or in applied topics such as environmental geology, coastal processes, economic geology, hydrology, and water resources. Geology students may also develop a concentration in hydrogeology or marine geology.
About the Program
The Geology curriculum stresses field experience, hands-on laboratory work, independent study projects, and internships. A key aspect of all geology classes is the engagement of students with the world around them through field work. There is no better laboratory for the geosciences than the outdoors! These encourage students to develop initiative and professionalism while they provide practical experience and enhance the students’ understanding of local geology, the region, and the world.
Students may earn either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. Both degree options are based around a curriculum that provides students with a solid foundation in the traditional sub-disciplines of geology. These include courses in mineralogy, petrology, field methods, structural geology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy. Both require students to complete either an internship that can be with consulting companies, government agencies, or natural resource industries or conduct independent research with a faculty member. Either opportunity aid students in getting additional hands-on experiences that benefit them for their future careers and/or graduate school.
Why Geology "ROCKS"!
Learn more about Ternova in the 2021 The Essential Elements article A Day in a Life of a Geologist ROCKS!. And don't miss other alumni stories in our current e-zine edition!
Alumni Success
Geology alumni are currently employed by a diverse group of companies and agencies in a variety of geoscience disciplines. These include:
- NJDOT
- NJDEP
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
- Chevron
- Southwestern Energy
- Arcadis
- TRG
- Langan
- EMSL, Inc.
The geology program at Stockton has provided me with exceptional knowledge of the subject, as well as practical, hands-on experience. One of my favorite aspects of the program are the field trips where students get direct, first-hand experience learning about geologic processes.
Read Daniel's whole story
B.S. Geology
I often look back on my life to see if some key moments or choices had a lasting impact on me. Choosing to major in geology at Stockton has single-handedly been the best choice I have ever made in my entire life. I cannot imagine where I would be if I hadn’t taken the chance to switch majors.
Read Katie's whole story
B.S. Geology
Stockton geology heavily emphasizes fieldwork, a crucial component for the geological industry. This includes day trips, weekend trips, and multiple week-long trips across the country to places like Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and others, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned in lectures and labs in the field.Read Jame's whole story
B.S. Geology
Course material and research gave me the skills and knowledge I needed to excel and stand out in my field. I learned how to properly research topics and how to implement new information in the projects I work on in my industry.
Read Andrew's whole story
B.S. Geology
At Stockton, I had the pleasure of being involved in research with three faculty members and developed my own research project senior year. Being so involved with research as an undergraduate really aided me in becoming more confident in myself as a person and as a scientist.
Read Ally's whole story
B.S. Geology and Oceanography
The immersive experience that being a geology student provided was irreplaceable. I was able to go on many field trips and participate in research which prepared me very well for graduate school.
Read Shannon's whole story
B.S. Geology
I cherish my Stockton geology experience. It helped me grow into the professional I am today by providing me with the necessary knowledge in my field of work, and it was a great social experience as well as completing field and lab projects with other students. I can not praise the geology program enough.
Read Glenn's whole story
B.S. Geology
Curriculum
The Geology (GEOL) program draws on the interdisciplinary strengths of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics that offers degree programs and courses in Environmental Science, Geology, Marine Science and Sustainability. The curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in the basic subdisciplines of geology, so that students have the background to pursue a career in almost any area of geology. Beyond the basic core, students may concentrate their studies in subjects as traditional as earthquakes, volcanoes, minerals, and sedimentary rocks or in applied topics such as environmental geology, coastal processes, economic geology, hydrology, and water resources. Geology students may also develop a concentration in hydrogeology or marine geology.
Prospective freshman or transfer students can use the Curriculum & Transfer Equivalency tool below. In addition, the program degree map provides valuable degree information and is a guide to assist in planning academic coursework, but should not substitute academic advisement.
Coursework
Degree Works Curriculum & Transfer Equivalency Tool
To see the curriculum for your area of interest you’ll use the web program, Degree Works. This service is accessible even if you are not currently a student with Stockton University.
Current students exploring the various paths towards degree completion should access the "what if" option in their Degree Works through the portal.
Instructions on How to Use Curriculum Tool
Faculty
Jeffrey Webber
Jeffrey Webber
Program Chair Associate Professor of Geology
BIOGRAPHY
Greetings, I originally hail from Bozeman Montana where I grew up surrounded by the Rocky Mountains and gained a curiosity for the local geology. During my undergraduate studies at Montana State University, I became fascinated with the deformation and metamorphism of crustal rocks and decided to pursue a Master's degree at The University of Vermont under the mentorship of Dr. Keith Klepeis. While at The University of Vermont, I was able to work on magmatic processes within the Coastal Batholith of central Chile and assisted research on deformation distributions in deep-crustal rocks of Fiordland National Park, New Zealand. After finishing my Master's degree, I began working on a doctoral project at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This project, advised by Dr. Laurie L. Brown and Dr. Michael L. Williams, focused on the role of deformation and metamorphism in controlling the spatial distributions of aeromagnetic anomalies in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. I am excited to continue with past research while starting new projects involving Stockton undergraduates.
Website/CV: Dr. Jeffrey Webber Website
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst
M.S., The University of Vermont
B.S., Montana State University
Structural Geology, Tectonics, Metamorphic Petrology, and Rock Magnetics
Physical Geology, Field Geology, Geophysics, Earthquakes, Mountains and Mountaineering, Physical Geography, and Environmental Geology.
My current research interests incorporate many aspects of structural geology, metamorphic petrology, and rock magnetism within the context of field geology. I am interested in understanding the relationships between deformation and metamorphism at a variety of scales from thin sections to crustal exposures. These relationships provide the context for geochronological analyses that can be related to kinematic studies and metamorphic conditions including pressure, temperature, and oxygen fugacity. By determining the conditions of deformation and metamorphism, geophysical data derived from aeromagnetic and gravity surveys can be better interpreted with an understanding of the processes that influence rock properties such as magnetic susceptibility and density. I believe that this approach is instrumental in accurately reconstructing the kinematics, timing and rheology of crustal domains within polydeformed terrains. Ultimately, the information gained from this style of research furthers our understanding of modern tectonic processes and gives us insight to the geologic history of specific locations.
Webber, Jeffrey R., Laurie L. Brown, and Michael L. Williams. "Petrophysical constraints on magnetic anomalies associated with metamorphic reactions in northern Saskatchewan, Canada." Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 56, no. 9 (2019): 895-911.
Bailey, Scott W., Donald S. Ross, Nico Perdrial, Michael Jercinovic, Jeffrey Webber, and Rebecca Bourgault. "Determination of primary mineral content and calcium sources in forest soils using electron probe microanalysis mapping and cluster analysis." Soil Science Society of America Journal 83, no. 6 (2019): 1830-1841.
Regan, S. P., M. L. Williams, L. Zieman, J. R. Chiarenzelli, M. J. Jercinovic, B.
L. Cousens, J. R. Webber, and L. B. Aspler. "IN-SIMS zircon U-Pb geochronology from the Snowbird tectonic zone
Large igneous Province (STZ LIP), western Churchill Province, Canada." Precambrian
Research 377 (2022): 106751.
J.R. Webber, K.A. Klepeis, L.E. Webb, J. Cembrano, D. Morata, G. Mora-Klepeis, and G. Arancibia. Deformation and magma transport in a crystallizing plutonic complex, Coast Batholith, central Chile. Geosphere, 11(5), 2015.
L.L. Brown, J.R. Webber, M.L. Williams, S.P. Regan, and S.J. Seaman. Magnetism of the Lower Crust: Observations from the Chipman Domain, Athabasca Granulite Terrain, northern Canada. Tectonophysics, 624-625:66-74, 2014.
Matthew J. Severs
Matthew J. Severs
Associate Professor of Geology
.
BIOGRAPHY
I'm from Indiana originally and have always had an interest in the earth and its formation. I attended Colby College as a history major originally before switching to geology as it was far more interesting and then went to Virginia Tech for my doctorate. I am the hard-rock geologist in the Geology Program at Stockton, meaning that I focus my teaching and research on igneous and metamorphic rocks. All of my classes have a strong field component to them as geology is best seen in the field. It has been my pleasure to involve my Stockton students in research projects that have taken us to Rhode Island, Maine, Newfoundland, Mount St. Helens, WA the Adirondacks, NY, and to Virginia. I am also the faculty advisor for the Geology Club.
Website/CV: https://www.rockyseversgeology.com/
Ph.D. Geosciences, Virginia Tech
BA, Geology, Colby College
Geochemistry of igneous and metamorphic rocks, ore deposit formation, melt and fluid inclusions, lamprophyres and their generation in the mantle, pegmatite generation, migmatites and early stage melting of rocks, and adakites; Igneous Petrology; Metamorphic Petrology; Volcanology; Ore Deposits; Mineralogy
Physical Geology and Lab (GEOL 2101/2105)
Earth and Space Science (GEOL 2120)
Mineralogy (GEOL 3211)
Petrology (GEOL 3212)
Hydrothermal Fluids and Ore Deposits (GEOL 3202)
Tectonics (GEOL 4610)
Minerals and Human History (GNM 1048)
Volcanoes (GNM 2194)
The History of You (GIS 3XXX)
My research focuses on using geochemistry to answer geological questions that focus on igneous petrology, ore deposits, and tectonics. Techniques that I use include petrography, bulk rock geochemistry, mineral geochemistry, and microanalyses of fluid inclusions. My largest current project involves looking at alkali-rich igneous rocks called lamprophryes from the end of Appalachian mountain building events in northern New Jersey and southern New York to better understand how they formed and their relationship with other intrusions in the area. My newest project is looking at critical minerals necessary for alternative energies such as gallium, germanium, and others in historic mining districts in New York to better understand whether these deposits or others like them could be reimagined for modern metals, but also how they form from hydrothermal fluids. A third project is aimed at understanding the mantle beneath the continental lithosphere of the East Coast by looking at xenoliths of the mantle rocks brough to the surface by volcanic activity in lamprophyres from Rhode Island. Finally, the last project that I am working on is understanding how iron oxide-apatite ore deposits form and whether these deposits can have rare earth elements needed for alternative energies, electric vehicles, and all modern technologies.
Severs, M.J., Gryger, K.J.*, Makin, S.A.*, Bodnar, R.J., and Bradford, W.B.*, 2013. Investigation of long-term geochemical variations and magmatic processes in Mount St. Helens eruptive units. Geofluids 13, 440-452.
Bodnar, R.J., Azbej, T., Becker, S., Cannatelli, C., Fall, A., and Severs, M.J., 2013. Whole Earth Geohydrologic Cycle: From the Clouds to the Core – The Role of
Water in the Dynamic Earth System. In: M.E. Bickford, Ed., Geological Society of America
Special Paper 500, 125th Anniversary Special Volume I: The Web of Geological Sciences:
Advances, Impacts, and Interactions. Chapter 13, 431-462.
Severs, M.J., Beard, J.S., Bodnar, R.J., Fedele, L., Hanchar, J.M., and Mutchler, S.M., 2009.
Partitioning behavior of trace elements between dacitic melt and plagioclase, orthopyroxene,
and clinopyroxene based on laser ablation ICPMS analysis of silicate melt inclusions.
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 73, 2123-2141.
Severs M.J., Azbej, T., Thomas, J.B., Mandeville, C.W., and Bodnar, R.J., 2007. Experimental
determination of H2O loss from melt inclusions during laboratory heating: Evidence
from Raman spectroscopy. Chemical Geology 237, 358-371.
Azbej, T., Severs, M.J., Rusk, B., and Bodnar, R.J., 2007. In situ quantitative analysis of H2O-CO2 fluid
inclusions by laser Raman Spectroscopy. Chemical Geology 237, 255-263.
*Indicates Stockton student/alumni author
Matthew F. Bonnan
Matthew F. Bonnan
Professor of Biology
BIOGRAPHY
Since the tender age of five, I have been fascinated by dinosaurs. It was never so much the treasure-hunter aspect of paleontology that attracted me to this science, but rather the thrill of reconstructing long-dead animals and breathing life into old bones. In other words, I am a zoologist and anatomist at heart who happens to be fascinated by dinosaurs. I see dinosaurs as living animals, and I want to reconstruct how these animals moved and behaved when their bones were still pulsing with blood. As time has gone by, I have come to have a
deep appreciation and fascination with all the backboned (vertebrate) animals, their collective natural history, and their evolution. I have come to realize that the questions about dinosaurs that I began to pursue in earnest in graduate school have a broader and more powerful context across our vertebrate family tree.
I have helped discover and describe three new species of dinosaurs with colleagues in South Africa, and have overseen nearly fifty undergraduate and graduate student research projects on vertebrate functional morphology and evolution.
Website/CV: matthewbonnan.com
Jessica Hallagan
Jessica Hallagan
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jessica Hallagan grew up in Southern New Jersey and is a Stockton alumna. At Stockton, she majored in chemistry with a focus on environmental chemistry. During her years as a doctoral student at Virginia Tech, Dr. Hallagan was fortunate enough to spend a great part of her time hiking in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. For her doctoral research, she studied soil science and examined inorganic soil biogeochemistry. Specifically, her graduate work investigated selenium geochemistry and bioavailability in phosphate mine soils in southeastern Idaho. She is eager to continue working with students through research and to instill the notion of the importance of soils and the environment through teaching.
In her spare time, you are likely to find Dr. Hallagan outdoors, either running, hiking, kayaking, fishing, or gardening.
Website/CV: Soil Science
Instagram: Soil Science Judging
Susanne Moskalski
Susanne Moskalski
Assistant Professor of Marine Science
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Moskalski earned her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Delaware. Her dissertation research was about factors influencing sediment transport in the St. Jones River in Delaware. She completed a post-doctoral research position at the University of South Carolina studying the effects of rainfall on sediment and trace metal mobilization in salt marshes. Her most recent post prior to Stockton was a post-doctoral fellowship at the Université de Bretagne Occidentale/Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer in Brest, France, during which she studied sediment flux and decadal-scale change in a small macrotidal estuary.
Website/CV: Weebly
PhD Marine Studies/Geological Oceanography, The University of Delaware
M.S. Geology, The University of Delaware
B.S. Earth Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University
Clastic sedimentology, sedimentary and surficial processes in marshes and estuaries, sediment flux, deposition/erosion rates and patterns, storm effects, human impacts, time series analysis.
GEOL 2110 Marine Geology
GEOL 2102 Historical Geology
MARS 3305 Coastal Processes
GEOL 3231 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
GNM 2129 Ocean Planet: Where the River Meets the Sea
GEOL 2110 Marine Geology
GEOL 2102 Historical Geology
MARS 3305 Coastal Processes
GEOL 3231 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
GNM 2129 Ocean Planet: Where the River Meets the Sea
Catherine A. Tredick
Emma L. Witt
Mark Demitroff
Mark Demitroff
Geology Adjunct Faculty
Board Member, Stockton's South Jersey Culture & History Center (2011– present)
Board Member, United States Permafrost Association (2013
– 2018)
Cell: 856.285.0458
Email: Mark.Demitroff@stockton.edu
Website/CV:
Ph.D. Land-Surface Processes: University of Delaware, in progress
M.S. Geography: University of Delaware, 2007
B.S. Agricultural Sciences: Rutgers, Cook College, 1982
Pinelands Geography, Periglacial Geomorphology – Past Permafrost
Past permafrost aggradation & degradation, eolian dynamics, paleohydrology, cryogenesis, geodiversity, Younger Dryas, Pine Barrens cultural history, folklore.
Wolfe SA, Demitroff M, Neudorf CM, Woronko B, Chmielowska-Michalak C, Lian OB. 2023. Late Quaternary eolian dune-field mobilization and stabilization near the Laurentide Ice Sheet limit, New Jersey Pine Barrens, eastern USA. Aeolian Research. 62.DOI: 10.1016/j.aeolia.2023.100877
Woronko B, Karasiewicz T, Rychel J, Kupryjanowicz M, Fiłoc M, Moska P, Adamczyk A, Demitroff MN. 2022. A palaeoenvironmental record of MIS 3 climate change in NE Poland—Sedimentary and geochemical evidence. Quaternary International. 617: 80–100. DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2021.08.012
Demitroff M.2016. Pleistocene ventifacts and ice-marginal conditions, New Jersey, USA.Permafrost and Periglacial Processes. Palaeoenvironmental Special Issue 27: 123–137 DOI: 10.1002/ppp.1860
Wu Y, Sharma M, LeCompte MA,Demitroff M,Landis JD. 2013. Origin and provenance of spherules and magnetic grains at the Younger Dryas Boundary.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.110, 38: E3557–E3566. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1304059110
French HM,Demitroff M.2012. Late-Pleistocene paleohydrology, eolian activity and frozen ground, New Jersey Pine Barrens, eastern USA.Netherlands Journal of Geosciences.91, 1/2: 25–35. DOI:10.1017/S0016774600000548
LeCompte MA, Goodyear AC,Demitroff M, Batchelor D, Vogel EK, Mooney C, Rock BN, Seidel AW. 2012. An independent evaluation of conflicting microspherules results from different investigations of the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.109, 44: E2960–2969. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1208603109
French HM,Demitroff M, Streletskiy D, Forman SL, Gozdzik J, Konishchev VN, Rogov VV, Lebedeva-Verba MP. 2009. Evidence for Late-Pleistocene permafrost in the Pine Barrens, southern New Jersey. Kriosfera Zemli//Earth’s Cryosphere.13, 3: 17–28 (in Russian).
French HM,Demitroff M, Newell WL. 2009. Past permafrost on the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, eastern United States.Permafrost and Periglacial Processes.20, 3: 285–294. DOI:10.1002/ppp.659
Gordon T,Demitroff M. 2009. 13 August: spungs, cripples, blue holes, and savannahs (savannas) in the Pine Barrens of Atlantic and Cumberland Counties, NJ.Bartonia: Journal of the Philadelphia Botanical Club.64: 59–62.
Demitroff M, Doolittle JA, Nelson FE. 2008. Use of ground-penetrating radar to characterize cryogenic macrostructures in southern New Jersey, USA.InKane DL, Hinkel, KM (eds.).Proceedings, Ninth International Conference on Permafrost. Institute of Northern Engineering. University of Alaska, Fairbanks. pp. 355–360
French HM,Demitroff M, Forman SL, Newell WL. 2007. A Chronology of Late-Pleistocene permafrost events in southern New Jersey, eastern USA.Permafrost and Periglacial Processes.18: 49–59. DOI:10.1002/ppp.572
French HM,Demitroff M, Forman SL. 2005. Evidence for Late–Pleistocene thermokarst in the New Jersey Pine Barrens (latitude 39ºN), eastern USA.Permafrost and Periglacial Processes16: 173–186. DOI:10.1002/ppp.520
French HM,Demitroff M, Forman SL. 2003. Evidence for Late–Pleistocene permafrost in the New Jersey Pine Barrens (latitude 39ºN). Eastern USA.Permafrost and Periglacial Processes14: 259–274. DOI:10.1002/ppp.456
French HM,Demitroff M. 2001. On the cold–climate origin of the enclosed depressions and wetlands [‘spungs’] of the Pine Barrens, southern New Jersey, USA.Permafrost and Periglacial Processes.12: 337–350. DOI:10.1002/ppp.401
Special Opportunities
The Arts and Sciences Building houses Environmental Sciences and Geology. Its facilities include a soil and hydrology lab; paleomagnetics laboratory; chemical and biological laboratories; greenhouse, rock cutting, polishing and thin sectioning lab; geological and biological collections; computer cartography room; and computer laboratories some of which are equipped with ArcGIS. The Marine Geology specialization also offers access to the research station at the Marine Field Station and its facilities including research vehicles (boat), side scan sonar, and marine geochemistry, sediment sampling and water quality instrumentation and laboratories. The required internship or research project also enable to students to utilize equipment present here at Stockton and sometimes instrumentation and techniques in conjunction with other companies, organizations and institutions. Research projects are typically presented by the students at the Geological Society of America’s Northeastern Conference.
The Geology Program supports a vigorous field program that provides experience with field techniques in regular course work with mandatory weekend field trips for most upper-level classes. Special courses in the past have also included summer field trips to the Rocky Mountains, Florida, China, and other parts of the world. Additionally, the student-run Stockton Geology Club takes a 2-3 week-long trip in May to places across the country including to sites such as the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Big Bend National Park, and even up to the Atlantic Provinces of Canada.
The Geology Club strives to increase student awareness in the field of geology and assist with all questions surrounding the field of Geology.
An important part of the geosciences is experiencing the results and processes of the Earth in their natural setting – the field!
Since geology is the study of the earth in all its aspects, one of the best places to learn is out in the field. As such, Stockton Geology puts a premium on field trips at all levels, from the introductory classes through upper-level core classes and electives and also on research trips.
Course field trips include a number of day trips throughout the greater New Jersey area (eastern Pennsylvania, southern New York, Delaware and Maryland) for all of the classes. Extended weekend trips for upper-level core and elective geology classes take students through the Adirondacks of New York, central Pennsylvania, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island, and Tennessee.
For students who choose to do research with one of the faculty members, most projects will involve some amount of field work. These can be “local” projects along the Jersey Shore or in northern New Jersey and southern New York or they can be much further away in places as diverse as Montana, Rhode Island, Arizona, Saskatchewan, Maine, or Washington.
Geology Students
Geology Students
Geology Students
Geology Students
Careers
Recent studies indicate that the majority of geology graduates establish careers related to their major. They fill positions in industry; in state, federal and local governmental agencies; in schools; and in other organizations, including engineering, insurance, consulting, and mining, oil, and natural resource management and exploration companies.
Sample list of potential careers:
The connections you made with your professors and preceptors are invaluable resources for your career planning. Beyond providing assistance on coursework and scheduling, they can give you guidance in planning for your post-college career.
In addition, we have a student Career Center that is available to guide you through your career development journey - from CV writing, interview prep or general guidance.
