The College of Geosciences offers a blend of academic departments and programs that examine the solid Earth, the atmosphere, the oceans, and human cultures to address the intimate relationships between people and Earth systems. Geoscientists investigate the forces that shape the past, present and future of our planet.

The College has four academic departments – Atmospheric Sciences, Geography, Geology & Geophysics, and Oceanography – and two interdisciplinary programs – Environmental Programs in Geosciences and the Water Degree Program.

• Atmospheric Sciences are the sciences of the atmosphere, weather and climate which are so important to human activities and life on this planet. The department grants undergraduate degrees in Meteorology and graduate degrees in Atmospheric Sciences.

• Geography involves human interactions with the environments—physical, biological and cultural. As an interdisciplinary field, Geography requires knowledge of the geosciences as well as from the social and biological sciences. The department grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in Geography, and undergraduate degrees in Geographic Information Science, and Spatial Sciences.

• Geology deals with the processes and forces acting at the surface and within the Earth; with the materials of the earth; and with the history of its development and the evolution of life on the surface and in its waters. Geophysics deals with the physics of the solid Earth, from measuring and understanding its internal structure, physical properties and plate motions to detecting its natural resources through remote sensing. The department grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in Geology and Geophysics.

• Oceanography is the study of the marine environment and its inhabitants. The major elements of oceanography are the distribution and nature of marine life, the development of ocean basins, the chemistry of ocean waters and the dynamics of the water masses of the sea. The department grants only graduate degrees in Oceanography but does offer a minor to undergraduate students.

• Environmental Programs in Geosciences is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that examines the scientific, human, and policy aspects of environmental issues. Degrees are offered in Environmental Geosciences which is a more science-based degree plan and Environmental Studies which is a more policy-based degree plan.

• Water Degree Program is an interdisciplinary graduate program that gives students strong technical skills in disciplines relevant to water resources including a broad understanding of hydrology and associated ecosystems, the interconnectedness of the sciences involved in hydrology and the interplay between the biophysical and social sciences in water management.

The College of Geosciences is:

• A comprehensive university program in geosciences education, research and service

• A major contributor to the next generation of geoscience professionals, through its undergraduate and graduate student programs

• One of the largest college research programs in the Texas A&M System

• Home to three major research centers – the Geochemical and Environmental Research Group (GERG), the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and the Texas Sea Grant College Program

• Science operator for IODP which is one of the largest geosciences research programs in the world

• A service to the marine economy of Texas and the Gulf Coast through the Texas Sea Grant College Program

• A major partner with the Texas A&M University coastal campus at Galveston

• A key element in fulfilling Texas A&M University's mission as a Land Grant, Sea Grant, and Space Grant university