Program overview
In simple terms, geology is the study of the Earth—from the rocks and minerals of the crust, to underground oil and natural gas, to dinosaur fossils from hundreds of millions of years ago. Core courses include General Geology, Mineralogy, Petrology, Paleontology, Structural Geology, Geochemistry, etc. You'll learn how to hammer rocks, examine thin sections under a microscope, and map using satellite data. Chinese universities have distinctive strengths in geology, such as China University of Geosciences (Wuhan and Beijing), Nanjing University, Peking University, etc. They have world-class laboratories and field practice bases, with Zhoukoudian and Beidaihe being classic field sites. It's suitable for students who love the outdoors, have strong hands-on skills, and are curious about natural phenomena. If you don't mind hiking and wading, and enjoy scientific exploration like solving puzzles, this major will be a great fit.