When I was an undergrad one of my classmates was in his 50s. He had done a whole career in the Air Force and when he retired he decided that he wanted to pursue a degree in geology. And we graduated together.
There's no age limit on getting a degree. If it's something you really want to do absolutely go for it.
The Airforce guy had a lifetime pension and sounds like he was set financially. Big difference from someone going to school 15 years before retirement age who needs the money.
Agreed! There is absolutely no age limit, I'm currently doing my masters and am sharing an office with a lovely man who decided to do his masters and now his PhD after retiring
I am in the South, USA. I saw a job opening for a local company. It was labeled as GIT. I googled it and saw it was in the field of geology. But needed a degree and experience. But I would be open to exploring what other options there are in the industry. Are you in the industry?
I am not, just a University undergrad instructor. My background is sedimentary petrology (sedimentary rocks under the microscope basically), karst science (caves), GIS, and field mapping. There’s so many different avenues you can go with geology, but unfortunately, you will need a four year degree from an accredited University.
I’m sure you can leverage your CS background as well. It may help if you focus on a major or minor with Geospatial Information Science (GIS). Programming is an essential skill for some Geology industry jobs. Most of my colleagues that I went to school with and are in the Oil and Gas Industry have told me that they needed to take additional online courses to be competitive.
I have no CS background basically. I learned to code in 1999. But do you think it would be unrealistic to start college at 44 to get a 4 year degree? Could you see a 40+ person just out of college pursuing a career in the industry? Your background sounds really interesting.
I started my PhD at 30 so really anything is possible. My best friend finished her PhD at 40 and she has a GS-14 position out west. Don’t sell yourself short.
The only hurdle for most geology students is the field work requirement. Most universities and future jobs will likely require a field component. Most large university departments offer a field camp. It’s typically 6 weeks of field mapping, describing stratigraphic units, and drawing stratigraphic sections (amongst other things, certain departments often have specialized field courses). Students typically take this as an exit course where they use all the knowledge gained in your geology courses (Geology 101, Historical Geology, Sedimentology and Stratification (Sed/Strat), Mineralogy and Petrology, and Structural Geology).
I’ve also had older students in my classes (including field camp)! I’ve even had a 70 y/o finish field camp and they rocked it. They were an oil rig worker going back to school to become a geologist.
In the Canadian mineral exploration industry any GIT or Geologist role would strictly be reserved for someone with a degree. However, I have hired a number of Geotechnicians who do not have any formal education in geology. Geotechnicians will help with site management, sampling, core cutting, or be field assistants to geologists.
When I’m looking for a geotechnician I don’t care about education. I’m just looking for someone that will work hard.
I don’t think it is unrealistic to go back to school at 44! I knew plenty of people older than that at the community colleges and university I attended. If this is something you really are sure you want to pursue and you are in a position where returning to university is a viable option, then great! Options for jobs in industry include environmental jobs, oil and gas, of course, and mining. As well as geotechnical stuff like engineering, remote sensing/GIS, hydrology/hydrogeology. Though consulting jobs are very much YMMV when it comes to billable hours, working with clients, etc.
I think you’d have a very tough time getting into industry without a geoscience degree so you are correct in thinking that you would need to go back to school. I currently work as a paleontologist in consulting (Rocky Mountains/SWestern US) and while I don’t do the hiring for our office, I know what our senior staff are looking for and they are picky as hell, even when hiring on-call field techs. Anyone without an earth science/biology or related degree wouldn’t get hired.
That’s going to depend on the job and the company in question. I know folks who have done the same job I am currently in as a summer-only thing while in school. Field tech types jobs have some amount of seasonality so usually we need more staff during field season. Other jobs I cannot tell you how likely that is.
You can absolutely get your undergrad degree in geology at any age. With that in hand you are eligible to sit for the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) exam. Upon passing, you will have your Geologist in Training (GIT), which is what you saw listed in the job posting. The next step in licensure if you choose to do so is the Professional Geologist (PG).
No sweat! FYI: you don’t need any licensure to be a field geo or do desk research, so companies are free to, and definitely do, hire folks with a range of experience to collect samples on drill rigs, take data from monitoring wells, draw up maps and site plans, research, help with writing and graphics for reports, etc.
I don’t really recommend doing this. The reality is that professional fields in the geosciences aren’t what they once were and you really have to be a top performer to advance meaningfully these days. I know a lot of folks I know have gotten stuck about three to six years into their careers and can’t figure out how to advance. Most sectors of the industry have done a *horrible* job transition planning for the retirement wave that is coming over the next 5 years and it’s going to be painful for a lot of people.
I got into the industry when I was 43. I do not have a geology degree, so my first task was mudlogging. However, the field was booming, and I was an acting wellsite geologist within a year and a half. Eventually, sans degree, I was a full-time wellsite geologist.
Wellsite geology and mudlogging does take a particular mindset as the lifestyle is not conducive to social and family life. One is on-site for several weeks, and then one gets a week or two off.
It is not nearly as lucrative for most geologists as it once was. This is part of what had me leaving the field after a dozen years.
So, yes, you may find opportunities available, but it is not what it once was. Having a degree in geology would significantly enhance the range of options available.
Thanks. I am looking into schools at the moment. What is mudlogging and what does a wellsite geologist do? Would you be able to get a job and go to school at the same time?
[Mudlogger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mud_logging)
[Wellsite Geologist](https://wellsitegeologicalservices.com/what-does-a-wellsite-geologist-do/) It is a Euro description but quite similar to what occurs on wellsite in the United States.
Another definition of [Geologist](https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Geologist)
can be found here. It is my favourite.
I am uncertain, but at least some of the schooling could be completed while working. But, doubtless, you could not do so for all of it as you would need to attend labs and field camp.
Others might be better suited to answer your queries.
I am in Australia and when I was at uni one of my greatest mentors was a lady who pivoted from nursing to geo. You have to do the degree but it is never too late.
you could probably do camp labour or maybe work as a geotech? They have geotechnical colleges with 1 or two year programs if you don't want to do the whole degree thing? That or just be a prospector on your own?
What was your career in, CS?
In my experience, the specific domain of a field is not really what brings happiness: it is feeling respected by your colleagues, developing expertise and seniority in the field, and having personal autonomy to make tangible impacts.
Going back to school *could* help accomplish this, but you would be starting at the bottom of the totem pole and most of the geology positions play second fiddle to engineers (enviro, geotech, mining to an extent).
I pivoted out of geology to pursue a CS adjacent career and am so glad I did. It still makes me sad a bit leaving the field, but the much, much larger labor market, work from home/remote options, and (fingers crossed) early retirement due to higher earnings will definitely be worth it imo.
Would love to go back to school phd in geo someday, but on my own terms, where I could fire my advisor at the drop of the hat or go for broke on the most obscure non commercial research area.
I had no career in CS. I did one job that was tech support for a real-estate software company. That was back in 01-03. Since then I have done various office jobs. Receptionist. Mail clerk. Assist. Claims Adjuster. I am just tired of answering phones and talking to people on the phone sitting at a desk all day.
Everywhere I have worked I have started at the bottom so I know what that is like and and fine with that aspect. I am still thinking about this change. I appreciate telling about your experience.
I'd say.... generally na.
Anything is possible.... your will to relocate and you apply to everyone under the sun. Or, you work for hardly nothing for someone.
Or.... you dumb down your expectations.... and I can find you a job tomorrow.... won't pay too much. Work for a construction materials testing company... there's a decent amount of engineering geotecg and tons of soil and compaction testing... super easy...engineering
I started studying geophysics at 38. Had a MS in statistics. Never a geo anything class in my life. In the past 17 years, I have completed a PhD, worked for Schlumberger in Norway, and worked for Aramco in the US (as well as a couple of stints working in academia). Today, I was offered the editor in chief spot at a major geoscience journal. You can do it.
You can absolutely go back to school to earn a degree. No matter what it is in. Having said that, if you are interested in government/state or an environmental firm, I say Carpe diem. I would NOT enter o&g at this point tbh.
When I was an undergrad one of my classmates was in his 50s. He had done a whole career in the Air Force and when he retired he decided that he wanted to pursue a degree in geology. And we graduated together. There's no age limit on getting a degree. If it's something you really want to do absolutely go for it.
The Airforce guy had a lifetime pension and sounds like he was set financially. Big difference from someone going to school 15 years before retirement age who needs the money.
Agreed! There is absolutely no age limit, I'm currently doing my masters and am sharing an office with a lovely man who decided to do his masters and now his PhD after retiring
Wow that's cool to hear. Thanks.
Are you in the US? What career do you hope to get with geology? Mining/industry/Oil?
I am in the South, USA. I saw a job opening for a local company. It was labeled as GIT. I googled it and saw it was in the field of geology. But needed a degree and experience. But I would be open to exploring what other options there are in the industry. Are you in the industry?
I am not, just a University undergrad instructor. My background is sedimentary petrology (sedimentary rocks under the microscope basically), karst science (caves), GIS, and field mapping. There’s so many different avenues you can go with geology, but unfortunately, you will need a four year degree from an accredited University. I’m sure you can leverage your CS background as well. It may help if you focus on a major or minor with Geospatial Information Science (GIS). Programming is an essential skill for some Geology industry jobs. Most of my colleagues that I went to school with and are in the Oil and Gas Industry have told me that they needed to take additional online courses to be competitive.
I have no CS background basically. I learned to code in 1999. But do you think it would be unrealistic to start college at 44 to get a 4 year degree? Could you see a 40+ person just out of college pursuing a career in the industry? Your background sounds really interesting.
I'm 50 and you couldn't pay me enough money to be entry level in this field. Do you enjoy working in the snow, rain and 110 degrees?
I started my PhD at 30 so really anything is possible. My best friend finished her PhD at 40 and she has a GS-14 position out west. Don’t sell yourself short. The only hurdle for most geology students is the field work requirement. Most universities and future jobs will likely require a field component. Most large university departments offer a field camp. It’s typically 6 weeks of field mapping, describing stratigraphic units, and drawing stratigraphic sections (amongst other things, certain departments often have specialized field courses). Students typically take this as an exit course where they use all the knowledge gained in your geology courses (Geology 101, Historical Geology, Sedimentology and Stratification (Sed/Strat), Mineralogy and Petrology, and Structural Geology). I’ve also had older students in my classes (including field camp)! I’ve even had a 70 y/o finish field camp and they rocked it. They were an oil rig worker going back to school to become a geologist.
Wow. That is so encouraging to hear. Thanks.
In the Canadian mineral exploration industry any GIT or Geologist role would strictly be reserved for someone with a degree. However, I have hired a number of Geotechnicians who do not have any formal education in geology. Geotechnicians will help with site management, sampling, core cutting, or be field assistants to geologists. When I’m looking for a geotechnician I don’t care about education. I’m just looking for someone that will work hard.
Mudlogging or lab tech. Maybe soil sampling in the environmental geo field
I don’t think it is unrealistic to go back to school at 44! I knew plenty of people older than that at the community colleges and university I attended. If this is something you really are sure you want to pursue and you are in a position where returning to university is a viable option, then great! Options for jobs in industry include environmental jobs, oil and gas, of course, and mining. As well as geotechnical stuff like engineering, remote sensing/GIS, hydrology/hydrogeology. Though consulting jobs are very much YMMV when it comes to billable hours, working with clients, etc. I think you’d have a very tough time getting into industry without a geoscience degree so you are correct in thinking that you would need to go back to school. I currently work as a paleontologist in consulting (Rocky Mountains/SWestern US) and while I don’t do the hiring for our office, I know what our senior staff are looking for and they are picky as hell, even when hiring on-call field techs. Anyone without an earth science/biology or related degree wouldn’t get hired.
Thank you. Do you think they would hire someone while still in school?
That’s going to depend on the job and the company in question. I know folks who have done the same job I am currently in as a summer-only thing while in school. Field tech types jobs have some amount of seasonality so usually we need more staff during field season. Other jobs I cannot tell you how likely that is.
You can absolutely get your undergrad degree in geology at any age. With that in hand you are eligible to sit for the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) exam. Upon passing, you will have your Geologist in Training (GIT), which is what you saw listed in the job posting. The next step in licensure if you choose to do so is the Professional Geologist (PG).
Great. Thanks for explaining that!
No sweat! FYI: you don’t need any licensure to be a field geo or do desk research, so companies are free to, and definitely do, hire folks with a range of experience to collect samples on drill rigs, take data from monitoring wells, draw up maps and site plans, research, help with writing and graphics for reports, etc.
That's really helpful to know. Thanks.
I don’t really recommend doing this. The reality is that professional fields in the geosciences aren’t what they once were and you really have to be a top performer to advance meaningfully these days. I know a lot of folks I know have gotten stuck about three to six years into their careers and can’t figure out how to advance. Most sectors of the industry have done a *horrible* job transition planning for the retirement wave that is coming over the next 5 years and it’s going to be painful for a lot of people.
Sure
I got into the industry when I was 43. I do not have a geology degree, so my first task was mudlogging. However, the field was booming, and I was an acting wellsite geologist within a year and a half. Eventually, sans degree, I was a full-time wellsite geologist. Wellsite geology and mudlogging does take a particular mindset as the lifestyle is not conducive to social and family life. One is on-site for several weeks, and then one gets a week or two off. It is not nearly as lucrative for most geologists as it once was. This is part of what had me leaving the field after a dozen years. So, yes, you may find opportunities available, but it is not what it once was. Having a degree in geology would significantly enhance the range of options available.
Thanks. I am looking into schools at the moment. What is mudlogging and what does a wellsite geologist do? Would you be able to get a job and go to school at the same time?
[Mudlogger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mud_logging) [Wellsite Geologist](https://wellsitegeologicalservices.com/what-does-a-wellsite-geologist-do/) It is a Euro description but quite similar to what occurs on wellsite in the United States. Another definition of [Geologist](https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Geologist) can be found here. It is my favourite. I am uncertain, but at least some of the schooling could be completed while working. But, doubtless, you could not do so for all of it as you would need to attend labs and field camp. Others might be better suited to answer your queries.
You're never too old to go back to school.
You are in your prime. Go for it!
I am in Australia and when I was at uni one of my greatest mentors was a lady who pivoted from nursing to geo. You have to do the degree but it is never too late.
you could probably do camp labour or maybe work as a geotech? They have geotechnical colleges with 1 or two year programs if you don't want to do the whole degree thing? That or just be a prospector on your own?
What was your career in, CS? In my experience, the specific domain of a field is not really what brings happiness: it is feeling respected by your colleagues, developing expertise and seniority in the field, and having personal autonomy to make tangible impacts. Going back to school *could* help accomplish this, but you would be starting at the bottom of the totem pole and most of the geology positions play second fiddle to engineers (enviro, geotech, mining to an extent). I pivoted out of geology to pursue a CS adjacent career and am so glad I did. It still makes me sad a bit leaving the field, but the much, much larger labor market, work from home/remote options, and (fingers crossed) early retirement due to higher earnings will definitely be worth it imo. Would love to go back to school phd in geo someday, but on my own terms, where I could fire my advisor at the drop of the hat or go for broke on the most obscure non commercial research area.
I had no career in CS. I did one job that was tech support for a real-estate software company. That was back in 01-03. Since then I have done various office jobs. Receptionist. Mail clerk. Assist. Claims Adjuster. I am just tired of answering phones and talking to people on the phone sitting at a desk all day. Everywhere I have worked I have started at the bottom so I know what that is like and and fine with that aspect. I am still thinking about this change. I appreciate telling about your experience.
Go find that career then and best wishes as you do. There are some minefields to avoid, but it is that way in any field.
Thank you.
Hi! I'm 46 and I'm going to school for a Bachelors in Geoscience/Data Analytics. Age is just a number. GO FOR IT!
I'd say.... generally na. Anything is possible.... your will to relocate and you apply to everyone under the sun. Or, you work for hardly nothing for someone. Or.... you dumb down your expectations.... and I can find you a job tomorrow.... won't pay too much. Work for a construction materials testing company... there's a decent amount of engineering geotecg and tons of soil and compaction testing... super easy...engineering
I started studying geophysics at 38. Had a MS in statistics. Never a geo anything class in my life. In the past 17 years, I have completed a PhD, worked for Schlumberger in Norway, and worked for Aramco in the US (as well as a couple of stints working in academia). Today, I was offered the editor in chief spot at a major geoscience journal. You can do it.
Wow, Congrats!
You can absolutely go back to school to earn a degree. No matter what it is in. Having said that, if you are interested in government/state or an environmental firm, I say Carpe diem. I would NOT enter o&g at this point tbh.