The study of geology focuses on earth materials, its minerals and rocks; earth resources, like water, oil and gas; earth processes and landforms, from tectonism and earthquakes to streams and flooding; and earth history.  Geologists work in all areas of society, but principally in environmental consulting, the energy industry, government, and education.

Wittenberg's Geology program is designed to achieve two fundamental goals: first, to provide an active and stimulating introduction to the geological sciences for the student who wants a basic understanding of the earth and human interaction with it; second, to provide a more comprehensive, technical curriculum for the student who wishes to pursue a career in geological or environmental science and/or earth science education. Facilitating both objectives are working relationships with full-time faculty in small classes, frequent field excursions, cooperative student-faculty research projects, trips to professional meetings and lectures, and the departmental student-assistant program that gives majors learning experiences critical to their future careers. Opportunities for students to work in different capacities as departmental assistants range from curatorial work with mineral, fossil, and rock collections to tutorial responsibilities in introductory geology labs and to development of educational exhibits in the Geology Learning Center. Assisting faculty with their research offers additional opportunities.

The Department encourages advanced geology students to take a four- to six- week summer geology field course, usually taught in the western United States, to learn and experience methods and techniques of field geology.