DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

2007-2008
GEOLOGY SENIOR SURVEY

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Gender?	(   ) female	 (   ) male

2. Resident status when entering Georgia Southern?	(   ) in-state	(   ) out-of-state

	What year did you begin your studies at Georgia Southern University?  _______

	Standing upon entry?     Freshman (   )	Transfer (   ) from ____________________

	When did you become a geology major?  Spring / Winter (circle one)  Year _______

	Expected date of graduation?  Spring / Winter (circle one)  Year _______

3. In addition to Geology, do you:

	(   ) have a second major?   Department  ___________________________

	(   ) have a minor?  Department  _________________________

4. Which degree program did you follow?		(   ) BS		(   ) BA

5. IMMEDIATE PLANS:

If you intend to enter the job market next year and have already secured full-time employment, please provide a brief job description as well as the type of employer (industry, government, academic, etc).

If you intend to enter the job market next year and have not yet secured full-time employment, please indicate the type of employment you are seeking.

If you intend to continue your education next year and have already been accepted into a graduate program, please list the degree program and subject area as well as the institution you will attend.

___ MS     ___ MA     ___ MBA     ___ PhD     ___ JD___ Other (please specify)

Institution:  ____________________________

Anticipated subject area:  ____________________________

If you intend to continue your education next year and have not yet been accepted into a graduate program, please list the degree program and subject area you wish to enter.

___ MS     ___ MA     ___ MBA     ___ PhD     ___ JD     ___ Other (please specify)

Anticipated subject area:  ____________________________

6. LONG RANGE PLANS:

What are your career goals at the present time?

If you intend to continue your education at some point in the future (i.e., not next year), please list the degree(s) and subject area(s) you plan to pursue.

___ MS     ___ MA     ___ MBA     ___ PhD     ___ JD___ Other (please specify)

Anticipated subject area:  ____________________________

MAJOR EXPERIENCE

7. What is your best recollection of when and why you chose to major in geology ?

When did you first consider a major in geology (e.g., elementary, middle or high school, freshman in college, sophomore in college, uncertain, etc.)?

Was your decision to major influenced by a recruiting talk given in an introductory level class?

(   ) Definitely influenced me	(   ) Some influence	(   ) Not at all	(   ) Not Applicable

If you changed majors to geology from another program, please  indicate your previous major.

______________________________________________

8. If you had to choose a major again, would you choose geology?

	(   ) definitely	(   ) probably	(   ) probably not	(   ) definitely not

Please give the reason(s) for your answer.

9. Based on your own experience, please rate each of the following items with respect to your geology major at Georgia Southern.  If you have no experience with a given category (e.g., did not enroll in research), please check uncertain.  Please feel free to add any items you feel warrant inclusion.  Please place a check mark in the appropriate space ( √ ).

STRENGTH	WEAKNESS	UNCERTAIN		
a.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Overall geology curriculum 	
b.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Writing in geology	
c.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Geology faculty	
d.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Advising in geology major	
e.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Geology classroom instruction	
f.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Faculty assistance outside the classroom	
g.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Independent research in department	
h.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Research facilities	
i.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Library facilities	
j.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Classroom facilities	
k.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Preparation for graduate school	
l.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Preparation for employment	
m.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Departmental seminars	
n.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Field trips – extended	
o.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Field trips – local	
p.	(   )	(   )	(   )	GeoClub	
q.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Internship	
r.	(   )	(   )	(   )	Interactions with geology alumni	

					

10. Based on your experience, rate the following with respect to the degree that you feel the geology major has been helpful to you.

1 = NO HELP		5 = SIGNIFICANT HELP	6 = NOT APPLICABLE

a.	1	2	3	4	5	6	Preparation for graduate study in geology	
b.	1	2	3	4	5	6	Acquiring knowledge and skills for first job	
c.	1	2	3	4	5	6	Developing interpretative skills	
d.	1	2	3	4	5	6	Developing analytical skills	
e.	1	2	3	4	5	6	Enhancing written expression	
f.	1	2	3	4	5	6	Enhancing oral expression	
g.	1	2	3	4	5	6	Developing personal confidence	

								

11. What do you feel were the strengths of the geology major?

12. What do you feel were the weaknesses of the geology major?

13. What do you feel were the three most important courses you took in your geology major?  Please comment as to why.

14. What course (or courses) in the geology major do you feel was the least beneficial?  Explain.

15. Which do you feel were the three most important courses you took outside your geology major?  Please comment as to why.

16. What suggestions do you have for improvements in the geology program?

17. Does your experience indicate that there are positive aspects to having a Department in which geography is combined with geology?  If so, please comment on them.

Please comment on negative aspects to the combined Department?

18. Did you participate in any of the Department’s extended field trips (e.g., Ecuador, Hawaii, California)?  If so, which one(s)?

Did you participate in the Tybee Island Field Trip as an introductory level student.

19. Considering your present situation and future plans, to what extent has your geology major at Georgia Southern been important to your career development?

(   ) very important 
(   ) moderately important 
(   ) moderately unimportant 
(   ) very unimportant

20. Overall rating of the geology major at Georgia Southern University:

(   ) excellent
(   ) good
(   ) fair
(   ) poor

21. Additional comments: