Geosciences Program Scholarships

Some scholarships are available that are described below and can be applied for through the university.

Reuben Dee Caudle Scholarship: A partial-tuition scholarship will be provided for a student majoring in one of the physical science fields. The recipient must demonstrate a financial need, must meet and maintain satisfactory scholastic requirements. Preference will be given to Arkansas residents and those who have prior military service. This scholarship is to be re-awarded to the initial freshman recipient each of his/her subsequent three years while at Tech provided he/she continues to major in Physical Sciences and maintains good academic standing. Awards will be made each fall semester that funds are sufficient.

Truman McEver Memorial Scholarship: Recipient must be an entering freshman who is majoring in the Department of Physical and Life Sciences. Academic ability and financial need are considered.

Jack L. King Scholarship: This partial-tuition scholarship will be awarded each semester that funds are available. To be eligible for this scholarship the student must be a graduate of Western Yell County High School, have an ACT composite score of 19 or above and an ACT Math and Science score of 22 or above, have declared a major in Engineering, Math, Science or a related field at Arkansas Tech University.

Louise Berkeley Turner Scholarship: This partial-tuition scholarship will be awarded each fall semester that funds are available to a student majoring in math, science or a related field and may be renewed for one consecutive semester provided the recipient is making sufficient academic progress.

 

At ATU, we give our students exposure to geosciences where they are located: in the field. For this reason, nearly every course has at least one associated field trip, and some courses have many more. Our location in "the Natural State" provides a rich opportunity to see many geologic features that other students may visit only through photos and written description.

Geology classes from 1000-level to 4000-level travel to locations in the region for field problems. Lab periods range from 2 to 4+ hours allowing for significant time out in the field. Some field trips are weekend field trips. Various geological features are within an hour's drive from Arkansas Tech, some of which are the focus of our course field experiences.

Arkansas River Valley (where the campus is located)

Arkoma foreland basin (gas-rich)

Bituminous through semi-anthracite coal deposits

Arkansas River Alluvial landforms and deposits

Boston Mountains and Ozarks to the north:

Paleozoic carbonate shelf rocks

Marine invertebrate fossils from Paleozoic Era

Zinc and lead sulfide deposits, world class dolomite crystals

Ouachita Mountains to the south:

Fold and thrust belt structures

The world class Magnet Cove alkaline igneous intrusive complex

Paleozoic Era deep-water facies sedimentary rocks

Quartz crystal capital of the US, and other collectibles

In the nearby Coastal Plain and Mississippi embayment to the south and east

Cretaceous, Tertiary, and Pleistocene unconsolidated sediments

Cretaceous Prairie Creek diamond pipe (Crater of Diamonds State Park)

Dinosaur footprints and skeletal fossils

 

For more background about the geology of the state, please visit the Arkansas Geological Survey (AGS) webpage: https://www.geology.arkansas.gov/

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Some of our professors have produced field trip manuals that anyone can use to learn about local geology!

Locally, in the River Valley

Roadside Geology Series: https://www.geology.arkansas.gov/publication/roadside-geology-series.html

Mt. Nebo Geology:  https://www.geology.arkansas.gov/docs/pdf/geology/general_geology/nebo.fieldtrip.pdf

 

Guides to other regions of the River Valley and State

Webpage: https://www.geology.arkansas.gov/geology/general-geology.html

 

Podcasts

Two of our alumni work for the AGS and recorded a podcast for ATU Library about their field-based geology experience! https://soundcloud.com/user-145807780/arkansas-geological-survey-angela-chandler-richard-hutto

 

For additional information about the state please visit the Arkansas Geological Survey (AGS) webpage: https://www.geology.arkansas.gov/

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Geology in the nation

 

The ATU Geosiences Program holds a week-long field trip every Summer out to the Rocky Mountain Region. Announcements and details on the field trip are provided in the Spring semester. The trip is held the first week of Summer Break and is free for students.

Geoscience majors in the  attend Geology Field Camp, a six credit hour summer field course that teaches geology in other areas of North America, and times of its formational history. Students complete field camp in the summer of their Junior or Senior years after passing the Field Techniques course.