Deciding where to go to college is a big decision and you need to consider all your options to help you make the right choice. There are many reasons to choose Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. We are a small college within a large research university. That combination means that you can enjoy small class sizes, get to know your faculty, participate in research, and still have all the benefits of a large University. For those students who have selected the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences as their academic home, please read the welcome message from the dean.
Welcome Message from the Dean
By studying materials, energy, the environment, natural resources, weather, climate, people, and places, our students are able to make a difference in the lives of people throughout the world. You are joining a remarkable community of faculty, staff, and students who are excited to help you develop the skills and experience needed to pursue your career goals.
Take advantage of all the resources available to you, both within the college and at Penn State. The Ryan Family Student Center, 14 Deike Building, houses an incredible staff of tutors and advisers who are an invaluable resource to help you foster a successful Penn State experience. Many EMS students call the Ryan Family Student Center a “home away from home,” as it provides a welcoming atmosphere where students can gather to study, relax, and socialize, in addition to utilizing the many services provided. A new resource is the Director of Student Engagement who will help you identify and access opportunities, both on and off campus, that complement and put into practice what you are learning in the classroom.
The departmental home of your major, whether it be Energy and Mineral Engineering, Geography, Geosciences, Materials Science and Engineering, or Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, provides a variety of other advising and mentoring services more focused on your discipline of choice, as well as the opportunity to immerse yourself in the multitude of exciting activities of world-class faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. Explore their web pages, investigate faculty interests that align with yours, and send a faculty member an email asking to meet to discuss research opportunities. Visit the office of the Associate Dean for Educational Equity and learn what we are doing to make EMS the most welcoming, supportive, diverse, and inclusive college at Penn State.
Beyond course work and research, I encourage you to pursue a well-rounded experience. Branch out and find a student organization that shares your interests, whether that’s joining the EMS Student Council, participating in THON, or connecting with peers with similar interests. There are thousands of organizations on campus. Our alumni always reflect on the tremendous difference that those connections—with peers, staff, and faculty—made in their careers.
Exercise, study, explore, discover, debate, relax, engage, repeat. College is a time of extraordinary freedom and a time of new social experiences and challenges in the midst of the academic challenges. We want to help you exceed your academic objectives, to enjoy both the rich experience of social life at this University while achieving the knowledge you need for your future career. Enjoy, succeed, and take advantage of all our college has to offer!
Lee R. Kump
John Leone Dean in the College of Mineral Sciences