Explore Geoscience Careers and Opportunities

Geoscience is the study of Earth: its materials, history, resources, hazards, water, climate, landscapes and the processes that continue to shape the planet. It is also a profession with direct importance to communities across Texas and around the world.

The Texas Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG-TX) helps students explore geoscience careers, connect with working professionals, apply for scholarships and prepare for the transition from college to professional practice.

Start Your Geoscience Journey

Discover What Geoscientists Do

Geoscientists work with groundwater, energy, mineral resources, environmental protection, engineering projects, natural hazards, mapping, data and many other parts of the Earth system. Learn about the work, the education it requires and the many directions a geoscience career can take.

Explore careers in geoscience →

Join AIPG and Connect with a Student Chapter

AIPG student membership is free. Student members can build professional contacts, seek mentoring, participate in meetings and field trips, use career resources and become involved in student chapters. These experiences can help turn classroom knowledge into a clearer understanding of professional geoscience.

View student membership benefits and Texas chapters →

Apply for a Texas Geoscience Scholarship

AIPG-TX supports eligible undergraduate and graduate geoscience students attending Texas universities through the Ted H. Foss Undergraduate Scholarship and the Gene Shoemaker Graduate Scholarship. Student membership is free and is required when applying.

Review scholarships and application requirements →

Move from Student to Early Career Professional

Graduation brings new decisions about employment, graduate school, professional licensing, continuing education and participation in the geoscience community. AIPG’s Early Career Professional membership helps graduates remain connected during the first five years after earning a degree.

Plan your transition into professional practice →

Why Become Involved Before You Graduate?

Professional relationships take time to build. Joining while you are still a student gives you opportunities to meet geoscientists working in industry, consulting, government, research and education. You can ask informed questions, learn how different career paths actually work and begin developing the professional habits that employers value.

• Meet practicing geoscientists and potential mentors.
• Attend technical presentations, webinars, field trips and training programs.
• Learn about internships, jobs, graduate programs and professional licensing.
• Develop leadership, communication, teamwork and event-planning experience.
• Apply for Texas Section and AIPG National scholarships.
• Build a professional network before you need one.

Student Membership Is Free

Students enrolled in a geoscience degree program can join AIPG online at no cost. After graduation, eligible members can transition to AIPG Early Career Professional membership; the first calendar year of ECP membership is currently free.

Student-to-Professional Presentation

For a visual introduction to AIPG, student membership, professional activities and the transition from college into a geoscience career, view the original Student to Early Career Professional presentation (PDF, approximately 4 MB).

Please note: Some statistics, terminology, dates and external links in the presentation reflect when it was originally prepared. The webpages in this Student section contain the most current program, scholarship, membership and licensing information.

Not sure where to begin? Explore the resources above or contact AIPG-TX. We welcome students who are just discovering geoscience as well as those preparing to begin their professional careers.