by Iain on Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:18 am
I graduated in 2007.
Sadly, Grahame Oliver and Ian Alsop, good people for structural and metamorphic geology, have left the University and I think have been replaced with short-contract staff. Ian in particular was an excellent teacher. The degree will not run after next year for new undergrads - so you will finish your degree in an atmosphere of change, and probably see a number of staff depart during your time. I have no idea if geosciences will be taught in a separate department or if that really is "it" for the subject. The human geographers run the department and our voice has been drowned out, the University sees Geosciences as expensive and not bringing in enough research grants.
However, out of the doom and gloom, you still should get a very good training and be very employable afterwards.
Your questions:
"possibly the boringest and nastiest person ever"
Colin Donaldson lectures for a large part of first semester. He takes things slowly and methodically. He's not nasty, just very restrained. Some people really don't like him, but I cannot understand why, he is the best at getting ideas across in the classroom. People forget that you are there to work. It is far from boring, you get field trips almost from the very start, and (bargain!) the lab classes are only two hours long instead of three as they were in my day. Anyone who disses Colin should have a bit of respect for a good scientist.
It's only a slog if you don't want to become a geologist!!!!
"in terms of employment, Geoscience at St. Andrews might be viewed as a bit of a 'watered down version of Geology' - is this the case?"
Not at all. Many companies recognise the quality (and particularly the field-based abilities) of St. Andrews graduates - your degree is one of the best to have. It would be called geology if we had a Professor of Geology. It used to be called so. You can get a very rounded geology degree without going too close to environmental. Hazards are for physical geographers.
There's plenty other options for subjects in first and second year outside of Geography if you don't fancy that. I did Chemistry, Physics, IT and Sustainable Development - something about not liking human geography!
"Reputation of the Geog/Geosci department as a whole?"
Never heard any other students at the university say bad things about geology and geography. Most ire seems to be directed at film studies or art history! Outside, I've said, a Geoscience degree will stand you in good stead.
Sorry, that's probably a bit of a biased viewpoint since I've ended up doing a PhD (supervised by a St. Andrews graduate). But I hope that helps.
Unwind: touch the brine; Take some bread: break some wine
I can see the water line; Red below the Lewis sun