Abstract
The teaching of geology has as long a history as The University of Tennessee at Martin has itself, extending back to 1901 when the first geology class was offered at the campus’s original institution, Hall-Moody Institute, a small Baptist college. Geology, usually with geography, was offered as a service course to the primary programs of agriculture, education and, later, engineering. Faculty turnover during these formative years was frequent. When the school was acquired by the University of Tennessee in 1927 and became UT Junior College, geology remained a service course. Geology offerings had been expanding since 1947 and, in 1951, the school became the UT Martin Branch. Geology continued to expand and, in 1967, UTMB became the University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin). The groundwork was laid for geology, and geography, to expand, so that in 1972, geology established a B.S. degree granting program with three geology faculty members and a full curriculum. In 1975, geology and geography split from the Department of Physical Science to become the Department of Geology, Geography, and Physics. The subsequent evolution of the geosciences department and geology program through periods of expansion, contraction, and reorganization is presented.
Recommended Citation
Gibson, Michael A.
(2024)
"A history of the geology program at the University of Tennessee at Martin,"
The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon:
Vol. 93:
Iss.
2, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62879/c78445716
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/compass/vol93/iss2/3