I guess this easily qualifies as the most important question there can be in any field of study: what do I need to learn, and can I support myself when I get out of school?
Bachelors of Art and Science degrees in geology, earth science, environmental science, and related fields are available from many (most) 4 year schools. Graduate studies are also available, and you can even end up as "Dr. You" if you stick with it long enough. The specific requirements may vary somewhat, depending on the school and the actual degree you decide to pursue. If "Geology" is your goal, it is almost certain that you will need the following: a year of physics, a year of chemistry, mathematics through calculus, and the normal geology courses (including such favorites as mineralogy, optical mineralogy, crystallography, igneous and sedimentary petrology, structural geology, and others as may be required at your particular school). My eldest, Balin, is currently in the middle of this (physics, calculus, crystallography, and petrology this quarter).
I bet this sounds like a heck of a load but, as much as I hate to say it, the college part is probably the easiest. It's kind of like walking to the top of a tall mountain. It looks daunting from the bottom, but really... the trick is just to keep putting one foot in front of the other (and don't look up). Like any other field of study, getting your degree is just the beginning: your real education begins after you walk out the door with your diploma. I've "been a geologist" for 25 years and I bet I learned more about the earth yesterday than I did during my entire sophomore year.
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