Geology Schools and Programs in Mexico

Geology Studies in Mexico

Geology in Mexico is studied as a university degree (licenciatura) that trains geologists for mineral and energy exploration, water resources, natural hazards and environmental work. Much of the training takes place in the field, with geological mapping as a core skill. Programmes are taught in Spanish.

SpainExchange lists one school in Mexico for geology: the Universidad de Sonora in Hermosillo, the capital of the state of Sonora in north-western Mexico.

Geology at the Universidad de Sonora

The Universidad de Sonora started its geology degree in 1974. According to the university's Departamento de Geología, the official reasons were the abundance of mineral resources in the state and the need to train specialists to explore them. The first geologists graduated in 1977, and an early reform changed the name of the degree from Ingeniero Geólogo to simply Geólogo. The department, today part of the Facultad Interdisciplinaria de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, has worked with industry through contracts and agreements with PEMEX, the CRM and mining companies, and keeps collections of fossils and of minerals and rocks.

The Licenciatura en Geología lasts nine semesters, is taught in Hermosillo and leads to the title of Geólogo. Its aim is a generalist geologist with solid knowledge of petrology, mineralogy, stratigraphy and tectonics and a strong command of geological mapping. Students can go deeper into one applied area:

• Economic geology
• Hydrogeology
• Environmental geology

Fieldwork is central. The programme trains students in geological mapping in the field and with new technologies, and in collecting data from field observation, sampling, aerial photographs and satellite images. Mexican universities count degrees in semesters and credits, not in ECTS. To graduate, students must complete all credits and the Servicio Social Universitario, the university's social service.

The university's wider catalogue includes related degrees, such as mining engineering and metallurgical engineering, and the same department also runs a degree in environmental sciences engineering.

Admission and language

Applicants to the Universidad de Sonora must hand in their upper-secondary certificate and birth certificate and pass the entrance exam of the annual call. The department recommends a science background, basic knowledge of physics, mathematics, chemistry and English, and a liking for outdoor work and contact with nature.

Applicants with school certificates from abroad also need them recognised in Mexico. The Universidad de Guadalajara describes the usual steps: legalisation by a Mexican consulate or an apostille, revalidation by the education authorities (at bachelor's and postgraduate level, by the SEP's Departamento de Revalidaciones y Equivalencias), an official translation if the documents are not in Spanish, a grade equivalence table and proof of command of the language. The geology programme encourages inter-institutional mobility, and the university addresses its programme information also to students interested in a mobility semester.

Visa and costs

Foreign students who will stay longer than 180 days generally need a student visa, according to the Mexican consulate in Chicago, which charges a non-refundable fee of US$56. Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that Spanish citizens need a visa to study in Mexico whatever the length of the stay, and that some Spanish students have been refused enrolment without one. After arrival, the visa is exchanged for a migration document at the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM).

At the Universidad de Sonora, enrolment and tuition fees are linked to the minimum wage in Hermosillo, under the university's fee regulations; the amounts are published each year.

Recognition and careers

When comparing programmes at private institutions in Mexico, check that the study plan has a RVOE (Reconocimiento de Validez Oficial de Estudios); without official validity, studies give no right to a title or a cédula profesional. According to the Universidad de Sonora, geologists work for federal and state agencies in geological mapping, mineral and groundwater exploration and civil protection; in mining; in oil, coal and uranium exploration and production; in civil construction; in consultancies for geological risk and environmental impact studies; and in teaching and research.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a geology degree take in Mexico?

At the Universidad de Sonora, the Licenciatura en Geología lasts nine semesters and leads to the title of Geólogo. Social service must be completed before graduation.

Is there a lot of fieldwork in a Mexican geology degree?

Yes. Geological mapping in the field is a core part of the Universidad de Sonora programme, which looks for students who enjoy outdoor work.

What do geology graduates do in Mexico?

They work in mining and energy exploration, groundwater studies, civil protection, construction, environmental consultancy, and in teaching and research.