Brief History

The Department of Geology (now the Department of Earth Science) was formally established in 1948, with its inaugural courses commencing in 1950. In the department's nascent years, Geology emerged as a popular choice for students enrolled in the B.Sc. General degree program. Dozens of students selected Geology as one of their two primary subjects. Furthermore, a considerable number of first-year students included Geology as an additional "third subject" within the B.Sc. General Part I curriculum.

The increasing student population necessitated the construction of additional lecture theatres for the new department, requiring an investment of £46,000. As a temporary measure, a substantial portion of the Main Library building was repurposed to accommodate teaching departments without dedicated facilities. By 1958, three departments were housed within the library, and the library's collection continued to expand. To address this issue, Phase I allocated £75,000 for the construction of dedicated buildings for these departments. Moreover, between 1955 and 1958, the College, particularly its science departments, amassed significant collections.

The increasing volume of collections posed significant storage challenges, yet their importance to global scholars remained undiminished. To address this, it was determined that a Natural History Museum should be established. This would not only enhance the College's reputation but also provide a valuable resource for researchers. The museum was planned to be located in close proximity to the Departments of Botany, Zoology, and Geology, as well as the Botanical and Zoological Gardens. In 1962, the University Council approved the establishment of a University Theatre, further enriching the academic and professional landscape. The Ghana Institute of Arts and Culture pledged an additional £G7,000 to support this endeavour.

The Department of Geology made substantial contributions to the University's early years, training geologists for diverse sectors of the economy. Offering a comprehensive curriculum of over 11 courses, including Mineralogy, Petrology, and Engineering Geology, the department provided consultancy services to key industries, particularly the mining sector. The recent boom in the mining industry has stimulated significant research activity within the department. Funded by organizations such as UNDP, the Mineral Development Fund, and DANIDA, the department has undertaken projects including the production of a gold and diamond brochure, the review of industrial minerals, the exploration for diamond source rocks, and seismotectonic studies in southeastern Ghana (Agbodeka, 1998). 

The Department of Geology underwent a name change to the Department of Earth Science in 2010 to reflect the broader spectrum of Geoscience disciplines. This transition facilitated the introduction of BSc, MPhil, MSc, and PhD degree programmes in various Geoscience fields. In 2022, the department further expanded its undergraduate offerings by introducing BSc degrees in Geology, Applied Geology, and Geophysics.

Programmes:

Undergraduate degrees

BSc Earth Science (Geology), BSc Earth Science (Applied Geology), BSc Earth Science (Applied Geophysics)

Graduate (MSc/MPhil)

Geology, Economic Geology, Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology, Petroleum Geoscience, Mineral Exploration, Geophysics

PhD

Earth Science

Agbodeka, F. (1998). A history of University of Ghana: Half a century of higher education (1948-1998). Woeli Publishing Services.