History of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences has a rich history dating back more than a century, from the original focus on mining engineering, to today's interdisciplinary focus on earth, energy, and materials sciences and engineering.
This website provides an update to our history - we invite you to use the navigation menu at the upper right to learn more about what our deans and subunits have accomplished to date!
Note: The majority of events prior to the 1990s have been documented in The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State by E. Willard Miller).
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Our first course is offered
The University (then known as the Pennsylvania Farmers' High School) offers its first course in geography and meteorology, a required course in the scientific and agricultural program.
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Department of Mining Engineering is established
Penn State Board of Trustees approves the establishment of the Department of Mining Engineering.
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Mining Engineering is renamed and the Obelisk construction is completed
The growing Department of Mining Engineering is renamed to the School of Mines; Magnus Ihlseng serves as dean until 1899.
Construction on Penn State's Obelisk finishes. Located adjacent to the Old Main Mall, the Obelisk is a collaborative effort of faculty, students, and the Pennsylvania Mining Industry, and it contains more than 280 stones from 139 locations across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Obelisk supports research on the durability and characteristics of building stone, displays the various stones for builders and architects to examine, and, since the stones are arranged in geological sequence, aids instruction in Earth Sciences.
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A major in mining geology is established
A major in mining geology is established in the School of Mines and Metallurgy. The first B.S. degree in mining geology is conferred in 1912 and the first M.S. degree is first conferred in 1913.
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The Department of Ceramic Technology is formed
The Department of Ceramic Technology is formed, another predecessor to today's materials science and engineering program.
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A bachelor of science degree in Geology is added
A bachelor of science degree in geology is first offered, replacing the degree in mining geology.
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School of Mineral Industries is renamed
Dr. Edward Steidle renames the school to the School of Mineral Industries, "symbolizing a philosophy that the school would provide an all-inclusive educational program for the mineral industries of the state and the nation."
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Construction of the Mineral Industries Building is completed and the library is created
Now known as the Steidle Building, construction of the Mineral Industries Building is completed. In addition, the Mineral Industries Library is created; today this is known as the Fletcher L. Byrom Earth and Mineral Sciences Library.
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Dr. Raymond Murphy is the first professionally trained geographer to join Penn State's faculty
He serves as assistant professor of economic geography.
The school's Department of Geology establishes a major in petroleum and natural gas engineering, offering B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees.
The college publishes its first issue of the Mineral Industries Bulletin to promote research and increase university-industry collaborations.
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New curricula in geography and fuel technology added
The University's geography major/curriculum is first offered to students in 1932, and the Department of Fuel Technology, the first of its kind in the U.S., is established. That department is a predecessor to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
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The Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering is established
Today it is housed within the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering.
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Fuel science and weather forecasting added
A program in fuel science is first offered, in 1934, a predecessor to today's materials science and engineering program. In addition, the first weather forecasting course is taught in the Department of Mining Engineering.
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The Mineral Industries Art Gallery holds its first public exhibition
Dean Edward Steidle holds first public exhibition of artwork that he collected related to the mineral industries. The artwork is displayed in the dean's office and conference room because there is no dedicated museum.
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The master of education in geography is offered to students
The first M.Ed. degree in geography is granted in 1939.
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Department of Geology, Mineralogy and Geography is renamed
The Department of Geology, Mineralogy and Geography is renamed to the Department of Earth Sciences.
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First Ph.D. in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering is granted
The first Ph.D. in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering is granted by Penn State. The degree is the third such degree granted in the U.S.
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The Mineral Industries Art Gallery opens
On April 11, the gallery opens and located in a new wing of the Mineral Industries Building.
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The Division of Meteorology is formed
The Division of Meteorology, part of the Department of Earth Sciences, is formed.
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The School of Mineral Industries is reorganized
The reorganization is to include the Department of Earth Sciences, the Department of Mineral Engineering, and the Department of Materials Technology.
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The Division of Geography and the Department of Mineral Engineering are formed
The Division of Geography forms when the School of Mineral Industries is reorganized by Dean Edward Steidle. Dr. E. Willard Miller serves as first chief of the division, which offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees. In addition, the Department of Mineral Engineering was formed the same year.
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The first M.S. and Ph.D. in geography are offered to students
The first M.S. is granted in 1947 and the first Ph.D. is granted in 1949.
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Program in Mineral Economics is formed
A program in mineral economics — the first of its kind in the U.S. — is formed at Penn State. The first B.S. degree in this program is awarded in 1947, the first M.S. in 1948, and the first Ph.D. in 1954.
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The Mineral Sciences Building is inaugurated
Cornerstone exercises are held to inaugurate the opening of the Mineral Sciences Building (now known as Hosler Building).
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The Combustion Laboratory is founded
The Combustion Laboratory, the predecessor to today's EMS Energy Institute, is founded.
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First geosciences-related Ph.D. is granted
Initially, degrees are granted in geophysics, geology, mineralogy, and geochemistry.
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The Materials Characterization Laboratory is founded
The Materials Characterization Laboratory is founded by Drs. Thomas Bates and Elburt Osborn. Today, the laboratory is one of the main research facilities in the Millennium Science Complex.
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Mineral Industries becomes a college
The School of Mineral Industries becomes the College of Mineral Industries.
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The Pennsylvania State College is renamed
The Pennsylvania State College is renamed to the Pennsylvania State University.
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Geography and Meteorology units are renamed
The Division of Geography becomes the Department of Geography, and the Division of Meteorology becomes the Department of Meteorology.
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The Materials Research Laboratory is founded
Rustum Roy founds the Materials Research Laboratory in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. This is the predecessor to today's Materials Research Institute.
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The Division of Earth Sciences is organized into four units
The Division of Earth Sciences was organized into four units: Geography, Meteorology, Geology and Geophysics, and Geochemistry and Mineralogy.
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Construction on the Mineral Industries Building is complete
Today, this is known as the Deike Building.
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Mineral Industries Building is dedicated and renamed
The building was renamed the Deike Building in honor of renowned alumni George Deike, Sr., George Deike, Jr., and their family.
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The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is formed
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Program in Polymer Science is added
The college begins offering a program in polymer science through the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
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The Mineral Industries Building is renamed
The building is renamed to the Steidle Building in honor of Edward Steidle, dean emeritus of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
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The Walker Building is completed
Under the leadership of Dean Charles Hosler, construction on the Walker Building is completed. Today, this houses the administrative offices for the Department Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, and the Department of Geography.
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The Obelisk Society is formed
The Obelisk Society gives special honor and recognition to individuals who make extraordinary contributions to the college.
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The Earth System Science Center is founded as an interdisciplinary research center
The center brings together students and faculty in meteorology, geosciences, and geography. The first director is Eric Barron (also a former president of Penn State).
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Dr. Peter Gould becomes the University's first Evan Pugh Professor of Geography
This honor is the highest distinction Penn State bestows on faculty members.
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GEMS is formed
The Graduates of Earth and Mineral Sciences (GEMS) Alumni Society for EMS is formed with an initial membership of nearly 5,000 alumni.
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Stanley Suboleski is the first college faculty member to be named to an endowed professorship
Named the Centennial Career Development Professorship in Mining.
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The college begins offering a program in geo-environmental engineering
This is offered through the the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering.
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The Mineral Sciences Building is renamed in honor of Charles Hosler, dean emeritus of the college
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The Department of Mineral Engineering is renamed to the Department of Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering
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The EMS Environment Institute is formed
This is a predecessor to today's Earth and Environmental Systems Institute (EESI).
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College offers its first online program
The Department of Geography begins offering its first online program, a graduate-level non-credit certificate in geographic information systems. This is the predecessor to the popular for-credit Postbaccalaureate Certificate in GIS still offered today.
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A college-based learning design institute is formed
Under the leadership of Dean John Dutton, the college establishes an institute-focused on developing the best online courses possible, named the e-Education Institute.
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The college begins offering a program in environmental systems engineering
This program is offered through the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering.
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Science Diving is added to the curriculum
The college launches its Science Diving educational program.
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The college's e-Education Institute is renamed
The college's e-Education Institute is renamed the John A. Dutton e-Education institute to honor Dr. Dutton, former dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, who was instrumental in creating the institute's vision.
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New programs in Energy Business and Finance, as well as a Master of GIS, launched
The Energy Business and Finance is launched through the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering. In the same year, an online Master of Geographic Information Systems launches on Penn State World Campus, offered through the Department of Geography.
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The Environment Institute becomes the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute
The EMS Environment Institute is renamed to the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute (EESI), one of the main research institutes today in EMS and part of the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment.
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The college begins offering a program in geobiology through the Department of Geosciences
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Energy Engineering added to the curriculum
The college begins offering a program in energy engineering through the the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering.
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An online Master of Education in Earth Sciences is launched
The program is offered through the Department of Geosciences and delivered through Penn State World Campus.
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The Dutton Institute launches a College OER initiative
The John A. Dutton E-Education Institute launches its Open Educational Resources initiative, which allows users to access the content of more than 100 online courses created with the support of the Dutton Institute. The repository is eventually adopted by the University and becomes the Repository for Open and Affordable Materials (ROAM), supported by Penn State Libraries.
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New online programs offered through Penn State World Campus
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John and Willie Leone donate $5 million
Longtime college supporters John and Willie Leone donate $5 million, endowing the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering and creating opportunities such as a faculty chair, undergraduate scholarships, and graduate fellowships.
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A new intercollege online MPS in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems launches
Penn State begins offering an intercollege online Master of Professional Studies in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems online. These online degrees are offered through Penn State World Campus. EMS offers two options in the program, each with a corresponding four-course certificate program that can be used toward the full degree; one option in Solar Energy and one in Sustainability Management and Policy. After five years, the program undergoes a major transformation, moving it solely under the administration of the College of EMS, managed by the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering.
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The Department of Meteorology is renamed to Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
This reflects the department's expanded research and teaching focus.
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Extensive renovations on Steidle Building complete
