Natural Sciences

The Natural Sciences program at Mesalands Community College awards an Associate of Arts degree with an option in either Paleontology or Geology. Both program options take full advantage of the rich natural resources of the region, a high-technology science laboratory, and the College’s Dinosaur Museum.

Paleontology

Get a paleontology degree at Mesalands Community College and contribute to a better understanding of our planet with your groundbreaking research

Dig into the past to uncover the deepest mysteries of our planet. Join our paleontology program located in New Mexico’s fossil-rich Quay County. Here, your passion and expertise will help make a real contribution to scientific exploration. Work alongside a world-renowned researcher to unearth real dinosaur bones, fossilized plants, as well as fossils from various known and unknown species throughout history. Your work is crucial as it helps us gain a better understanding of our planet. Discoveries in paleontology give the world more context around climate conditions and the development of species on our planet.

Take your findings to one of the most remarkable natural science labs in the southwest and make discoveries of your own to help mankind be better prepared for life on our planet. Your dedication to expanding our knowledge is admired and appreciated; That is why your most impressive discoveries will feature in our prestigious Dinosaur Museum. As you may have realized by now, this is a hands–on program where we encourage our students to be adventurous, forget about long boring lectures, and get ready for exhilarating explorations in a land full of history.

Career Paths (Indeed team, 2025)

Journalist ($41,249 per year)
Research assistant ($45,249 per year)
Museum curator ($62,023 per year)
Lab manager ($81,555 per year)

Geology

New Mexico has a rich and varied geological history. Early Native Americans collected chert to make arrowheads, the Spanish mined copper and gold, and Anglo settlers extracted silver and uranium.

The Geology program at Mesalands Community College provides a primary education in the natural sciences. Students are exposed to the fundamentals of geology, biology, and computer science. The program emphasizes practical knowledge through a combination of field trips and laboratory work. Courses take advantage of the rich natural resources of the mesa country of eastern New Mexico, a state-of-the-art, computer-interactive science laboratory, and the College’s Dinosaur Museum.