Academic SWOT analysis

Ben Shipley

10/5/12

Academic Plan SWOT Analysis

Major: Engineering Geology

Courses taken: English 1010, 2010. Math 1050, American Heritage 1000, Ethics and Values 2050, Fitness for Life 1097, Portuguese 1010, 1020, 2010, 202G, 3050, 3200, 3520. Chinese 1010, Art 1650, Biology 1010, Meteorology 1010, Geology 1010, Geography 1300, CLSS 2100, Psy 1010. ( I have received my associates degree, in arts.)

            Courses needed to Graduate: Intro courses in Earth science or environmental geology or earthquakes or solar systems/planets or oceanography, mineralogy-Earth and planetary materials, and geologic maps; one year of general chemistry with lab, two years with calculus through linear algebra, 1.5 years of calculus based physics with lab, and one introductory computer programming course. I am planning on starting these next fall when I am accepted to UCLA, and will probably be doing this for 2 or 3 years.

            Strengths: I think some of the strengths I will have in this major are the classes oceanography and mineralogy, I enjoy learning about the earth and its many parts and functions. Also this major will help me on my way of becoming a petroleum engineer. It is something that I think that I could excel at, and the career opportunities interest me very much. I am very much committed to and excited about this field of study.

            Weaknesses: some of the course work that I am a little nervous about are the calculus classes and linear algebra, so that for sure is a big weakness. There might be some difficulties in studying and working, and if work interferes with my studies I will just have to survive off of student loans. Which is not ideal but might have to be done.

            Opportunities: there is still a great need of workers in this field and it is looking to grow. Many petroleum companies throughout the world are looking for geologists to work in the petroleum field to find and harvest oil and natural gas. I hope to learn those things that will help me excel in this area. I know of people who have done this as a living and enjoyed every minute of it and who exceled in their career. This is also an area where a lot of money can be made if you are in the right place with the right company. So at the moment this is a good field to go out in, and it should stay pretty stable for a while.

            Threats: there really no big threats, there are however those math classes that may cause some trouble in graduating. I also have an interest in the same field but at a different level, which is being an oil driller, but there is no college education for a driller just a 20 day class, and one of my goals is to get at least a bachelors degree. Worse comes to worse that is something that I could fall on if my plans for this fail.

I am really excited and pumped to start my schooling in this field of study, and I am waiting anxiously for that day.