What education does a mineralogist need?
Becoming a mineralogist requires at a minimum a college degree and often postgraduate work. Since most mineralogists work in research or teaching a PhD is the commonest degree that is required. To prepare for this you need to take a college preparatory track in high school. It would pay to take as much science and mathematics that you can. The MSA website has a K-12 teaching subsection that is under construction at the present time and should be checked periodically. It is a good idea to look at as many minerals as you can. This can include museums, gem & mineral shows, and field trips. Some mineral clubs have junior sections that give younger members some experience with minerals. Natural history museums often have displays of minerals with some educational explanations. The American Association of State Geologists contains links to all of the state surveys and they often have links to educational resources.
