The College of Geosciences was established in 1998 to achieve the university's goals and in line with the strong desire to establish Al al-Bayt University: “The urgent need for a new, distinct type of reference that combines the evidence of science and its methods of research and teaching on the one hand, and the requirements of faith, belief, and transparency of vision on the other hand, and establishes the compatibility and difference between these combined correctnesses, until the human being is ultimately an integrated personality, in harmony with his environment and the civilization of his time (quoted from the personal will, 1992)."
In 1995, given that Al al-Bayt University is located in a desert area with numerous natural resources, such as groundwater, rocks, and mineral ores, the Strategic Research Unit for Water and Environment was established to conduct scientific studies related to groundwater exploration, water harvesting, dam studies, groundwater monitoring, environmental impact assessment studies, agriculture, and groundwater pollution. Equipped with advanced equipment and laboratories, the research unit has achieved a strong reputation locally and regionally and has participated in numerous development and environmental projects that have benefited the university and the province.
The achievements of the Strategic Research Unit for Water and Environment were encouraging, leading to the establishment in 2001 of the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences. The institute began offering a master's program in water resources and the environment. In 2003, a bachelor's program in applied earth and environmental sciences was launched. The program aims to prepare students specialized in geology, water resources, and the environment, and to conduct studies related to water and various fields of earth and environmental sciences, such as minerals and industrial rocks, geophysics, dams, fossils, statistical geology, geothermal energy, structural geology, and the chemistry of water and sedimentary rocks. The institute is staffed with highly qualified faculty members in various fields of geology and the environment. Their research focuses on mineral resources, rocks, water, and the environment in desert areas, the Jordanian Badia, and in the Kingdom in general.
In 2014, a Bachelor's degree program in Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (GIS & RS) was launched. This program is distinguished locally and regionally. This program aims to provide the local market with qualified and trained personnel in the fields of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing and their various applications in environmental, agricultural, and other fields.
The college also offers a Master's program in Applied Geology. We look forward to expanding our graduate programs in the fields of economically viable mineral resources, sustainable development and the environment, and GIS and remote sensing in the future to keep pace with economic development and meet the needs of local and regional markets. Mafraq is witnessing economic growth after it was declared a Special Economic Zone, which requires qualified personnel in all fields. The migration of refugees to the governorate has also placed a tremendous burden on its various natural and non-natural resources, posing a clear challenge for researchers and graduate students to evaluate these resources and maximize their benefits.
The College of Earth and Environmental Sciences has conducted several research studies in the field of ancient environments and ancient climates, with funding from European donor agencies. The college has participated in numerous international and local conferences, workshops, and seminars. It has also participated in research projects funded by UNESCO, the European Union, and the World Bank related to mineral resources, geothermal energy, wastewater treatment and reuse, and the use of information technology to prepare specialists in the environment, minerals, and water sectors.
With its teaching and administrative staff, the college aspires to achieve academic goals as part of a prestigious academic institution and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, benefiting students, the university, and the local community.
