Geological Sciences, MS

Location(s): Main Campus

The Master of Science program in Geological Sciences enables students to pursue advanced studies in the in the broad field of earth sciences. Graduate students are expected to demonstrate breadth of training in the departmental focus areas of Climate Science & Global Change, Environmental Geoscience, and Natural Resources & Energy.

Admission Requirements

Students with a bachelor’s degree in the geological sciences should have completed undergraduate courses in physical geology, Earth materials (mineralogy), Earth history, the Earth’s interior, and field geology or equivalent field experience. Additional coursework in hydrology, environmental geology, structural geology, paleobiology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, geophysics, and petrology are recommended, as are two semesters each of general chemistry, mathematics (through integral calculus), and general physics or general biology. For students entering with a bachelor’s degree in one of the cognate sciences, undergraduate courses in the allied sciences may be accepted in lieu of certain geology requirements.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the MS in Geological Sciences must take the required coursework, which includes completion of an approved program of at least six graduate courses (a minimum of 24 credits of graduate courses) plus six credits of the thesis course. In so doing, each student also must satisfy the University residence requirement.

Choosing Advisors

On matriculation, each student is assigned an advisor. On approval of a thesis topic, the student is assigned a research advisory committee. Programs of study must be approved by the advisor and departmental graduate committee.

Thesis Requirement

Students are required to submit a thesis proposal with committee endorsement at the commencement of thesis research. Successful defense of the thesis in an oral examination and submission of an approved final copy are required to be awarded the degree.

Additional Information About the Program

For more information on the Geological Sciences MS program, please refer to the Earth Sciences website. To apply to the Geological Sciences MS program, please visit the University Admissions website.