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Graduate Programs

The Department of Geology offers programs leading to a graduate certificate, the Master of Arts or Master of Science in geology, an option in geohydrology, the Master of Arts in Teaching or Master of Science in Teaching (Science), and to the Earth, Environment, & Society Doctoral Program.

The M.A./M.S. program is designed to train geology students beyond the baccalaureate degree for professional employment or for advanced graduate work. The M.A.T./M.S.T. program is offered for teachers in secondary schools and community colleges.

Geology participates in the Earth, Environment, & Society Doctoral Program. Specialized studies in hydrogeology, geomicrobiology, environmental geology, engineering geology, geomechanics, glaciology, and applied stratigraphy, along with multidisciplinary environmental science courses and seminars, will partially fulfill the requirements for the Ph.D. See Earth, Environment and Society Ph.D. for information relative to the Ph.D. program in Earth, Environment, & Society.

Admission requirements

Geology M.A./M.S.

Geology M.A.T./M.S.T.

Geology M.A./M.S.

See University master’s degree requirements. Specific departmental requirements for the M.S./M.A. Geology or the M.A./M.S. Geology-Geohydrology with a thesis option are:

  1. Completion of a minimum of 45 credits in approved graduate courses.
    1. Students must take G 523 Statistics and Data Analysis in the Geosciences unless already taken as G 423 as an undergraduate.
    2. Students must take at least 8 credits in geology courses numbered G 610 or higher.
    3. Students must take at least another 12 credits (16 credits if G 423 Computer Application in Geology was completed as an undergraduate) in the field of geology from G 510 or higher level courses.
    4. A maximum of 9 credits will be allowed for courses numbered G 501 Research, G 504 Cooperative Education/Internship, G 505 Reading and Conference, or G 506 Special Problems. These courses are offered for P/NP credit only.
    5. Students must complete at least 6 credits of G 503 Thesis (P/NP only); up to 9 credits can count for the degree.
  2. The department will evaluate a student’s record for deficiencies at the time of admission and develop a list of courses that must be completed for a grade of B or better in each course within a length of time specified in the admission letter.
  3. Completion of field camp (could have been taken as an undergraduate) or equivalent field experience as approved by the field camp director.
  4. Presentation of a thesis.
  5. Completion of a final oral examination (thesis defense) taken before the end of the sixth week of the final term in residence.

Specific departmental requirements for the M.A./M.S. Geology or the M.A./M.S. Geology-Geohydrology with a non-thesis (project) option are:

  1. Completion of a minimum of 45 credits in approved graduate courses of which 36 must be for differentiated grades (A-F).
    1. Students must take G 523 Statistics and Data Analysis in the Geosciences unless already taken as G 423 as an undergraduate.
    2. Students must take at least 8 credits in geology courses numbered G 610 or higher.
    3. Students must take at least another 12 credits (16 credits if G 423 Computer Application in Geology was completed as an undergraduate) in the field of geology from G 510 or higher-level courses.
    4. Student must complete 3 credits in G 501 Research.
    5. A maximum of 3 additional credits will be allowed for courses numbered G 501 Research, G 504 Cooperative Education/Internship, G 505 Reading and Conference, and G 506 Special Problems or similarly numbered courses in other departments. These courses are offered for P/NP credit only.
  2. The department will evaluate a student’s record for deficiencies at the time of admission and develop a list of courses that must be completed for a grade of B or better in each course within a length of time specified in the admission letter.
  3. Completion of field camp (could have been taken as an undergraduate) or equivalent field experience as approved by the field camp director.
  4. Presentation of a research project.
  5. Completion of a final oral examination on the subject area and the research project.