Master of Science in Geology

The M.S. program includes coursework and a research-based thesis. The curriculum is flexible, and a program that is consistent with the student’s background, and professional and research objectives, is developed by the student and his or her faculty advisory committee. Like the Ph.D. program, the M.S. program assumes a basic undergraduate foundation in the geosciences. Students lacking such a background may be required to complete certain subjects at the undergraduate level before or during their graduate program. Master’s candidates in geology or geophysics are expected to have taken two semesters (or equivalent) of a college-level physics or chemistry course before admission, and must complete, or have completed, a minimum of two semesters of college-level calculus before completing their degree. Students are encouraged to obtain broad backgrounds by taking courses in geology, geophysics, and environmental geosciences along with the other sciences and mathematics. Multidisciplinary preparation is particularly useful for students seeking future employment in industry.

Students applying to the graduate program must have a bachelor\u2019s degree in the language of proposed study or have, otherwise, achieved general coverage of their major literature at the undergraduate level (at least four semesters of period or general courses in the major literature must be included in the student's undergraduate record). Native speakers of French, Italian or Spanish should demonstrate a strong background in the study of literature and the humanities.

Applicants whose native language is not English must achieve a TOEFL score of 600 or better (paper-based test), or 250 or better in (computer-based test).