Graduate and Professional Programs

Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees are offered in geology, geophysics, and geochemistry. The major areas of emphasis in the graduate program include biogeosciences, environmental geoscience, exploration geophysics, geochemistry, reservoir characterization, sedimentary geology, and structural geology. A J.D./M.S. in Geosciences degree is offered in conjunction with the College of Law.

Master’s Degree Programs

A master’s degree can be earned through either a thesis or a non-thesis program. In the non-thesis program, a non-thesis report is substituted for the thesis and six credit hours of course work are added.

Ph.D. Program

The principal objectives of the Ph.D. program are to provide students an opportunity to reach a critical understanding of basic scientific principles underlying their fields of interest and to cultivate their ability to apply these principles creatively through training in advanced methods of analysis, research, and synthesis.

Admission

Applicants must satisfy the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. They must also be approved by the Graduate Advisor and satisfy the following requirements: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in natural science, physical science, mathematics, or engineering for a Masters degree and a baccalaureate or master’s degree in physical sciences, natural sciences, engineering, or mathematics from an accredited college or university for a Ph.D. 
  • An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0.  Students with Masters degrees must have a 3.3 minimum grade point average in their master’s work and be approved by the Graduate Advisor and the Dean of the Graduate School. 
  • Letters of recommendation from at least three professors or former supervisors who are familiar with the applicant’s work performance and academic potential.
  • All applicants are required to take the General Graduate Record Examination. 
  • Applicants whose native language is not English must also take the TOEFL examination and score at least 80 on the internet-based exam, 213 on the computer-based exam, or 550 on the paper exam. Non-native English speakers may also submit a minimum score of 6.0 from the IELTS examination.

Graduate Level Degrees offered by the Department of Geosciences