MS, Geology

Degree Program Summary:

The Department of Geology offers M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs across a diverse array of specializations, including environmental geology and surficial processes, structural and planetary geology, paleobiology and stratigraphy, petrology and volcanology, geophysics, and geoarchaeology. Depending on the area of specialization, research may include field work, laboratory studies, and computational analyses. The Department has a wide array of instrumentation, and additional instrumentation is available across campus.

Graduate students in Geology are supported by teaching assistantships as well as research assistantships, which are funded through grants and industry sources. The Department of Geology has several internal grants programs that support research and travel by graduate students, and we mentor students in seeking external funding. Graduate students are admitted to work with individual faculty members, and the Department places a strong emphasis on mentoring students and developing individualized plans of instruction. M.S. students typically complete their degree requirements in two years, and Ph.D. students typically complete theirs in four years.

Geology graduate students have consistently had a high employment rate in the discipline, with careers in environmental geology, the petroleum and mining industries, government, and academia. The Department maintains close ties with its alumni, who financially support departmental programs and make available internships and employment opportunities.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact faculty in their area of interest as well as the Graduate Coordinator. Students are typically admitted only for Fall Semester.