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M.S. Earth & Quaternary Sciences
Master of Science Degree Options
M.S. Thesis
M.S. Non-Thesis (Culminating Experience)
The M.S. Program includes exciting interdisciplinary courses and research options as well as providing students with a strong background in geology and the geosciences. The Program emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning in the field and in the lab, and focuses on applied, interdisciplinary research in Earth and Quaternary Sciences in the areas of environmental geology, geochemistry, geoarchaeology, biogeochemistry, oceanography, geomorphology, climatology, paleoclimatology, paleoecology, paleoceanography, dendrochronology, biogeography, plaeolimnology, and geobiology. Faculty members also have expertise and teach courses in the more traditional areas of stratigraphy, petrology, geohydrology, volcanology, economic geology, remote sensing/GIS, and physical geography.
The M.S. Program is designed to provide students with the strong background needed to pursue careers with government and private geoscience agencies or to continue graduate studies at the Ph.D. level.
M.S. Thesis
Core Courses
ENVI 571 or ENVI 552 Quaternary Paleoecology or Quaternary Environments
ENVI 588 Geoscience Research Methods
GEOL 690 Advanced Topics in Earth and Quaternary Sciences
GEOL 699 Thesis Hours (6hrs)
Electives
Directed electives (18 hrs) from the geosciences or from allied scientific disciplines that focus on topics in environmental sciences, geochemistry, geoarchaeology, geosciences, paleoecology, paleoclimatology, geobiology, GIS/remote sensing, and evolution (to be determined in consultation with the student’s advisor).
M.S. Non-Thesis
Core Courses
ENVI 571 or ENVI 552 Quaternary Paleoecology or Quaternary Environments
ENVI 588 Geoscience Research Methods
GEOL 690 Advanced Topics in Earth and Quaternary Sciences
GEOL 697 Research Seminar in Geology
Electives
Directed electives (21 hrs) from the geosciences or from allied scientific disciplines that focus on topics in environmental sciences, geochemistry, geoarchaeology, geosciences, paleoecology, paleoclimatology, geobiology, GIS/remote sensing, and evolution (to be determined in consultation with the student’s advisor).
Culminating Experience
Present research results at a departmental seminar or regional/national conference or successfully passing the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) exam.
All of our Masters Degree graduates have either obtained career-oriented jobs immediately upon graduation or have been accepted into graduate programs to pursue a Ph.D. in the geosciences. Our M.S. Program will continue to build on this record of success.
How to Apply
Current Graduate Catalog
Course Listings
Contact Information
For more information about the M.S. Degree contact Jeffery Stone or Suzanne Walters