Degree Requirements
- Credit Hours: All students are required to complete a minimum of 32 graduate credit hours at the 500 or 600 levels. Students may count a maximum of six credit hours at the 400 level. Students who elect to complete a thesis will typically earn additional credit hours.
- Grade Point Average: Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in courses applied to the degree.
- Thesis: Students in the research track must write and defend a Master's Thesis.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CORE REQUIREMENTS | 15 | |
| Scientific Writing (Must be taken in the first Fall semester) | ||
| Deep Time Earth Systems | ||
| Graduate Professional Development and Scientific Integrity (Must be taken in the second fall semester) | ||
Data Analytics and Presentation Skills Course: | ||
| Computer Aided Subsurface Interpretations | ||
| Graphic Design for Scientists | ||
| Aqueous Geochemistry | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Geoscience | ||
| Methods for Open Science | ||
| Open-Source Spatial Analytics | ||
Any additional GEOL course at the 400, 500 or 600 level * | ||
| ELECTIVES | 9 | |
Three additional GEOG or GEOL courses, or other class offered by the Eberly College, at the 400, 500, or 600 level ** | ||
| GRADUATION TRACK | 8 | |
| Select one track: *** | ||
| Research Track: | ||
| Graduate Seminar (Students must complete 2 credit hours) | ||
| Research (Students must complete 6 credit hours) | ||
| Professional Studies Track: **** | ||
| Core Courses: | ||
| Masters: Professional Studies Track Cohort Seminar (taken first semester in program) | ||
GEOL 696 | Graduate Seminar | |
Select one option or a combination of the options below: | ||
Project: | ||
| Masters Project Research (A project may be a maximum of 3 credit hours) | ||
Internship: | ||
| Grad Internship in Geology | ||
Professional Licensure: | ||
Any GEOL course(s) at the 400, 500 or 600 level | ||
GEOL 696 | Graduate Seminar | |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
- *
No more than 6 credit hours may be at the 400 level and excludes GEOL 790.
- **
Except GEOL 680, 681, 697, 790.
- ***
Students enrolled in the research track may elect to transfer to the professional studies track as long as they do so before the end of the first academic year.
- ****
The professional studies track is completed in part by 1 hour of GEOL 682 and 1 hour of GEOL 696. The remaining 6 credits may be satisfied by one or a combination of the following options: additional GEOL 696 credits, Internship, Research Project, Licensure, or additional GEOL coursework at the 500 or 600 level.
Major Learning Outcomes
Geology
Students obtaining a masters in Geology with a Research Track will be able to:
- Communicate geologic concepts orally and in writing
- Apply research skills to analyze geologic questions
- Propose, produce and defend original research in their field of study
- Explain geologic principles as they relate to their area of research
Students obtaining a masters in Geology with a Professional Studies Track will be able to:
- Communicate geologic concepts orally and in writing
- Demonstrate knowledge in either energy geology or environmental geology
- Apply geological knowledge and methods to (1) find, develop and produce energy resources particularly natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil; OR, (2) to assess environmental issues