Geological Sciences M.S. Admissions
Admissions Information for the Online, Non-Thesis M.S.
Admissions Information for the Thesis-Option M.S.
Application Deadline
To receive full consideration for funding decisions, all application materials must be submitted by Feb. 1. Review of applications begins Feb. 1. Applications received after that date will be reviewed but may not receive the highest priority in funding and acceptance decisions. Note: Students who do not complete their application by Feb. 1 should definitely complete the application process.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact potential advisers for advice and guidance about applying. It is acceptable to contact multiple professors to ask about their research program and to seeking guidance. Emails are always welcome. See Graduate Research Opportunities and Faculty Research Areas.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants are responsible for reading and understanding the admission policies and procedures in the Graduate Catalog.
- Bachelor's Degree: Applicants are expected to have a bachelor's degree in geology, environmental geology, earth sciences, or closely related degree from an accredited institution or equivalent. The department does consider applicants from other sciences if their background and research interests are aligned with a professor or the program.
- Recommended Coursework
- Applicants generally are expected to have completed the equivalent of a year of chemistry and physics prior to enrolling.
- Applicants generally are expected to have successfully completed an integral calculus course.
- Applicants should have completed coursework in mineralogy, petrology, sedimentology-stratigraphy, structural geology, geomorphology, paleontology, and field methods/camp. However, the requirements differ for students seeking a geology versus an environmental geology degree with hydrology and geochemistry cou