Please note that it is necessary to send applications and supporting materials to BOTH the Graduate School AND the Department of Geology and Geophysics.
Degrees Offered
MS Degrees
- The department offers three Masters degrees in Geology or Geophysics:
- Plan A - requires thesis and final oral examination
- Plan B - requires a project which may include one to two research papers, coursework, and a final exam (written, oral or both)
- Plan C - coursework only with an emphasis in hydrogeology and environmental geoscience
- For information on MS credit and coursework requirements, click here.
PhD Degrees
- The department offers Ph.D. degrees in Geology or Geophysics which requires preliminary written and oral examinations, as well as final oral thesis defense.
- For information on credit and coursework requirements, click here.
Financial Aid
The Department is usually able to support 10 to 12 new graduate students each year with fellowships or assistantships. In most cases, financial aid offers guarantee 50%-time support for 4 years in the Ph.D. program and for 2 years in an M.S. program. In addition, a small number of students enter without financial aid and are given assistantships on a fund- and job-available basis. During their first year students normally identify a research project, and are encouraged with the help of their advisor to secure funding, including a stipend, to support the project in subsequent years.
- Teaching Assistants are employed in the teaching program; they supervise laboratory work, grade papers, and/or proctor exams. Typically, these positions are half time (20 hours per week) and include full tuition benefits and a health care package.
- Research Assistant positions are funded from grants given to a faculty member for specific research projects. Typically, these positions are half time (20 hours per week) and include full tuition benefits and a health care package. This type of appointment is arranged between the graduate advisor and the student.
- Several types of Fellowships are available from the Graduate School and the Department.
Summer support is independent of academic-year funding and may come from a separate teaching assistantship, research assistantship, or fellowship. Also, in the spring semester, students (or groups of students) may apply to the department for summer support to help defray expenses incurred while doing research.
The department also provides partial support for students who travel to professional meetings to present papers and posters that are based on thesis research. Additional support is usually available from research grants.
Graduate students appointed for at least half-time teaching or research assistantships receive full tution benefits (up to 14 credits per semester) and a health care package for the academic year.
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