The Department of Geosciences offers graduate studies leading to the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees with a major in geosciences. Applicants for graduate degrees must have completed the baccalaureate with a major in geosciences or in an allied discipline. All applicants complete an on-line... Show Full Description

The Department of Geosciences offers graduate studies leading to the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees with a major in geosciences. Applicants for graduate degrees must have completed the baccalaureate with a major in geosciences or in an allied discipline. All applicants complete an on-line application with the Graduate College, as well as an application with the Department of Geosciences. The Geosciences application includes, but is not limited to, three letters of recommendation, a resume/CV, and a personal statement describing proposed academic and research activities. Contact the Geosciences department for application materials.

Master of Science: Designed to train students aspiring to professional employment in industry, in local, state, or federal government, or in the teaching profession at the community-college level. The program also serves as a foundation for graduate studies continued beyond the M.S. level. Requirements include 30 units of course work. A thesis or pre-publication manuscript is required.

Doctor of Philosophy: Designed for students who plan to work as professional geoscientists in research-oriented capacities in the academic community, industry, or government. Qualified students with a bachelor's degree or a master's degree may be accepted into the Ph.D. program. Requirements include 36 units of graduate credit in addition to 18 units of dissertation credit. A dissertation is required. A 9-unit minor is required in a related subject. The Department of Geosciences focuses on research and education dealing with the nature, genesis, and history of the Earth and its crust, and with the evolution of the environment and biota at the Earth's surface. Our faculty and students are active in the following areas:

• Tectonics/structure: structural geology and regional tectonics
• Geochemistry/petrology: isotope geochemistry, geochronology, and thermodynamics
• Economic geology: regional metallogenesis and the genesis of ore deposits
• Geophysics: earthquake and reflection seismology, paleomagnetism, and plate dynamics
• Quaternary studies: geomorphology and paleoenvironmental studies
• Stratigraphy/paleontology: paleoclimatology and paleobiology

Special Research Facilities: State-of-the-art laboratory and support facilities include a Sun-based network of workstations; a new broadband seismic station; a scanning electron microscope; several mass spectrometers; including the Tandem Accelerator Mass Spectrometer facility for radiocarbon analysis; X-ray diffraction and analytical facilities; a high-pressure and temperature laboratory; an SEM-EDS image analysis laboratory; and a dedicated student computer facility. The Department of Geosciences encourages interdisciplinary approaches to research in the geosciences, both within the department and through interdepartmental programs. Hide Description