Graduate Program: Economic Geology (PSM)

The Professional Science Master's in Economic Geology (PSM/EG) is a post-graduate education and training program designed to provide geologists with the technical and leadership skills required by mineral industries around the globe. Candidates are usually professionals who have a Bachelor's degree in Geosciences or a related field and a job in the minerals industry but wish to obtain further education and training that will allow them to compete globally with other professionals for career-track positions leading to management opportunities.  

The PSM/EG covers a broad spectrum of mining-related activities, from discovery, to production, to mine closure. This program emphasizes technical aspects but also includes essential business and management components.

The program can be completed in two semesters if the student is efficient and can focus entirely on completing the degree, but flexibility is available to purse the degree over a somewhat longer period of time while working locally part time.

The PSM/EG has degree requirements that differ from those of a conventional MS degree in Geosciences. The course requirements are not identical, and the PSM/EG requires a written research report in lieu of a formal thesis.       

The four emphasis areas (degree tracks) are identified below:

1. Exploration geology: For those students interested in pursuing a career in discovering new ore deposits, generally working in teams dominated by geoscientists.

2. Development geology: For those geologists who will be testing the feasibility of deposits, bringing newly discovered deposits into production, and expanding existing operations, typically as a member of a multi-disciplinary project team.                

3. Mining geology: For those geologists who will be contributing to the efficient mining and processing of ore at operating mines, generally as a member of the professional staff at an operating mine.

4. Environmental geology: For those geologists who will be applying geologic science to the environmental aspects of the mining industry, such as permitting new mines or monitoring and controlling water quality and supply in the vicinity of active and closed mining operations, typically as a member of an environmental team at a mine site, a member of a corporate environmental staff, or an employee of an environmental consulting firm.