M.S. in Earth Sciences

Master of Science degrees in the Department of Earth Sciences are primarily thesis-based (Plan A). The department requires students pass a Comprehensive Exam, undertake research, and write and defend a Dissertation.

Program Requirements

Master of Science degrees in the Department of Earth Sciences are thesis-based. The department requires students to undertake research, pass a first-year evaluation on their research and a written proposal, and write and defend a Thesis.

Students are expected to develop a solid curricular foundation in geology, paleontology, human and/or physical geography, snow science, or geobiology. All graduate students in the Earth Sciences Department are required to take the Graduate Program Seminar (ERTH 594, 2 credits) in the fall of their first year. Because of the diverse and interdisciplinary fields represented by the department, there is no universal required core curriculum aside from the first-year seminar. Additional coursework is tailored in consultation with the adviser and graduate committee. Coursework in disciplines outside the department may be encouraged to support and enhance specific research areas in the Earth Sciences. In some cases, coursework may be required to make up prior deficiencies in academic training. M.Sc. students are required to complete 30 credits, including a mix of dissertation credits and graduate-level coursework.

Students are expected to develop a solid curricular foundation in geography, geology, paleontology, or geobiology.  Graduate programs include a core of geography, geology, paleontology, or geobiology courses and are further tailored in consultation with the advisor and graduate committee to the specific talents and interests of the individual student. Coursework in disciplines outside the department is encouraged to support and enhance specific research areas in the Earth Sciences.

Graduate and 400-level (senior) courses of study in geography/snow science include: advanced regional geography, advanced topics in resource geography, environmental planning and management toolkit, geographic thought, land use planning, water and society, applied GIS and spatial analysis, GIS research fundamentals, data science, remote sensing, biogeography, earth’s climate, geospatial snow and water, glacial geology mountain geography, and snow dynamics.

Graduate and 400-level (senior) courses of study in geology/paleontology include: tectonics, tectonics of sedimentary basins, glacial geology, advanced geomorphology, geochronology/thermochronology, resource geology, depositional systems, igneous petrology, geochemistry, volcanology, vertebrate paleontology, macroevolution and the fossil record, taphonomy, comparative vertebrate anatomy, phylogenetics.  All graduate students take our graduate seminar, ERTH 594 (2 credits), during their first fall semester.