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Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 
Geoscience Graduate Program Requirements


Robert B. Herrmann, Ph.D.,
Graduate Program Director

The Geoscience section of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Master of Science (Research) in geoscience and Doctor of Philosophy in geophysics. Students with undergraduate degrees in geology, geophysics, physics, mathematics, or engineering are encouraged to apply to these programs. Active research areas in geophysics include earthquake seismology, tectonics, gravimetry, physics of the deep interior, and exploration geophysics. Active research areas in geology include tectonics, Precambrian crustal evolution, remote sensing, sedimentary geology and sedimentation, igneous and metamorphic petrology, geochemistry, geochronology, structural geology and fluid-rock interactions. Research facilities include a network of seismograph stations surrounding the New Madrid fault zone, state-of-the-art seismic observatories which transmit data by satellite from sites distributed across a broad region of the central United States, excellent computing facilities consisting of a large network of Sun SPARC stations, Mac and PC workstations, rock preparation and mineral separation facilities, stable isotope geochemistry, remote sensing and digital image analysis labs.

Core courses
All students must take the following courses, unless they have taken equivalent courses elsewhere:

EAS.A450 Scientific Communications
EAS.A437 Earth Dynamics or EASA-506 Physics of the Solid Earth
EAS.A515 Properties of Earth Materials
EAS.A519 Seminar in Geosciences or EASA-539 Seminar in Geophysics
EAS.A591 Geoscience Journal Club each semester

Geoscience Journal Club is normally taken for 0 credit hours per semester. MS students must register for at least 1 semester for 1 credit hour; PhD students must register for at least 2 semesters for 1 credit hour each.

Master of Science in Geoscience

Geology option: 

Prerequisites: mineralogy, petrology, sedimentology, and structural geology. One year each of calculus, physics, and chemistry is highly desirable.

Required courses: core courses, EAS.A517 Divergent and Convergent Margins and EAS.A518 Transform Margins and Plate Interiors

Geophysics option: 

Prerequisites: structural geology, college physics, classical mechanics, and mathematics through differential equations. 

Required Courses: core courses, two courses from EAS.A504 Potential Theory, EAS.A540 Continuum Mechanics and EAS.A551-552 Seismic Exploration. 

Additional Requirements for both options: EAS.A588 Independent Study and EAS.A598 Graduate Reading Course and additional courses from the graduate and upper division graduate geoscience courses for a minimum of 33 credit hours of study. 

A formal minor is not permitted. 

Master of Science (Research) in Geoscience

Geology option

Prerequisites: mineralogy, petrology, sedimentology, and structural geology. One year each of calculus, physics, and chemistry is highly desirable. 

Required courses: core courses, EAS.A517 Divergent and Convergent Margins and EAS.A518 Transform Margins and Plate Interiors 

Geophysics option: 

Prerequisites: structural geology, college physics, classical mechanics, and mathematics through differential equations. 

Required Courses: core courses, two courses from EAS.A504 Potential Theory, EAS.A540 Continuum Mechanics and EAS.A551-552 Seismic Exploration. 

Additional Requirements for both options: EAS.A599 Thesis Research and EAS.A598 Graduate Reading Course and additional courses from the graduate and upper division graduate geoscience courses for a minimum of 30 credit hours of study. 

A formal minor is not permitted. 

Doctor of Philosophy 

The course preparation for the Doctor of Philosophy degree requires a minimum of 48 semesters hours, when pursued from the baccalaureate. Advanced standing may be credited for graduate work at other institutions, but the minimum residency requirements of the Graduate School apply. 

Prerequisites: structural geology, college physics, and mathematics through differential equations. 

Additional requirements: core courses plus a specified number of credits from those available in the Department or at the graduate level in other departments. 

Students in Seismology must take EASA-539, EASA-631 and EASA-632. 

A formal minor is not permitted.


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