Established in 1913, the Department of Geosciences is part of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, one of the original colleges of the University. The department offers thesis-based Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees that provide a broad background and training in any of the major areas of geosciences and intensive research experience.
About a third of our graduate students are in the M.S. program and two thirds are in the Ph.D. program. The M.S. degree typically requires two years of work and culminates in a written thesis document that is defended and often submitted for publication. The Ph.D. program typically takes about five years for students entering with an undergraduate degree and about 3.5 to 4 years for students who have already completed a M.S. program.
All students in our department earn graduate degrees in geosciences and gain preparation for a range of careers (including industry, government, and academic pathways). Additionally, Ph.D. students can enroll in dual-title degree programs where extra training and experience is developed in Astrobiology, Biogeochemistry, Climate Science or Operations Research.
