Geology MS

Overview

The School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences offers a program of study and research leading to a Master of Science in Geology.

Admission Requirements

Admission is based on grade point average (GPA), three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess the applicant’s readiness for graduate study and submission of official results on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  Applicants must also submit a statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation. Both the overall GPA and a GPA calculated for courses (excluding special problems courses) in geology and other sciences, mathematics, computer science, and statistics will be considered. Applicants must upload a resume or curriculum vitae into the application.

Applicants who do not have degrees in geology will be considered for admission but will be required to remedy any deficiencies, including geology field camp, compared to the courses required for the B.S. in geology at The University of Southern Mississippi. Students who are not admitted as regular graduate students may be considered for conditional admission (minimum GPA requirements are in the front section of this Bulletin).

Admission to the Professional Geology emphasis requires three-years experience as a geologist or in a closely related position. A letter of support from the applicant’s immediate supervisor is required.

See Academic Requirements and Procedures  for other requirements.

Program Requirements and Academic Policies

Students pursuing an MS degree in Geology will be required to choose either a thesis or a non-thesis degree option. A minimum of thirty (30) graduate hours (18 hours at the 600 level), with a 3.0 GPA, is required to graduate. With the approval of the student’s committee, the student has an option of taking up to twelve (12) semester hours of cognate courses outside of the discipline within the minimum hourly requirements. Students who choose the thesis option should identify a general area of thesis research and establish a thesis director and graduate committee during their first semester in the program. A thesis prospectus should be approved by the graduate committee no later than the end of the second semester. The student must complete an original research project and submit and defend a thesis to receive the M.S. degree in geology. Students must also pass a comprehensive exam. Students who have not already passed the Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) exam are required to take it before completion of the degree program. Six (6) hours of thesis credit (698) may be used towards the minimum of 30 graduate hours. The remaining twenty-four (24) hours must include at least 12 hours at the 600 level.

Students who choose the non-thesis option are required to complete the minimum of thirty (30) graduate hours (18 hours at the 600 level). Thesis hours (698) will not count towards the minimum of 30 graduate hours. Non-thesis students will be required to produce a professional portfolio, technical report, or other similar product agreed upon in coordination with a student’s committee that demonstrates their ability to conduct applied geological research. These products can include documents created as part of their employment responsibilities or course work. Students who have not already passed the Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) exam are required to take it before completion of the degree program.

Continuous Enrollment Requirement: Students must meet the requirement specified in the front section of this Bulletin.

See General Degree Requirements  and General Academic Information  for other requirements and procedures.

Course Requirements (30 hours)

• Elective (24 hrs)
• GLY 698  - Thesis (6 hrs)