Campuses:
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Duluth Campus
Geological Sciences M.S.D Earth & Environmental Sci
Swenson College of Science and Engineering
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Minnesota Duluth, 229 Heller Hall, 1114 Kirby Drive, Duluth, MN 55812 (218-726-7239; fax: 218-726-7218)
Email:
dees@d,umn.edu
Website: http://www.d.umn.edu/dees/
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the
General Information section of
this
website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
The master of science program in geological sciences includes areas of economic geology, geophysics, glacial geology and geomorphology, hydrogeology, igneous and metamorphic petrology, isotope and aqueous geochemistry, limnogeology, paleoclimatology, planetary geology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, surface processes, and structure-tectonics. Several of these areas are strengthened by collaboration with the Large Lakes Observatory, the Natural Resources Research Institute, and the Precambrian Research Center.
Program Delivery
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program
is 3.00.
A four-year BS degree in geology or a related field in engineering, basic science, or mathematics is required.
Other requirements to be completed before admission:
Most candidates will have completed a bachelor's degree in geology, geophysics, or a related field. However, students with degrees in fields such as chemistry, physics, or biology are encouraged to apply. At least one year of study in calculus, chemistry, and physics is required. Field camp and/or undergraduate research experience is recommended.
Applicants must submit their test score(s) from the following:
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
The preferred English language test is Test of English as Foreign Language.
Key to test
abbreviations
(GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the
General Information section of this
website.
Program Requirements
Plan A: Plan A requires
15
major credits,
6
credits outside the major,
and
10
thesis credits.
The final exam is oral.
Plan B: Plan B requires
31
major credits and
0
credits outside the major.
The final exam is written.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses toward program requirements is permitted under certain conditions with adviser approval.
A minimum GPA of 3.00
is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 1 semesters must be completed
before filing a Degree Program Form.
The master of science degree is offered under Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis). Courses are selected with approval of the student's advisor and the director of graduate studies. All courses must be at the 4xxx, 5xxx, or 8xxx level, however no more than 9 credits at the 4xxx level may apply.
For Plan A, a candidacy exam that involves the oral defense of a written thesis research proposal during the second semester of residency is required.
For Plan B, a written candidacy exam during the second semester is required. Plan B including three Plan B papers.
Plan A or Plan B
Plan A
GEOL 8200 - Professional Issues in Earth and Environmental Science
(1.0 cr)
GEOL 8777 - Thesis Credit: Master's
(1.0-10.0 cr)
Required GEOL coursework
No more than 9 credits of 4xxx level courses may be accepted.
Take 14 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
GEOL 4355 - Economic Geology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4360 - Geologic, Geophysical, and Geochemical Methods of Exploration
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4400 - Astrogeology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4450 - Structural Geology
(5.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4500 - Field Geology
(6.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4710 - Geochemistry
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4839 - Coral Reef Geology
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5091 - Geologic Problems
(1.0-2.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5095 - Special Topics: (Various Titles to be Assigned)
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5100 - Seminar
(1.0-2.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5103 - Geological Paleolimnology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5210 - Glacial and Quaternary Geology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5220 - Advances in Paleoclimatology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5240 - Physical Hydrogeology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5250 - Hydrogeology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5251 - Well Hydraulics
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5260 - Fluvial Geomorphology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5310 - Advanced Petrology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5320 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5321 - Theory, Practice of Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis in Lectures
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5330 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5355 - Economic Geology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5360 - Geologic, Geophysical, and Geochemical Methods of Exploration
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5450 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5480 - Tectonics
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5601 - Introduction to Stream Restoration
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5730 - Geochronology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5815 - Exploration Geophysics
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5820 - Global Geophysics
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 8094 - Geologic Research
(1.0-6.0 cr)
·
GEOL 8100 - Seminar
(1.0-2.0 cr)
·
GEOL 8200 - Professional Issues in Earth and Environmental Science
(1.0 cr)
·
GEOL 8602 - Stream Restoration Practice
(2.0 cr)
Related Field
In order to reach the minimum 31 credits, course(s) may be from GEOL coursework or another related field.
or
Plan B
No more than 9 credits of 4xxx level courses may be accepted.
Required GEOL Coursework
Take 31 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
GEOL 4355 - Economic Geology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4360 - Geologic, Geophysical, and Geochemical Methods of Exploration
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4400 - Astrogeology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4450 - Structural Geology
(5.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4500 - Field Geology
(6.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4710 - Geochemistry
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 4839 - Coral Reef Geology
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5091 - Geologic Problems
(1.0-2.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5095 - Special Topics: (Various Titles to be Assigned)
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5100 - Seminar
(1.0-2.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5103 - Geological Paleolimnology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5210 - Glacial and Quaternary Geology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5220 - Advances in Paleoclimatology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5240 - Physical Hydrogeology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5250 - Hydrogeology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5251 - Well Hydraulics
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5260 - Fluvial Geomorphology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5310 - Advanced Petrology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5320 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5321 - Theory, Practice of Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis in Lectures
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5330 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5355 - Economic Geology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5360 - Geologic, Geophysical, and Geochemical Methods of Exploration
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5450 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5480 - Tectonics
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5601 - Introduction to Stream Restoration
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5730 - Geochronology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5815 - Exploration Geophysics
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5820 - Global Geophysics
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 8094 - Geologic Research
(1.0-6.0 cr)
·
GEOL 8100 - Seminar
(1.0-2.0 cr)
·
GEOL 8200 - Professional Issues in Earth and Environmental Science
(1.0 cr)
·
GEOL 8602 - Stream Restoration Practice
(2.0 cr)
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Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 -10.0 [max 50.0] |
Grading Basis: | No Grade |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AST 4400/GEOL 4400 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 6.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 4839/Geol 4839/FST 4839 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 1.0 -2.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -2.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Lim 5103/5002/GEOL 5103 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 1.0 -6.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -2.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Prerequisites: | 5601 and instructor consent |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AST 4400/GEOL 4400 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 6.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 4839/Geol 4839/FST 4839 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 1.0 -2.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -2.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Lim 5103/5002/GEOL 5103 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 1.0 -6.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -2.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Prerequisites: | 5601 and instructor consent |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |