The Master of Science in Geosciences, Plan A program provides best-practices preparation for employment in major fields in the geoscience professions, and is a typical working degree for many energy, environmental, natural resource, regulatory, and other professional careers. Each graduate student follows a custom-tailored program of coursework and research developed with their advisor and graduate committee and documented in their thesis. Strengths of the program include diverse scientific specializations, an interdisciplinary approach to addressing Earth resource education, professional networking and other preparation, global to local research topics reflecting the wide range of specializations in the department, field research, and close student/faculty mentorship.
Faculty advise M.S. students in the wide range of subdisciplines represented within the department, including geophysics, economic geology, environmental geology, geochemistry, geochronology, geodynamics, geomorphology, hydrogeology, igneous and metamorphic petrology, sedimentology, seismology, paleoclimatology, remote sensing, glaciology, stratigraphy, structural geology, and tectonics. Students work with their advisor and graduate committee to identify a curriculum specific to their academic interests and goals. Prospective students should contact candidate department faculty advisors to discuss interests and develop a program plan.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to CSU's Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Learning Objectives
- Develop expertise in one or more fields of the Geosciences, to a level at which the student can successfully prosper in the profession.
- Obtain practice in the steps of a research project, including proposal writing, research design, data collection and data evaluation, communication, and interpretation.
- Become practiced at the critical thinking skills needed to conceive, develop, test, and refine scientific ideas and hypotheses.
- Master preparation and writing of a comprehensive research report in the form of a thesis, with an oral defense including placing one’s own research and results into the context of current disciplinary knowledge and understanding.
Effective Fall 2019
A minimum of 30 semester credit hours are required to complete this program.
At least 16 credits must be at the graduate level (500-level or higher).
At least 15 credits in courses numbered 500-581, 600-681, or 700-781 are required and should be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor.
Up to 6 of the 30 credits may be for GEOL 699 Thesis.
With permission of the advisor and committee, 300- or 400-level course credits may be applied to the degree.
Completion and successful oral defense of a thesis is a degree requirement.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |