Introduction

University Services and Resources

Admissions Policies and Procedures

Academic Information

Financial Information

Programs of Study

Departments

College of Graduate Studies Home Page

 

Department of Geology (GEL)

Master of Science
      Admission Requirements
      Degree Requirements
Unspecified Content or Variable Credit Courses
GEL Course Descriptions

Department of Geology website

David J. Matty, Chairperson
314 Brooks Hall, (989) 774-3179

Kathleen C. Benison, Ph.D., Sedimentology, Stratigraphy
Stacy Goetz, Ph.D., Glaciology, Geomorphology
Patrick Kinnicutt, Ph.D., Science Informatics
Jane M. Matty, Ph.D., Aqueous Geochemistry, Hydrogeology
David J. Matty, Ph.D., Petrology, Geochemistry
Sven Morgan, Ph.D., Structural Geology
Mona Sirbescu, Ph.D., Mineralogy
Reed Wicander, Ph.D., Paleontology

Master of Science
The Master of Science degree in Geology is designed to produce well-rounded geologists who can easily accept professional roles in the environmental, petroleum or mining industries, in government, or as independent consultants. In addition, the curriculum prepares students if they choose to pursue a doctoral degree at another institution. Students may tailor their degree to specialize in environmental geochemistry, environmental geobiology, hydrogeology, petrology/geochemistry, geophysics/tectonics, petrology/structural geology, and palynology/micropaleontology/paleobiology. Interdisciplinary study is encouraged.

---

Admission Requirements
Admission to the program requires a baccalaureate degree in geology with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or greater in the major. Undergraduate course work must be at least equivalent to the minimum B.S. course requirements in geology at Central Michigan University. This includes summer field camp or its equivalent, one year of chemistry, one semester of physics, and mathematics through calculus in addition to the upper division geology courses required on our curriculum. Undergraduate deficiencies must be removed without graduate credit. The Graduate Record Examination is required.

Persons with a baccalaureate degree in another area of science may be approved for admission to the program by a special admissions committee, which will prescribe an individual plan of study designed to remove deficiencies.

---

Degree Requirements
General requirements include the completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate course work approved by the advisor. Within the 30 hours is a 22-credit-hour core of courses required of each student. The core of required courses shall include GEL 521 or 522, 545, 670, 690, 730, 798. Graduate elective courses may be chosen from geology or the allied sciences (chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, computer science), but must have the approval of the advisor. A written thesis is required. Internships with local companies are required or strongly recommended for students planning to work in industry.
Top of Page

Unspecified content or variable credit courses. Click here for additional information regarding these types of courses. The following courses offered through the department are of unspecified content or variable credit: GEL 575, 597, 650, 675, 697 and 730.
Top of Page