Total credit hours required for the Master of Science in Geology program is 30 credit hours.
The distribution of credit hours is as follows:

The Free Elective courses can be taken from any academic department (including the Department of Geosciences) provided the courses are 500-level or higher and approved by the student’s academic advisor. Up to two graduate-level Geology elective courses can be substituted with 400-level undergraduate Geology courses only after advisor and department approvals. No credit will be given for any 400-level courses taken outside the department.

Students are allowed to pursue thesis research in any area of their interest. However, considering the current industry and academia needs, the department encourages students, in the Geology option, to specialize/concentrate in any of the following research areas:

• Sedimentology and Petroleum Geology
• Economic Geology and Geochemistry
• Hydrogeology, Environmental and Engineering Geology

Students admitted to the Master of Science in Geology program are required to prepare and submit a degree plan in consultation with their academic advisors at the first semester in the program. Students will be barred from registering for any additional courses in the following semester unless the degree plan is approved. Students admitted conditionally into the program must satisfy the imposed conditions at the earliest available opportunity.

The plan outlined below applies to the Master of Science in Geology program.