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MS in Geology

Chapter 6 Graduate Program Reguations/Course Description
College of Sciences

Master of Science Degree in Geology

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in Geology offers students the opportunity for advanced study and research leading to the M.S. degree in the following emphasis areas: water resources (hydrogeology), environmental geology, and applied geology. Qualified students are encouraged to apply for teaching and/or research assistantships and fellowships. Requests should be addressed to the Chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Science when application is made for admission to UTSA.

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Program Admission Requirements. In addition to satisfying the University-wide graduate admission requirements, applicants are expected to have completed an undergraduate degree in geology (equivalent to UTSA’s) or a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, life sciences, or engineering from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants with deficiencies in their academic background are required to consult with the Graduate Advisor of Record to establish an acceptable program of study with the approval of the graduate faculty. In such cases, students should anticipate that additional time will be required to complete the degree.

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Applicants must submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). When GRE scores are used to determine an admission, applicants will be compared to applicants with similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Three letters of recommendation should be sent to the Chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Science.

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Thesis Option in Geology

Degree Requirements. Master of Science program in Geology requires the successful completion of a minimum of 33 semester credit hours.

Candidates for the degree must complete

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A. 8 semester credit hours minimum in the geology core curriculum

GEO 5991 Graduate Seminar in Geology 2 hours
ES 5991 Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science 2 hours
GEO 6983 Master’s Thesis 6 hours

No more than 2 semester credit hours of GEO 5991 Graduate Seminar or ES 5991 and 6 semester credit hours of GEO 6983 Master’s Thesis can be applied to the Master’s degree.

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B. Candidates must choose one of the following three emphases

Water Resources (Hydrogeology)

12 semester credit hours minimum, to include the following courses

GEO 5603 Hydrogeology
GEO 5703 Advanced Hydrogeology
GEO 6203 Aqueous Geochemistry
GEO 6603 Subsurface Fluid Mechanics

13 semester credit hours minimum, selected from the graduate course offerings in geology, environmental science, civil engineering, and biology with approval of the Graduate Advisor of Record.

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Environmental Geology

6 semester credit hours in

GEO 5203 Advanced Environmental Geology
GEO 5304 Advanced Geomorphology

10 semester credit hours minimum, selected from the graduate course offerings in geology.

9 semester credit hours minimum, selected from the graduate course offerings in the College of Sciences or College of Engineering.

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Applied Geology

25 semester credit hours minimum, selected from graduate course offerings with the approval of the Graduate Advisor of Record.

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C. Under special circumstances, students may take up to 6 semester credit hours of upper-division undergraduate work in the College of Sciences or College of Engineering with approval of the Graduate Advisor of Record.

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D. Students must pass a final oral comprehensive examination. This examination should be scheduled during the student’s last semester of work, for completion of the degree program. The comprehensive examination does not count toward the student’s program of study.

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Nonthesis Option in Geology

The nonthesis option applies only to the Water Resources (Hydrogeology) and Environmental Geology emphases.

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Degree Requirements. The Master of Science program in Geology requires the successful completion of a minimum of 39 semester credit hours.

Candidates for the degree must complete

A. 5 semester credit hours minimum in the geology core curriculum

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GEO 5991 Graduate Seminar in Geology 2 hours

or

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ES 5991 Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science 2 hours
GEO 5973 Directed Research 3 hours

No more than 2 hours of GEO 5991 Graduate Seminar or ES 5991 Graduate Seminar and 3 hours of GEO 5973 Directed Research can be applied to the Master’s degree.

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B. Candidates must choose one of the following two emphases

Water Resources (Hydrogeology)

12 semester credit hours minimum, to include the following courses

GEO 5603 Hydrogeology
GEO 5703 Advanced Hydrogeology
GEO 6203 Aqueous Geochemistry
GEO 6603 Subsurface Fluid Mechanics

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22 semester credit hours minimum, selected from the graduate course offerings in geology, environmental science, civil engineering, and biology with approval of the Graduate Advisor of Record.

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Environmental Geology

6 semester credit hours minimum, to include the following courses

GEO 5203 Advanced Environmental Geology
GEO 5304 Advanced Geomorphology

10 semester credit hours minimum, selected from the graduate course offerings in geology.

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18 semester credit hours minimum, selected from the graduate course offerings in geology, environmental sciences, civil engineering, chemistry, and biology with approval of the Graduate Advisor of Record.

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C. Under special circumstances, students may take up to 6 hours of upper-division undergraduate work within the College of Sciences or College of Engineering with approval of the Graduate Advisor of Record.

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D. Candidates are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination after they have completed at least 30 semester credit hours of coursework. GEO 6961 Comprehensive Examination (1 hour) does not contribute toward the 39-semester-credit-hour minimum.

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