Master of Science in Geology
The M.S. degree is offered to those students who have a degree in the sciences, and have demonstrated the potential for research and a professional career. Classified (degree-seeking, fully accepted) admission to the program is recommended by the graduate faculty of the Geosciences Department. Students are admitted into one of two concentrations within the M.S. Geology: Research or Management.
The student’s course of study will be determined by consultation and possibly an entrance examination. Students will normally be required to complete deficiencies, at the undergraduate level, in any courses required for the B.S. in Geology at Idaho State University. Continued enrollment in the program is contingent upon maintaining a 3.0 grade point average and making satisfactory progress toward the degree.
Unclassified status is used for students with large numbers of deficiencies or with low undergraduate GPAs. Unclassified students may apply for classified status when their performance warrants.
General Requirements
A student who wants to earn a master's degree in geology must complete at least 30 credits of coursework. These credits must be earned under the following conditions:
M.S. Geology Research Concentration
- The student must earn at least 15 credits (including exactly six thesis credits) at the 6600 level in geology. GEOL 6649 credits are not included in this count.
- The remaining 15 credits may be earned at the 5500 or 6600 level, of which eight credits may come from a related discipline. GEOL 6649 credits are not included in this count.
In addition to the 30 required credits, each student must take two approved courses from outside the Geosciences Department (e.g., technical writing, anthropology, etc.) or may opt to take the foreign language challenge exam at the elementary level.
The department requires that the following core courses be completed. These classes are normally taken during the first and second semesters of graduate study:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 5591 | Seminar | 1 |
| GEOL 6601 | Advanced Physical Geology | 2 |
| GEOL 6603 | Geologic Writing Seminar | 2 |
Graduate students may not sign up for GEOL 6650 (Thesis) until their thesis prospectus has been submitted and approved by the Thesis Committee. Additionally, all Research Concentration graduate students are required to present at least one geology colloquium dealing with their thesis topic prior to taking their oral examination. Students may repeat GEOL 6650 as needed.
M.S. Geology Management Concentration
- The student must earn at least 15 credits at the 6600 level in geology. GEOL 6649 credits are not included in this count.
- The remaining 15 credits may be earned at the 5500 or 6600 level, of which eight credits may come from a related discipline. GEOL 6649 credits are not included in this count.
The department requires that the following core courses be completed:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 5591 | Seminar | 1 |
| GEOL 6601 | Advanced Physical Geology | 2 |
| GEOL 5503 | Principles of Geographical Information System | 3 |
| Select 12 credits from the following: | ||
| MBA 6621 | Managerial Decision Making and Negotiation | 3 |
| MBA 6610 | Applied Economics | 3 |
| MGT 5541 | Leading in Organizations | 3 |
| MGT 5573 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MGT 5582 | Project Management | 3 |
In addition to the 30 required credits, each student must take one additional course with a professional writing focus. Recommended courses include GEOL 6603 Geologic Writing Seminar (2 cr), ENGL 3307 Professional and Technical Writing (3 cr), and ENGL 3308 Business Communications (3 cr).