Subsurface Geoscience

Rice University introduced the professional master’s degree in subsurface geoscience in fall 2003. This degree is designed for students who wish to become proficient in applying geological knowledge and geophysical methods to finding and developing reserves of oil and natural gas. Students can specialize in two focus areas: geology and geophysics. The geology focus area prepares students to be explorationists, with strong skills in using seismic and other geophysical methods along with geological principles to find oil and natural gas. The geophysics focus area prepares students to become technical experts in aspects of exploration seismology.

The subsurface geoscience degree is one of five tracks in the Professional Master’s Program at Rice housed in the Wiess School of Natural Sciences. These master’s degrees are designed for students seeking to gain further scientific core expertise coupled with enhanced management and communication skills. These degrees instill a level of scholastic proficiency that exceeds that of the bachelor’s level, and they create the cross-functional aptitudes needed in modern industry. This program will allow students to move more easily into management careers in consulting or research and development, design, and/or marketing within oil-and gas-related industries.

A coordinated MBA/MSSG degree is offered in conjunction with the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business

Students pursuing the MSSG degree must complete:

• A minimum of 14 courses (40 credit hours) to satisfy degree requirements.
• A 3-6 month internship. Instead of a thesis, students must present their internship project in both oral and written form in the Professional Master’s Seminar. Part-time students who already work in their area of study may fulfill the internship requirement by working on an approved project with their current employer.
• The requirements for one area of specialization (see below for specializations).

The MSSG degree offers two areas of specialization:

• Geology  
• Geophysics 

CORE REQUIREMENTS
Students must complete the following 4 courses (9 credit hours) to satisfy the MSSG degree's Core Requirements.

• NSCI 501 Professional Master’s Seminar [required for two semesters, Fall and Spring, for a minimum of 2 credit hours]
• NSCI 511 Science Policy and Ethics [ 3 credit hours ]
• NSCI 512 Professional Master's Project [ 1 credit hour ]
• NSCI 610/ENGI 610 Management in Science and Engineering [ 3 credit hours ]

Internship
A three to six month internship under the guidance of a host company, government agency or national laboratory is required. At the conclusion of this internship, students must present their internship project in both oral and written form as part of the Professional Master’s Project.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Students must complete one of two areas of specialization in the MS degree program in Subsurface Geoscience: Geology or Geophysics.  

GEOLOGY SPECIALIZATION
Students must complete a total of 11 courses (30-32 credit hours depending on course selection) to satisfy the requirements for the MSSG degree program's Geology specialization.

Core Requirements 
Students must complete a total of 7 courses (21-22 credit hours depending on course selection) from the following to satisfy the Geology Specialization's Core Requirements.

• ESCI 334 Geological Techniques [ 3 credit hours ] 
• ESCI 558 3D Seismic Reflection Data Interpretation [ 3 credit hours ] 
• ESCI 615 Petroleum Geology [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 617 Petroleum Industry Economics and Management [ 3 credit hours ] 
• ESCI 626 Interpretation of Regional 2D Seismic Data [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 627 Sequence Stratigraphy [ 3 credit hours ] 
• ESCI 636 Well Logging and Petrophysics [ 3 credit hours ] 
• ESCI 642 Exploration Geophysics [ 4 credit hours ] 

Electives
To satisfy the remaining Geology specialization requirements, students must complete a total of 3 additional courses (9-10 credit hours) as Electives. Suggested elective courses can be found below.

• ESCI 504 Siliciclastic Depositional Systems [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 506 Carbonate Depositional Systems [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 544 Hydrocarbon Exploration (AAPG Imperial Barrel competition) [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 550 Modern Exploration Technology [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 564 Seismic Data Processing [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 567 Unconventional Energy Exploration [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 558 3D Seismic Reflection Data [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 663 Structure and Evolution of Tectonic Systems [ 4 credit hours ]

Substitutions for required or elective courses may be approved by the Track Advisor.

GEOPHYSICS SPECIALIZATION
Students must complete a total of 10 courses (30-31 credit hours) to satisfy the requirements for the MSSG degree program's Geophysics specialization.

Core Requirements
Students must complete a total of 7 courses (21-22 credit hours) from the following to satisfy the Geophysics specialization's Core Requirements.

• ESCI 550 Modern Exploration Technology [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 558 3D Seismic Reflection Data Interpretation [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 564 Seismic Data Processing [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 615 Petroleum Geology [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 617 Petroleum Industry Economics and Management [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 626 Interpretation of Regional 2-D Seismic Data [ 3 credit hours ]    
• ESCI 640 Geophysical Data Analysis: Digital Signal Processing [ 3 credit hours ]
      or ESCI 641 Geophysical Data Analysis: Inverse Methods [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 642 Exploration Geophysics [ 4 credit hours ]

Electives
To fulfill the remaining Geophyiscs specialization requirements, students must complete a minimum of 3 additional courses (9 credit hours) as Electives. Suggested elective courses can be found below.

• ESCI 334 Geological Field Methods [ 3 credit hours ] 
• ESCI 504 Siliciclastic Depositional Systems [ 3 credit hours ]  
• ESCI 506 Carbonate Depositional Systems [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 544 Hydrocarbon Exploration (AAPG Imperial Barrel competition) [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 567 Unconventional Energy Exploration [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 627 Sequence Stratigraphy [ 3 credit hours ] 
• ESCI 636 Well Logging and Petrophysics [ 3 credit hours ]
• ESCI 663 Structure and Evolution of Tectonic Systems [ 4 credit hours ] 
• MGMT 610 Fundamentals of the Energy Industry [ 1.5 credit hours ]

Additional Electives for Both Specializations
The following courses are additional electives that can be used to satisfy the requirements in both specializations.

• CAAM 378 Introduction to Operations Research and Optimzation [ 3 credit hours ]
• CEVE 528/ENGI 382 Engineering Economics & Management [ 3 credit hours ]
• COMP 556/ELEC 556 Introduction to Computer Networks [ 4 credit hours ]
• ECON 601 Energy Economics I [ 4 credit hours ]
• ESCI 654 Geographic Information Science [ 3 credit hours ]  
• MGMT 661 International Business Law [ 3 credit hours ]  
• MGMT 670 Operations Strategy [ 1.5 credit hours ] 
• MGMT 676 Social Enterprise [ 1.5 credit hours ] 
• POST 501/GLBL 541 Energy Policy [ 3 credit hours ]
• STAT 518 Probability [ 3 credit hours ]
• STAT 615 Regression and Linear Models [ 3 credit hours ]

Please contact the department for additional courses that can satisfy the requirements listed above. Substitutions for required or elective courses may be approved by the Track Advisor.

• Completed application (apply on-line)
• Three personal letters of recommendation - recommenders can now submit their letters on-line
• General GRE scores (use the code 6609 for Rice; do not worry about a department code)
• Official transcripts from all universities attended
• TOEFL scores (if required)