Geological Sciences

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The Graduate Program in Geological Sciences is designed to provide a challenging yet fostering educational atmosphere that encourages independent and critical thinking, the development of communicative and teaching skills, and the performance of creative and original research. Our goal is to teach students to formulate testable hypotheses, collect data to test them, and publish their results. It is the intent of the Program to educate and train competent and technically adept geoscientists for careers in research, teaching, government, industry, and non-governmental organizations. Interdisciplinary research/study with other physical, biological, chemical, anthropological, and engineering sciences is highly encouraged to provide the student with the broadest possible means to explore the limits of geological and geophysical knowledge.

Students admitted to the Graduate Program join an active and growing department that offers challenging instruction in an unusually diverse research environment. The Program grants both Ph.D. and M.S. degrees to full- and part-time students. Nearly all full-time graduate students are supported by fellowships, teaching assistantships, and/or research grants. Faculty grants and university funds provide students with additional support for study and research during school year and summer, as well as participation at regional and national conferences.

In consultation with the Thesis Advisor, an outline of course work is to be selected, individually designed toward the student's interest and area of study. The M.S. degree requires 24 credits of course work and 6 credits of research (for a total of 30 credits). At least 3 course credits must be taken from the three major categories of study (Mineralogy/Petrology, Sedimentology/Stratigraphy, and Structure/Geophysics).

The normal course load per semester for full-time students is 15 credits, consisting of 9 to 10 credits of coursework, plus 3 to 6 credits among thesis research, teaching assistantship, or research assistantship, as appropriate. No more than 12 credits can be selected from undergraduate courses at the 300/400 levels and must be approved by the Graduate Advisor. A minimum grade average of 3.0 is required, and there is no foreign language requirement.

Up to 24 credits of course work taken at other institutions can be transferred after review by the Graduate Committee and approval of the Graduate Director. Request for credit transfer must be made using the forms obtained from the Graduate School. Approval will be granted only for courses related to the student's proposed direction of study for the MS and only for courses equivalent to 500 or higher-level courses.

Ideally, all course work should be completed in the first 3 semesters and the 4th focused on completing a thesis. A minimum grade average of 3.0 is required.

If you are pursuing a master's degree or professional, terminal degree, Rutgers can help you find fellowships and scholarships to support your advanced study.

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