College of Science and Engineering
Graduate Faculty
Amos, C. B., PhD, tectonics, surface processes
Caplan-Auerbach, J., PhD, geophysics, seismology.
Clark, D.H., PhD, glacial geology.
DeBari, S.M., PhD, petrology, science education.
Foreman, B.Z., PhD, stratigraphy, sedimentology.
Hansen, T.A., PhD, paleontology.
Housen, B.A., PhD, geophysics.
Linneman, S.R., PhD, geomorphology, science education.
Mitchell, R.J., PhD, groundwater hydrology, environmental geology.
Rice, M.S., PhD, planetary geology and geophysics.
Schermer, E.R., PhD, tectonics, structural geology, geochronology.
Stelling, P, PhD, igneous petrology, volcanology, geothermal research.
Emeritus Faculty
Babcock, R.S., geochemistry, petrology.
Beck, Myrl E., Jr., geophysics, paleomagnetism.
Berg, R., remote sensing, surface computational studies.
Brown, E.H., metamorphic petrology, geochemistry.
Easterbrook, Don, geomorphology, glacial geology.
Engebretson, D.C., PhD, tectonics, paleomagnetism.
Suczek, C.A., PhD, stratigraphy, sedimentary petrology, tectonics.
Talbot, James L., structural geology, tectonics.
Program Advisor: Dr. Bernard Housen, Environmental Studies Center 240, 360-650-3581
Program Description and Goals
The geology department offers an MS degree with a thesis and 45-48 credits of course work suitable for students wishing any of the geological specialties that can be supervised by its graduate faculty.
The program prepares students for a career as a licensed professional geologist or for K-16 earth science teaching. (K-12 teaching in public school settings requires an approved teaching credential.)
Prerequisites
Students with a bachelor’s degree and who meet the requirements of the Graduate School are invited to apply for admission to the graduate program in geology. Students with a BS degree in geology, which includes a recognized geology field course, generally will be offered full admittance the program. Prerequisite course work may be necessary, depending on the applicant’s chosen field of study. Applicants without a BS degree in geology will need to take a minimum of 19 quarter credits, including physical geology, stratigraphy or historical geology, crystallography and mineralogy, geomorphology, structural geology and a recognized geology field camp, up to a maximum of 42 geology credits, which may include additional prerequisites in chemistry, physics and math, depending on each individual situation. Students who have not completed these courses before entering the geology MS program must do so and maintain an average of B or better in prerequisite courses before being advanced to candidacy. Courses taken to make up these deficiencies are not counted toward the MS degree.
Application Information
Specific Test Requirements: Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Revised General Test.
Deadline: The geology department prefers to admit students to enter in fall quarter. Admittance to the program also will depend on the availability of an advisor in the student’s area of interest.
TA Deadlines: To be considered for a teaching assistantship, application and supporting materials must be on file by January 15.
Supporting Materials:
- A statement of the student’s background and purpose
- Reference letters
- Official transcripts
