Geology - 5-Year Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Geology

The combined program in Geology is a 5-year path leading to a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a thesis option Master of Science (MS) in Geology. This program is designed to quickly prepare exceptional students who would like to either enter into the job market with an advanced degree or apply to PhD programs. Because the MS degree requires a thesis, it is highly recommended that interested students become involved in research project early in the undergraduate career. Areas of opportunity for research at both the undergraduate and MS levels include groundwater flow and use, paleontology and paleoecology, stratigraphy, structural geology, tectonophysics, petrology, geomorphology, environmental geology and geochemistry.

Application and Eligibility

  • Students may apply for entrance to the graduate program when they reach 90 hours applied to their degree program, normally in the spring of their junior year.
  • Applicants to this program are not required to submit GRE, but they must submit two letters of advocacy from faculty members, one of whom is willing to serve as the MS thesis advisor.
  • Students admitted into the combined program must finish the entire 150 credit hours to obtain both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.  These students will be conferred with two degrees once they complete all requirements.
  • Students not accepted into the combined program will complete the 120 hour Bachelor’s degree under the standard 4 year curriculum. These students may still apply to the traditional graduate program.