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

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.

The combined program in Geophysics is a 5-year path leading to a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Master of Science (MS) in Geophysics. Because the MS degree requires a thesis, it is highly recommended that interested students become involved in a research project early in the undergraduate career. Areas of opportunity for research at both the undergraduate and MS levels include earthquake mechanisms and seismic wave propagation, theoretical and experimental studies of deformation of rocks and soft sediment, petrophysics and reservoir physics, marine studies of the structure of the oceanic crust and continental margins, near surface applied geophysics and archaeological geophysics.

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 all of the 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 Bachelor’s degree under the standard 4 year curriculum. These students may still apply to the traditional graduate program.