Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Summer 2014
Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.
Catalog Copy
[Note: Only those sections of the M.S. Earth Sciences catalog copy to which text is to be added or changed are included below (using the red-strike and blue-underline format). All other portions of the catalog remain unchanged.]
Degree Requirements
The program requires a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit. The student must complete at least 18 of the 36 credit hours in courses at the 6000-level or above. Of these at least two credits will consist of ESCI 6600 (Earth Sciences Seminar) and at least nine credits will consist of ESCI 6900 (Earth Sciences Research). Up to six graduate credits may be accepted as transfer credit. Only courses with grades of A or B earned at an accredited university are eligible. Transfer credits are not automatic and require the approval of the Graduate Coordinator and the Graduate School. The amount of transfer credit may not exceed the limit set by the Graduate School (6 hours).
Written Comprehensive Examination
To complete the program, each student must pass a comprehensive examination covering general aspects of the discipline. This exam should be administered before beginning the 3rd semester. This is a written exam in which the student must respond to questions submitted by the faculty. These questions will examine knowledge from the area of study and coursework completed by the student to date in the program. The questions are solicited from the entire graduate faculty of the department by a memo from the student's primary research advisor who then administers the examination. This exam may not be administered if the student has outstanding incomplete grades in any graduate coursework.
Graduate Coursework
The M.S. in Earth Sciences graduate program generally follows a traditional numbering scheme with 5000 and 6000 level courses. The 5000-level numbers identify courses that cover accepted bodies of knowledge within the earth sciences with the emphasis placed on mastery and critical assessment of the theoretical and empirical foundations within the discipline. The 6000-level courses are divisible into two three categories. The first category is the Earth Systems topic courses wherein graduate students review and analyze the dominant current working hypotheses that drive contemporary research within conceptual areas such as geodynamics, global biogeochemical cycles, climate change, severe weather dynamics, or urban ecology. The second 6000-level category is the common core seminar course, wherein graduate students discuss holistic themes and discipline-specific issues in the Earth Sciences over the course of two separate fall semesters. The second third 6000-level category is the directed research courses. This category provides the framework for graduate students to complete the research requirements within the program and also identifies the area of concentration of the directed research.
COURSES IN EARTH SCIENCES AND GEOLOGY
Earth Sciences (ESCI)
ESCI 6600. Earth Sciences Graduate Seminar. (1) Prerequisite: Admission into the M.S. Earth Sciences program. Discussion of holistic themes, discipline-specific issues, and current challenges in the Earth Sciences. Each student will actively participate in seminars delivered by student researchers, faculty, and invited speakers. Participation in this course will count for a total of 2 credit hours (1 credit hour for each of two academic years). Prior to graduation, each student will make at least two seminar presentations and provide at least one formal critique of a presentation. May be repeated for credit. (Fall)