Geosciences

The Department of Geosciences offers M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs that provide students with a broad background in any of the major areas of geological sciences and intensive research experiences culminating in the preparation of a formal thesis. The goal of the programs is to prepare students for scientific careers in academia, government, or industry. A wide range of faculty interests and exceptional laboratory and other support facilities provide an extensive variety of areas of specialization in which students may choose their course work and research topics, which include:

• aqueous geochemistry
• chemistry and physics of rocks and mineral
• geodynamics
• global change and earth history
• sedimentary geology and paleobiology
• solid earth and applied geophysics
• surficial processes

The research of faculty and students is facilitated through the Biogeochemical Research Initiative for Education (BRIE, an NSF-sponsored graduate program in microbial biogeochemistry), the Petroleum Geosystems Initiative (an industry-sponsored, team-based M.S. program) linking the Department of Geosciences and the Department of Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering and the Penn State Astrobiology Research Center (PSARC, an NSF-sponsored interdisciplinary program in the origin and evolution of life in the universe, aimed at understanding the connections between the environment and the biota on Earth, especially during the stages of its evolution) as well as the Environment Institute of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, including the Earth System Science Center, and the Center for Environmental Chemistry and Geochemistry.

In addition to extensive computing and supercomputing facilities developed in association with the Earth System Science Center, students have access to a wealth of analytical, experimental, and field equipment. State-of-the-art analytical equipment is maintained by the department and the Material Characterization Laboratory. The Department of Geography and the Office for Remote Sensing of Environmental Resources have remote sensing facilities.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are not required for admission.

For admission, applicants generally are expected to have a bachelor's degree in some branch of the natural or physical sciences, engineering, or mathematics. An applicant also is expected to have completed standard introductory courses in geosciences, chemistry, physics, and mathematics through integral calculus, plus 15 credits of intermediate-level work in one or a combination of these subjects. Greater than minimal preparation in chemistry, geology, biology, mathematics, or physics may be required for particular subdisciplines. Applicants who have taken somewhat less than the indicated minimum in these subjects may be provisionally admitted but must make up their deficiencies concurrently with their graduate studies. Credits for these preparatory courses will not count towards degree requirements.

Students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests whose undergraduate grade-point average in courses pertinent to geosciences is below a 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) will be considered for admission only when there are strong indications that a 3.00 average can be maintained at the graduate level.

A student may work toward a Ph.D. degree without first earning a master's degree. If this option is desired, the student must arrange the scheduling of a qualifying evaluation no later than the end of the third semester of residence at Penn State.

Degree Requirements

Master of Science (M.S.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies.

Upon arrival, students will be advised initially by a committee appointed by the associate head for graduate program and research. The committee in turn will designate an interim adviser. Before the end of the first academic year of residence, the student is expected to develop specific academic and research interests so that an appropriate permanent academic adviser and research supervisor may be chosen. The academic adviser and research supervisor are usually the same person, except when the research supervisor is not a member of the geosciences Graduate Faculty. In such a case, a geosciences program family member serves as the academic adviser.

Master's degree students are required to take a minimum of 30 credits at the 400, 500, 600, and 800 level, including at least 18 credits at the 500 to 600 level combined, and a minimum of 6 credits of thesis research (GEOSC 600 or GEOSC 610). The 12 to 16 common degree credits described below satisfy the Graduate School minimum of at least 12 credits in course work in the major program.

As part of the M.S. program, each student is required to complete a thesis. The thesis must be defended in an oral examination administered by an M.S. committee. The thesis must be accepted by the advisers and/or committee members, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.

All graduate students in geosciences are expected to acquire breadth of knowledge in the geosciences, a fundamental and advanced knowledge of their subdiscipline, and skills in the areas of data collection and quantitative analysis. Toward that end, all graduate students must select one of the approved courses in each of the following areas:

1. Geosciences Breadth -- 3-4 credits
2. Disciplinary Fundamentals -- 3-­4 credits
3. Data Gathering -- 3­-4 credits
4. Quantitative Analysis -- 3-4 credits

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies.

Upon arrival, students will be advised initially by a committee appointed by the associate head for graduate program and research. The committee in turn will designate an interim adviser. Before the end of the first academic year of residence, the student is expected to develop specific academic and research interests so that an appropriate permanent academic adviser and research supervisor may be chosen. The academic adviser and research supervisor are usually the same person, except when the research supervisor is not a member of the geosciences Graduate Faculty. In such a case, a geosciences program faculty member serves as the academic adviser.

Continuation in the Ph.D. program is determined by an oral qualifying examination before a qualifying examination committee. Preparation and defense of two research proposals will serve as one means of assessing the student's ability. At least one of these proposals should represent original work by the student, but the other may be an actual dissertation proposal and involve limited initial input from the adviser or others.

Course work in addition to the degree requirements described below will be selected by the student in consultation with his/her committee.

The comprehensive examination is both oral and written. It is administered by the Ph.D. committee after the student has essentially completed course work. To earn the Ph.D. degree, doctoral students must also write a dissertation that is accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School. A final oral defense of the dissertation is required.

All graduate students in geosciences are expected to acquire breadth of knowledge in the geosciences, a fundamental and advanced knowledge of their subdiscipline, and skills in the areas of data collection and quantitative analysis. Toward that end, all graduate students must select one of the approved courses in each of the following areas:

1. Geosciences Breadth -- 3-4 credits
2. Disciplinary Fundamentals -- 3-­4 credits
3. Data Gathering -- 3­-4 credits
4. Quantitative Analysis -- 3-4 credits

Dual-Titles  

Dual-title Ph.D. in Geosciences and Astrobiology

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-208 Dual-Title Graduate Degree Programs.

Admission Requirements

Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in Geosciences and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the Astrobiology dual-title program. Refer to the Admission Requirements section of the Astrobiology Bulletin page. Doctoral students must be admitted into the dual-title degree program in Astrobiology no later than the end of the fourth semester (not counting summer semesters) of entry into the graduate major program.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the degree they are enrolled in Geosciences, listed in the Degree Requirements section. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title in Astrobiology, listed on the Astrobiology Bulletin page.

The Qualifying Examination in the major area alone will satisfy the Qualifying Exam requirement for the dual-title program.

In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for Ph.D. committees, the Ph.D. committee of a Geosciences and Astrobiology dual-title Ph.D. student must include at least one member of the Astrobiology Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. If the chair of the Ph.D. committee is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in Astrobiology, the member of the committee representing Astrobiology must be appointed as co-chair. The Astrobiology representative on the student’s Ph.D. committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination.

Students in the dual-title program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their Ph.D. committee and reflects their original research and education in Geosciences and Astrobiology. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.

Dual-title Ph.D. in Geosciences and Biogeochemistry

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-208 Dual-Title Graduate Degree Programs.

Admission Requirements

Graduate students with research and educational interests in biogeochemistry may apply to the Biogeochemistry Dual-Title Degree Program. Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in Geosciences and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the Biogeochemistry dual-title program. Refer to the Admission Requirements section of the Biogeochemistry Bulletin page. Doctoral students must be admitted into the dual-title degree program in Biogeochemistry prior to taking the qualifying examination in their primary graduate program. Students in the Biogeochemistry Dual Title program are required to have two advisers from separate disciplines: one individual serving as a primary adviser in their major degree program and a secondary adviser in an area within a field covered by the dual-title program and a member of the Biogeochemistry faculty.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the degree they are enrolled in Geosciences, listed in the Degree Requirements section. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title in Biogeochemistry, listed on the Biogeochemistry Bulletin page. Additional course work from an approved list of courses is required.

All students must pass a qualifying examination that includes an assessment of their potential in the field of biogeochemistry. A single qualifying examination that includes biogeochemistry will be administered for admission into the student's Ph.D. program, as well as the Biogeochemistry dual-title. The structure and timing of this exam will be determined jointly by the dual-title and major program. The qualifying examination committee for the dual-title Ph.D. degree will be composed of Graduate Faculty from Geosciences and must include at least one Graduate Faculty member from the Biogeochemistry program. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. Dual-title graduate degree students may require an additional semester to fulfill requirements for both areas of study and, therefore, the qualifying examination may be delayed one semester beyond the normal period allowable.

In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for Ph.D. committees, the Ph.D. committee of a Geosciences and Biogeochemistry dual-title Ph.D. student must include at least one member of the Biogeochemistry Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. If the chair of the Ph.D. committee is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in Biogeochemistry, the member of the committee representing Biogeochemistry must be appointed as co-chair. The Biogeochemistry representative on the student’s Ph.D. committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination.

Students in the dual-title program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their Ph.D. committee and reflects their original research and education in Geosciences and Biogeochemistry. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.

Dual-Title Ph.D. in Geosciences and Climate Science

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-208 Dual-Title Graduate Degree Programs.

The dual-title in Geosciences and Climate Science is a Ph.D.-only degree.

Climate Science is a field devoted to the study of Earth's climate in the past, present, and future. A particular focus is understanding the effects of human activities (anthropogenic impacts) and natural forcing on climate. The Climate Science dual-title degree program is administered by the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science for the participating graduate programs. The dual-title degree program is offered through participating programs in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and, where appropriate, other graduate programs in the University. The program enables students from several graduate programs to gain the perspectives, techniques, and methodologies of Climate Science, while maintaining a close association with major
program areas of application.

Admission Requirements

Students must be admitted to Geosciences and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the Climate Science dual-title program. Refer to the Admission Requirements section of the Climate Science Bulletin page. Students must be admitted into the dual-title degree program in Climate Science no later than the end of the fourth semester (not counting summer semesters) of entry into the primary Ph.D. program and before taking the comprehensive exam.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the requirements of the Geosciences graduate program. In addition, they must satisfy the degree requirements for the dual-title in Climate Science, listed on the Climate Science Bulletin page.

The qualifying examination in Geosciences satisfies the qualifying exam requirement for the dual-title degree program in Climate Science. In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for Ph.D. committees, the Ph.D. committee of a Climate Science dual-title doctoral degree student must include at least one member of the Climate Science Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs' Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. If the chair of the Ph.D. committee is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in Climate Science, the member of the committee representing Climate Science must be appointed as co-chair. The Climate Science representative on the student's Ph.D. committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination.

Students in the dual-title program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their Ph.D. committee and reflects their original research and education in both Geosciences and Climate Science. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn
the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the Geosciences graduate program, and the Graduate School.

Dual-title Ph.D. and M.S. in Geosciences and Operations Research

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-208 Dual-Title Graduate Degree Programs.

Admission Requirements

Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in Geosciences and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the Operations Research dual-title program. Refer to the Admission Requirements section of the Operations Research Bulletin page. Doctoral students must be admitted into the dual-title degree program in Operations Research prior to taking the qualifying examination in their primary graduate program.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the degree they are enrolled in Geosciences, listed in the Degree Requirements section. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title in Operations Research, listed on the Operations Research Bulletin page.

The qualifying examination committee for the dual-title Ph.D. degree will be composed of Graduate Faculty from Geosciences and must include at least one Graduate Faculty member from the Operations Research program. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. There will be a single qualifying examination, containing elements of both Geosciences and Operations Research. Dual-title graduate degree students may require an additional semester to fulfill requirements for both areas of study and, therefore, the qualifying examination may be delayed one semester beyond the normal period allowable.

In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for Ph.D. committees, the Ph.D. committee of a Geosciences and Operations Research dual-title Ph.D. student must include at least one member of the Operations Research Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. If the chair of the Ph.D. committee is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in Operations Research, the member of the committee representing Operations Research must be appointed as co-chair. The Operations Research representative on the student’s Ph.D. committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination.

Students in the dual-title program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their Ph.D. committee and reflects their original research and education in Geosciences and Operations Research. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.

Integrated Undergrad-Grad Programs  

Integrated B.S. in Geosciences and M.S. in Geosciences

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.

The Department of Geosciences offers an integrated B.S./MS. Program that is designed to allow academically superior students to obtain both the B.S. and the M.S. degree in Geosciences within 5 years of study. Students who wish to complete the Integrated B.S./M.S. Program in Geosciences must apply for admission to the Graduate School and the Integrated B.S/M.S program by the end of their junior year

During the first three years, the student follows the course scheduling of one of the options in Geosciences (see the Undergraduate Bulletin); however, if a student intends to enter the Integrated B.S./M.S. program, he/she would be encouraged to take, wherever appropriate, upper level classes. By the end of the junior year, the student normally would apply for admission to the program. A decision of acceptance would be made prior to the beginning of the senior year and a M.S. Advising Committee would be appointed. During the senior year, the student would follow the scheduling of the B.S. Geosciences option he/she has selected, with an emphasis on completing 500-level course work wherever appropriate. During the senior year, the student will start work on a thesis designed to meet the departmental requirements of a M.S. thesis. During the fifth year, the student will take courses fulfilling the departmental M.S. degree requirements and complete the M.S. thesis.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Students who wish to complete the Integrated B.S/M.S. Program in Geosciences must apply for admission via the Graduate School application for admission, and must meet all the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the Geosciences graduate program for the Master of Science degree, listed in the Admission Requirements section, by the end of their junior year. Before applying to the Graduate School, students must have completed entrance to their undergraduate major and have completed no less than 60 credits. Students must be admitted no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree. Transfer students must have completed at least 15 credits at Penn State to enroll in an IUG. Three letters of recommendation by faculty members for admission to graduate studies are required. The applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the Geosciences Graduate Program and acted upon by the Associate Head for Graduate Programs.

In consultation with an adviser, students must prepare a plan of study appropriate to this integrated program and must present their plan of study to the head of the graduate program or the appropriate committee overseeing the integrated program prior to being admitted to the program. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser as the student advances through the program.

Degree Requirements

Students must fulfill all degree requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Geosciences are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the Master of Science in Geosciences degree are listed on the Degree Requirements tab. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count solely towards the graduate degree. Students are expected to complete the undergraduate degree requirements within the typical time to degree for the undergraduate major. In the semester in which the undergraduate degree requirements will be completed, IUG students must apply to graduate, and the undergraduate degree should be conferred at the next appropriate Commencement. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.S. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied.

Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level. Independent study courses and credits associated with the culminating experience for the graduate degree cannot be double-counted.

Minor

A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program. The default requirements for a graduate minor are stated in Graduate Council policy GCAC-218 Minors.

Student Aid

Graduate assistantships available to students in this program and other forms of student aid are described in the Tuition & Funding section of the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School’s website. Students on graduate assistantships must adhere to the course load limits set by the Fox Graduate School.

In addition, several graduate fellowships are available for students within the Department of Geosciences.

Programs of study are planned to require no more than two years for the M.S. degree and three additional years, or five years total, for the Ph.D. degree. A student transferring to the department with the M.S. degree should plan on four additional years. Financial support from teaching or research assistantships or from fellowships is available to students in good standing, but not awarded beyond these limits except in unusual cases.

Courses

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

Geosciences (GEOSC) Course List

Learning Outcomes

Master of Science (M.S.)

1. KNOW: Students will develop and demonstrate advanced knowledge of a sub-specialty of geosciences, including understanding of, for example, historical and cutting-edge concepts, approaches, and techniques used in the field. 
2. ANALYZE & CREATE: Students will demonstrate the ability to contextualize the results of data collection and analysis.
3. RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION: Students will demonstrate the ability to develop and implement scientific approaches, utilizing data collection, analysis, or numerical models, to address a question or hypothesis
4. COMMUNICATE: Students will develop the ability to communicate their research findings to an audience of their peers in both written and oral form.
5. QUANTIFY: Students will develop the ability to incorporate quantitative analysis of data to support interpretations.
6. CRITICAL THINKING: Graduates will be able to critically analyze and assess work by others in their field of specialty.
7. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Students will demonstrate knowledge of ethical standards in research and scholarship, and the ability to collaborate in a collegial and ethical manner with other professionals within their field or with diverse scientific backgrounds.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

1. KNOW: Students will develop and demonstrate advanced knowledge of a sub-specialty of geosciences, including understanding of, for example, historical and cutting-edge concepts, approaches, and techniques used in the field. 
2. ANALYZE & CREATE: Students will demonstrate the ability to independently conceive a research hypothesis or question, and to contextualize the results of data collection and analysis.
3. RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION: Students will demonstrate the ability to develop and implement scientific approaches, utilizing data collection, analysis, or numerical models, to address a question or hypothesis.
4. COMMUNICATE: Students will develop the ability to communicate their research findings to an audience of their peers in both written and oral form.
5. QUANTIFY: Students will develop the ability to incorporate quantitative analysis of data to support interpretations.
6. CRITICAL THINKING: Graduates will be able to critically analyze and assess work by others in their field of specialty.
7. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Students will demonstrate knowledge of ethical standards in research and scholarship, and the ability to collaborate in a collegial and ethical manner with other professionals within their field or with diverse scientific backgrounds.

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