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Head of the Department: Stephen Marshak
245 Natural History Building
1301 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3542
E-mail:
b-elmore@uiuc.edu
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Geology offers programs leading to the Master of
Science in Geology, the Doctor of Philosophy in Geology, and the Master
of Science in the Teaching of Earth Science. Students have a wide
variety of choices in their courses and research programs. Departmental
research programs include many aspects of geology, geochemistry, and
geophysics.
Admission
The admission requirements of the Graduate College apply. In addition,
scores for the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
are required for admission to graduate work in geology, as well as
completion of at least one year each of study in college-level calculus,
chemistry, and physics. For more information, write to the graduate
secretary. Under special circumstances, students can be admitted at
the beginning of the spring term.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience
in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience
in this program.
Master of Science
Students in the master of science program can follow the “standard”
(or thesis) option or the “applied geology” (or nonthesis)
option. The standard option requires completion of at least 32 graduate hours of graduate credit and an M.S. thesis. The eight credits must
include at least six units of formal coursework and no more than 8 graduate hours of M.S. thesis research. Of the formal courses, at least 12
graduate hours must be taken within the geology department, and at
least 12 must be completed at the 500 level. Before finishing the
degree, each student must present a colloquium on the thesis research.
The applied geology option requires 40 graduate hours of credit, including
at least 32 graduate hours of formal coursework and at least 4 graduate
hours of research/independent study (GEOL 593) requiring a written
report. At least 12 graduate hours of the formal coursework must be
completed in the department, at least 12 graduate hours must be completed
at the 500 level, and no more than 8 graduate hours of credit are
allowed for 400-level courses required in any of the options of the
undergraduate curriculum in geology and geophysics at Urbana-Champaign.
This option is intended as a terminal degree for students preparing
for professional work in environmental and engineering geology or
in applied geophysics. Students in both options must maintain a minimum
grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (A = 4.0). If the GPA falls below
this minimum after 12 or more graduate hours of graded coursework,
it must be raised to 3.0 or above after the completion of 12 additional
graduate hours of graded coursework and must be maintained at or above
the minimum thereafter.
Master of Science in the Teaching of Earth Science
Candidates must earn 32 graduate hours, including 16 graduate hours
in geology, 8 graduate hours in other earth science areas, and 8 graduate
hours in education. At least 12 graduate hours of formal coursework
must be at the 500 level. In addition, candidates must fulfill the
requirements to be certified to teach at the secondary school level
in Illinois. Contact the certification officer of the Council on Teacher
Education (130 Education Building, 217-333-7195) for information pertaining
to pursuing certification while enrolled in the graduate program.
A student must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 (A = 4.0). If the GPA
falls below this minimum after 12 or more graduate hours of graded
coursework, it must be raised to 3.0 or above after the completion
of 12 additional graduate hours of graded coursework and must be maintained
at or above the minimum thereafter.
Doctor of Philosophy
The Ph.D. degree requires at least 96 graduate hours and completion
of a Ph.D. thesis. At least 40 of these graduate hours must be formal
coursework, with the remainder as independent study and thesis research.
A minimum of 32 graduate hours must be Ph.D. thesis research. At least
20 graduate hours of the formal coursework must be at the 500 level,
at least 12 graduate hours must be taken in the geology department,
and at least 4 graduate hours must be taken outside the geology department.
Credit for M.S. thesis research is limited to a maximum of 8 graduate
hours. Incoming students with an M.S. degree are usually allowed 32
graduate hours of credit towards the Ph.D. (24 graduate hours of formal
courses and 8 graduate hours of M.S. thesis research). There is no
foreign language requirement. A student must maintain a minimum GPA
of 3.0 (A = 4.0). If the GPA falls below this minimum after 12 or
more graduate hours of graded coursework, it must be raised to 3.0
or above after the completion of 12 additional graduate hours of graded
coursework and must be maintained at or above the minimum thereafter.
Ph.D. students are evaluated by three oral examinations: a qualifying
examination, a preliminary examination, and a final examination. The
qualifying examination tests breadth of knowledge as well as the ability
to define and defend a research proposal in a specialized field at
an early stage of graduate study. The preliminary examination tests
advanced knowledge in a specialized field and the ability to define
and defend a Ph.D. dissertation proposal. The final examination tests
the ability to complete and defend Ph.D. dissertation research.
Financial Aid
Candidates for graduate degrees are usually supported through fellowships,
research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and work-study programs.
Fellowships and assistantships include tuition and service fee waivers.
Awards for financial assistance are based principally on a candidate’s
academic record, statement of plans, and letters of reference. Continuation
of financial aid depends on student performance and, in the case of
teaching assistants, on the receipt of good evaluations. Some assistants
are appointed by the State Geological Survey located on campus.
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