Prospective Graduate Students

Master of Science Degree

The master's degree programs in geology and geophysics are intended primarily for those students who plan careers in the petroleum or minerals industries, environmental/hydrogeologic related businesses, or with state and federal government agencies. Traditionally, this degree level has been favored for professional-level work. The goal of the M.S. degree program is to prepare students for careers in geology or geophysics by: (1) providing a broad background in the earth sciences and related sciences and engineering fields through course work; and (2) encouraging critical thinking and analysis in the solution of geological and geophysics problems through independent thesis research. Thesis topics are available in many areas of the solid Earth and environmental sciences.

The Master of Science degrees in geology and geophysics normally require four semesters and one summer of full-time study and research. Generally, three of the four semesters of residence are devoted primarily to coursework; the summer and fourth semester are devoted primarily to the completion of research for the M.S. thesis. Twenty- six semester hours of coursework carrying graduate credit and four hours of thesis are required for completion of the M.S. degree. Each candidate for the M.S. in geology is required to complete at least one approved course in three of six core areas in the Earth sciences: geochemistry, geophysics, igneous/metamorphic petrology, stratigraphy- paleontology, sedimentary petrology/sedimentology, and structural geology. In addition, the student is required to complete at least two approved courses (carrying graduate credit) of science, mathematics or engineering outsidfinal approval given by the student's major professor.

The M.S. degree in geophysics also requires completion of 26 semester hours of coursework and four hours of thesis. To ensure breadth in the student's program, the graduate course must include at least one graduate course in geology and three courses in geophysics.

An original, independently executed research project reported in a thesis is required to successfully complete M.S. degrees in both geology and geophysics. Normally, a research topic is selected by the student in consultation with a faculty adviser during the second semester of residence. Although the research topic can include any field of geology or geophysics, most students elect to work closely with a faculty adviser on a problem in the advisor's research specialty. The research projects selected by M.S. students are expected to lead to presentations at regional and national meetings and papers in national and international journals.

A graduate degree candidate in geology and geophysics must present the results of his/her thesis research at a Graduate Colloquium of the School of Geology and Geophysics before he/she may schedule the final oral examination.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

The Ph.D. degree programs in geology and geophysics are intended primarily for those students who plan research careers in the Earth sciences in universities, industry or government agencies. The goals of the Ph.D. degree program are to prepare the student for a career in research by providing coursework in an area of specialization in geology or geophysics, provide a strong background in allied fields such as mathematics, physical science, biological science, and engineering to give the student the necessary tools to conduct original and significant geological research; and encourage critical thinking and analysis of geological problems through the design of original research projects.

The Ph.D. degree in geology normally requires a minimum of three years beyond the M.S. degree. The Graduate College at the University of Oklahoma requires 90 post- baccalaureate semester hours of coursework. Generally, the first year of residence is devoted primarily to coursework in preparation for the general examination; the remaining two years are devoted to both coursework and research. There are no specified course requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Geology. Rather, a coursework program is designed for each student in consultation with a doctoral committee composed of at least five graduate faculty members, including at least one from outside the major department within the University and one member outside the University.

The Ph.D. in Geophysics has specific core requirements. The following core courses are all required as part of the Ph.D. in Geophysics: GPHY 5102-Advanced Field Geophysics; GPHY 5243-Computational Geosciences; GPHY 5513-Introduction to Seismic Processing; GPHY 5613-Introduction to Seismic Stratigraphy; GPHY 5713- Solid Earth Geophysics and GPHY 6874-Applied Seismic Modeling. The purpose of the coursework is to prepare the student for the general examination, which tests the mastery of the field of specialization and related fields as well as the capacity for synthesis, sound generalization, and critical thinking. The examination consists of a written section in the major field of study, written sections in related fields, and oral defense of an original research proposal. Frequently, the original research proposal is the student�s dissertation topic.

The dissertation is the culmination of an original research project in the student�s field of specialization and should make a significant contribution to scientific understanding in The dissertation is the culmination of an original research project in the student's field of specialization and should make a significant contribution to scientific understanding in the field. Normally, the student works closely with the faculty adviser in the design and execution of the research project. The student and the adviser may submit proposals to foundations or industry for financial support to carry out the research, and they report the results of the research at regional, national and international meetings and in papers published by national and international journals.

A graduate degree candidate in geology and geophysics must present the results of his/her dissertation research at a Graduate Colloquium of the School of Geology and Geophysics before he/she may schedule the final oral examination.

For More Information Contact:

Graduate Affairs Committee
School of Geology and Geophysics
The University of Oklahoma
810 Sarkeys Energy Center
Norman, Oklahoma 73019
dsmullins@ou.edu

	School of Geology and Geophysics
Prospective Undergraduates What are Geology and Geophysics? What do Geologists and Geophysicists do? Why do we need Geologists and Geophysicists? You might be a Geologist or Geophysicist if you... Why study Geology and Geophysics at OU? 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Traditionally, this degree level has been favored for professional-level work. The goal of the M.S. degree program is to prepare students for careers in geology or geophysics by: (1) providing a broad background in the earth sciences and related sciences and engineering fields through course work; and (2) encouraging critical thinking and analysis in the solution of geological and geophysics problems through independent thesis research. Thesis topics are available in many areas of the solid Earth and environmental sciences. The Master of Science degrees in geology and geophysics normally require four semesters and one summer of full-time study and research. Generally, three of the four semesters of residence are devoted primarily to coursework; the summer and fourth semester are devoted primarily to the completion of research for the M.S. thesis. Twenty- six semester hours of coursework carrying graduate credit and four hours of thesis are required for completion of the M.S. degree. Each candidate for the M.S. in geology is required to complete at least one approved course in three of six core areas in the Earth sciences: geochemistry, geophysics, igneous/metamorphic petrology, stratigraphy- paleontology, sedimentary petrology/sedimentology, and structural geology. In addition, the student is required to complete at least two approved courses (carrying graduate credit) of science, mathematics or engineering outsidfinal approval given by the student's major professor. The M.S. degree in geophysics also requires completion of 26 semester hours of coursework and four hours of thesis. To ensure breadth in the student's program, the graduate course must include at least one graduate course in geology and three courses in geophysics. An original, independently executed research project reported in a thesis is required to successfully complete M.S. degrees in both geology and geophysics. Normally, a research topic is selected by the student in consultation with a faculty adviser during the second semester of residence. Although the research topic can include any field of geology or geophysics, most students elect to work closely with a faculty adviser on a problem in the advisor's research specialty. The research projects selected by M.S. students are expected to lead to presentations at regional and national meetings and papers in national and international journals. A graduate degree candidate in geology and geophysics must present the results of his/her thesis research at a Graduate Colloquium of the School of Geology and Geophysics before he/she may schedule the final oral examination. Doctor of Philosophy Degree The Ph.D. degree programs in geology and geophysics are intended primarily for those students who plan research careers in the Earth sciences in universities, industry or government agencies. The goals of the Ph.D. degree program are to prepare the student for a career in research by providing coursework in an area of specialization in geology or geophysics, provide a strong background in allied fields such as mathematics, physical science, biological science, and engineering to give the student the necessary tools to conduct original and significant geological research; and encourage critical thinking and analysis of geological problems through the design of original research projects. The Ph.D. degree in geology normally requires a minimum of three years beyond the M.S. degree. The Graduate College at the University of Oklahoma requires 90 post- baccalaureate semester hours of coursework. Generally, the first year of residence is devoted primarily to coursework in preparation for the general examination; the remaining two years are devoted to both coursework and research. There are no specified course requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Geology. Rather, a coursework program is designed for each student in consultation with a doctoral committee composed of at least five graduate faculty members, including at least one from outside the major department within the University and one member outside the University. The Ph.D. in Geophysics has specific core requirements. The following core courses are all required as part of the Ph.D. in Geophysics: GPHY 5102-Advanced Field Geophysics; GPHY 5243-Computational Geosciences; GPHY 5513-Introduction to Seismic Processing; GPHY 5613-Introduction to Seismic Stratigraphy; GPHY 5713- Solid Earth Geophysics and GPHY 6874-Applied Seismic Modeling. The purpose of the coursework is to prepare the student for the general examination, which tests the mastery of the field of specialization and related fields as well as the capacity for synthesis, sound generalization, and critical thinking. The examination consists of a written section in the major field of study, written sections in related fields, and oral defense of an original research proposal. Frequently, the original research proposal is the student�s dissertation topic. The dissertation is the culmination of an original research project in the student�s field of specialization and should make a significant contribution to scientific understanding in The dissertation is the culmination of an original research project in the student's field of specialization and should make a significant contribution to scientific understanding in the field. Normally, the student works closely with the faculty adviser in the design and execution of the research project. The student and the adviser may submit proposals to foundations or industry for financial support to carry out the research, and they report the results of the research at regional, national and international meetings and in papers published by national and international journals. A graduate degree candidate in geology and geophysics must present the results of his/her dissertation research at a Graduate Colloquium of the School of Geology and Geophysics before he/she may schedule the final oral examination. For More Information Contact: Graduate Affairs Committee School of Geology and Geophysics The University of Oklahoma 810 Sarkeys Energy Center Norman, Oklahoma 73019 dsmullins@ou.edu