Researcher in the woods with safety vest looking a rock while another looks on.

Tomorrow Needs You. Are You Ready?

Receive a graduate education from an accredited institution.

Geology—MS, PhD

You always leave no stone unturned, and Michigan Tech’s Department of Geology can take you from Alaska to New Zealand and back to the lab in search of answers. Research areas range from volcanology to hydrology, seismology to mineralogy, or atmospheric science. Are you ready?

Our Accelerated Master's Program is available for current Michigan Tech students.

Program Overview

Research activities in the master's or doctorate program in geology span fundamental and precise laboratory studies of rocks and minerals to field studies in remote and rugged locations to high-performance computing of climate and natural hazards using remotely sensed data. Current studies include characterizing the hydrology of melting glaciers in Alaska, Svalbard, and Nepal, landslide and flood hazards in El Salvador, and transport and observation of atmospheric pollutants in remote locations like Greenland and the Azores.

Delivery Options
- Accelerated: MS
- On-Campus: MS

Geology Program Details

Choose a specific degree option or delivery type to learn more about the geology program at Michigan Tech. For international students, Geology is a designated STEM program.

On-Campus Programs

PhD Requirements, Geology

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all coursework and research credits (see credit requirements below)
Pass Qualifying Examination
Pass Research Proposal Examination
Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation
Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Degrees	Credits
MS-PhD (minimum)	30 Credits
BS-PhD (minimum)	60 Credits

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.

MS, Geology: Thesis Option

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	20 Credits
Thesis research	6-10 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Geology: Report Option

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in twelve months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Geology: Coursework Option

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

Accelerated MS, Geology

Bachelor's + 1 Year = Master's Degree

Our accelerated master's degree program is a faster, easier way for Michigan Tech students to earn a master's degree. Up to nine approved credits from your bachelor's degree can be applied towards your accelerated master's degree. Consult your graduate program director for your individualized plan. If you're thinking about pursuing a master's following your bachelor's this option may be the right choice for you.

Additional Accelerated Master's Program Details

Additional Program Information

Want to learn more about geology at Michigan Tech? Visit the department for more information:

Contact

Graduate Director

Luke Bowman

Graduate Assistant

Brittany Buschell

Sample Areas of Interest

Select areas of interest to help customize your geology MS and PhD. Sample areas include:

Economic Geology/Petrology/Geochemistry
Geomorphology
Groundwater/Hydrology
Karst Hydrology and Geology

View full listing for this program

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

2 Letters of Recommendation (only 1 required for Michigan Tech students)
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
Résumé / Curriculum vitae required for PhD
GRE not required

International Students

TOEFL: Required Score of 79 iBT
IELTS: Required Overall Band Score of 6.5

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis

Recommended Deadlines

Fall Semester: February 1

Apply at least a semester in advance of projected admission to improve your chances of receiving funding.

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accelerated Master's Requirements

Our Accelerated Master's Program is available for current Michigan Tech students.

Program Specific

1 Letter of Recommendation
GPA of 3.0 or greater
No GRE required

Eligible Undergraduate Majors

All Michigan Tech undergraduate majors

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.

Who You'll Work With

Our faculty study seismic source mechanisms of tectonic and volcanic earthquakes, or use satellite measurements to constrain global volcanic SO2 production and emissions from individual volcanoes. They research long-term evolution of Earth's magnetic field in relation to geodynamo mechanisms, quantification of CO2 from diffuse degassing at large, caldera-forming volcanoes, and structure and tectonics of the Midcontinent Rift System and more.

Where You'll Work

Specialized labs include the Laboratory for Atmospheric Remote Sensing, the Subsurface Visualization Laboratory, and others including the Seismology and Petrophysics Laboratory, the Earthquake Seismology Laboratory, the Hydrogeology Laboratory, and the Earth Magnetism Laboratory. Michigan Tech sits in the Keweenaw Peninsula, a geologically-rich area, but your work can take you anywhere in the world.

Faculty Spotlight

John Gierke

John Gierke

Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering Sciences

"Understanding earth systems are vital to locate and develop natural resources and mitigate natural hazards."

Satellite, airborne, and ground- based technologies are rapidly evolving to enhance our abilities to characterize and understand earth landscapes and underlying geologic systems, water bodies, and the atmosphere. Strategies to mitigate for natural hazards, explore for and develop natural resources, and forecast human and natural impacts are also evolving as we grow our understanding of earth systems.

Program Faculty