Geology and Environmental Sciences, MS

Requirements for the Master’s Degree

The minimum course requirement for the MS degree is thirty (30) credits beyond the baccalaureate. A minimum of eighteen (18) credits must be from formal courses. At least twelve (12) of these credits must be numbered 2000 or higher and must be taken within the Department of Geology and Environmental Science. An initial evaluation, designed to explore the student’s basic knowledge of the geological sciences and related fields, is required of all MS degree candidates during their first term of residence. Each MS candidate prepares a thesis demonstrating successful completion of the research project as well as competency in the methods and techniques of scientific investigation in the field of her/his area of specialization. The thesis should serve as a source of publishable material, and all MS students must present research results at a meeting of a national or international scientific organization. Each MS student publicly defends her/his thesis before a Thesis Committee consisting of at least three faculty members from the Department of Geology and Environmental Science. Complete descriptions of the most recent degree requirements are available at www.geology.pitt.edu.