The Department of Geoscience offers the Master of Science, with or without thesis, and a Doctor of Philosophy in geoscience.

All geoscience graduate students are responsible for meeting requirements and deadlines. They should acquaint themselves with the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College, particularly sections IX, X, and XII (see Graduate College in the Catalog), and with the University calendar (for deadline dates and so forth).

New graduate students receive a handout that provides detailed information about graduate degree requirements.  See Graduate Programs in Geoscience on the department's web site.

Entering graduate students are required to enroll in 012:207 Geologic Orientation.  By the first month of their second semester in residence, they must select an advisor.  Also during their second semester in residence, they must consult with faculty members and arrange for an advisory committee.

Throughout their graduate study, all M.S. and Ph.D. students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 on all course work required for their degree and on all graduate-level geoscience course work.  Students whose g.p.a. drops below 3.00 are placed on academic probation.

Geoscience graduate students are encouraged to present their research at local, regional, national or international meetings.  The department provides partial funding for travel to such meetings.
   
 

Master of Science

The Master of Science in geoscience requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit.  The program is designed primarily to prepare students for professional careers in geoscience, or for more advanced studies.  Students may count up to 8 s.h. of research credit toward the 30 s.h. required for the degree.  They must earn at least 24 s.h. in residence at The University of Iowa.

M.S. thesis students are responsible for obtaining their advisory committee's approval of a suitable program of course work and for satisfactory development of research plans as outlined in a thesis proposal, which should be completed before the end of the second semester of full-time study.  They are required to deliver a half-hour public presentation of their thesis, followed by an oral defense, supporting research, and related topics.  They also must take a final examination, for which members of their advisory committee act as examiners.

Individuals interested in pursuing the M.S. without thesis must obtain the department chair's permission.  The program is designed for students with extensive geological background and experience.  Requirements for the nonthesis option are similar to those for the M.S. with thesis, except that in place of the thesis, nonthesis students submit a manuscript that their thesis committee deems acceptable for submission for publication.  The student may choose to submit a previously published manuscript.  Nonthesis students also must take a final examination that covers course work and the work done in place of the thesis.

Master of Arts in Teaching (Earth Science)

This program enables students to combine certification to teach in secondary schools with participation in a specialized graduate curriculum. Awarded by the College of Education, the M.A.T. requires at least 20 semester hours of graduate study in professional education and at least 18 semester hours of graduate course work in earth science.
 

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy in geoscience requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit.  The program is designed primarily to train students to be independent researchers and/or teachers, and to bring students to the forefront of a specialized area of geoscience.   Ph.D. students usually enter the program with established fields of interest and a research advisor already selected.  Under exceptional circumstances, a student may be admitted to the Ph.D. program without an established field of interest.

After earning their first 24 s.h. of graduate credit, doctoral students must spend at least two semesters in full-time study (9 s.h. per semester) in residence at The University of Iowa. 

During the first semester of study, students consult with faculty members and their advisor to select course work and to choose a faculty committee for the comprehensive examination.  Students should complete most of their course work before taking the comprehensive examination, which consists of both written and oral portions and which must be passed before the end of the second year of doctoral study. 

Once candidates have passed the comprehensive examination, they are required to register each semester until they receive the Ph.D. Candidates who have completed their plan of study may register for 000:002 Doctoral Continuous Registration or 000:003 Doctoral Final Registration.

In consultation with their advisors and other faculty members, doctoral candidates prepare a formal dissertation proposal, which must be submitted to the chair of the geoscience department by the end of the third semester of the candidate's full-time doctoral study and before the bulk of his or her research is completed.  The proposal must receive the dissertation committee's unanimous approval.  The written dissertation must be available to the committee at least two weeks before the final examination.  All Ph.D. candidates must deliver a one-hour public presentation associated with the dissertation defense.