Graduate Study
Graduate education has two major objectives: first, to obtain adequate
mastery of subject matter in a chosen field, and second, to demonstrate
the ability to perform and present the results of original and creative
research. The first objective is attained through course work and
independent study, and the second involves preparation of a thesis
or dissertation. M.S. candidates in geology are required to prepare
a thesis. All students pursuing the Ph.D. degree must present a dissertation.
The major goal of course study is to develop a professional scientist
who is both well educated and versatile. This requires a comprehensive
background in one or more specialized areas, a broad understanding
of several related fields of knowledge, and practical experience in
teaching and research. With this kind of education, the graduating
student will be equipped to become a competent professional, one who
will be qualified for a variety of employment opportunities, depending
on personal preference and on current needs of universities and industrial
or government organizations. This graduate training should also provide
the background necessary to permit the graduate to continue self-education
and not to become obsolete as the chosen area of specialization changes
with time through increased quantification and new developments.
The choice of courses taken by graduate students varies widely depending
on their interests, background, and degree being sought. Early during
graduate studies, students choose a thesis or dissertation topic and
a graduate program committee. Students and their committees then decide
upon courses required for the research and the general program of
study. Ph.D. candidates are required by the Graduate College to obtain
at least 72 semester credits beyond the B.S. degree, at least 36 credits
of previous graduate work usually may be applied toward the doctoral
degree. Students seeking a M.S. degree in geology will usually be
required to obtain 30 credits of graduate level courses of which 12
credits are in formal Geology courses numbered 500 or above, but not
to include credits earned in Geology 590. Also to be included are
2 credits for Geology 506, Geology Field Trip. Ten (10) credits of
elective courses in Geology or in other disciplines relevant to the
student's field of interest are also required. Up to 6 credits for
thesis research will be allowed toward the 30-credit total. The remaining
credits are usually taken in cognate courses from fields related to
their thesis or dissertation research.
For M.S. degrees in earth science, a student must obtain 30 credit
hours beyond the B.S., of which approximately two-thirds are in the
major field and the remainder is in cognate fields. Course requirements
for the Water Resources/Geology graduate degree can be obtained from
the department. The general academic requirements for all graduate
students at Iowa State University are outlined in the Graduate Catalog,
which can be obtained from the Admissions Office.
Students who have majored in fields other than the earth sciences
are encouraged to apply. The department has various interdisciplinary
programs and a wide variety of research areas, some of which require
a strong basic science background. The first year of graduate study
may be largely devoted to removing deficiencies in the new major;
however, such makeup work will be held to a minimum to avoid undue
delay in completing graduate study.
To expedite the processing of your application in the Admissions Office,
you must pay the Application Fee. The Admissions Office will not waive
this fee under any circumstances and will not allow payment upon arrival
at the University. You must also include official transcripts. Copies
are insufficient.
