MASTER OF SCIENCES

The department offers graduate courses and research programs leading to the M.S. degree in Geology or Geophysics. Students are encouraged to obtain broad backgrounds by taking courses in geology, geophysics, and environmental geosciences along with the other sciences and mathematics. Multidisciplinary preparation is particularly useful for students seeking future employment in industry.

The department, with approximately twenty graduate students in residence, is housed in Devlin Hall and has additional research facilities at Weston Observatory. Students enjoy close working relationships with faculty while being able to undertake research using modern scientific equipment available. The program stresses a strong background in the earth sciences, as well as the ability to carry out research. It prepares students for successful careers as geoscientists in the environmental and engineering industries, oil and gas exploration or government service, or for continued studies toward a Ph.D. A particularly beneficial aspect of the M.S. program is the opportunity for students to integrate studies in geology, geophysics, and environmental subjects.

Research in the department covers a broad range of topics, including: coastal and estuarine processes, physical sedimentation, earthquake and exploration seismology, geomorphology, structural geology, igneous and metamorphic petrology and geochemistry, interpretative tectonics, groundwater hydrology, sedimentology, biogeochemistry, and environmental geology and geophysics.

The department offers a number of Teaching and Research Assistantships.

REQUIREMENTS

No fixed curriculum is prescribed for the M.S. degree. Instead, a course and research program that is consistent with the student's background and professional objectives are developed by the student and his or her faculty advisory committee. The graduate program assumes a basic undergraduate foundation in the geosciences. Students lacking such a background may be required to complete certain subjects at the undergraduate level before or during their graduate program. Master's candidates in either Geology or Geophysics must complete or have completed two-semester (or equivalent) courses in calculus, physics, and chemistry.

A minimum of ten courses (numbered 300 or above), approved by the student's faculty advisory committee, must be completed in addition to a research thesis for graduation. Graduate level multidisciplinary Earth Systems Seminars are offered annually by the Department on different topics. Beginning graduate students are required to take the Earth Systems Seminar. A maximum of two thesis courses (GE 801) are allowed for M.S. thesis credit. Normally, no more than one Reading and Research course (GE 798 or GE 799) may be applied toward the minimum course requirement. All students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 average in their graduate courses, as well as in all undergraduate courses (0-299) in the other sciences and mathematics. Passing a comprehensive oral examination is required of each student. A research thesis approved by three faculty members is also required of all M.S. students.

APPLICATION

Applicants to the Master of Science degree program generally fall into one of the following categories:

1. Students well-prepared in geology or geophysics with courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and/or biology who are interested in broadening their experience at the M.S. degree level before employment or doctoral studies elsewhere;
2. Students well-prepared in mathematics or one of the natural sciences other than geology or geophysics and who wish to use the M.S. degree program to transfer into the earth sciences.

In addition to the normal application forms, applicants should submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal statement of the strengths and weaknesses of their undergraduate education (including course and non-course experience), and their graduate study interests and current post-degree plans. Graduate Record Exam, GRE, (general) scores are required. Applications may be made at any time, but, to be assured of consideration for September admission, they should be received by April 1. Applications from those applying for financial aid and assistantships for September need to be completed by the University deadline of February 1. Later applications may be considered for financial aid if funding is available.

ADVISING

New graduate students who enter the M.S. program in Earth and Environmental Sciences are initially assigned an advisory committee of two Department faculty members who advise the student on course selection and other academic matters. Near the end of the spring semester of the student’s first full year in the program, the student is asked to select a new faculty advisory committee consisting of a primary thesis advisor and of two other faculty members to act as readers on the thesis and examiners on the oral comprehensive examination of the student. This new faculty advisory committee takes over advising the student on course selection and other academic matters. A student is free to request a change of the members of this new faculty advisory committee at any time.

REVIEW OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS

The Graduate Program Committee of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences conducts periodic reviews of the academic progress of each student in the graduate program of the Department. The following describes how the periodic reviews are carried out and what actions are taken when a student is found to be deficient in meeting the academic regulations of the Department or of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

After grades have been turned in at the end of each semester, the Graduate Program Director of the Department reviews the latest transcript for each active graduate student to ensure that he or she is meeting the 3.0 GPA requirement and that he or she has taken the oral exam within his or her first four semesters in our program. If a student is deficient in either of these areas, the Graduate Program Director of the Department brings the problem student to the attention of the Department Graduate Committee. If the Graduate Committee deems that some type of action is required to deal with a deficient student, the problem is brought before a meeting of the entire faculty of the Department of Geology and Geophysics where possible sanctions are discussed. For students who have not met the requirements for satisfactory progress, the Department faculty can either recommend academic probation for the student, perhaps with withdrawal of financial support for the student, or when student performance is significantly below the requirements, dismissal of the student from the graduate program. In either case, the Graduate Program Director writes a letter to the student informing the student of the decision of the faculty. A copy of that letter goes into the student's file.

The academic progress of all students who are on academic probation is reviewed by the Graduate Committee at the end of each academic semester. If the student achieves satisfactory academic standing, the Graduate Committee removes him or her from academic probation. If the student does not achieve satisfactory progress, the situation of that student is brought to a meeting of the full Department faculty for discussion and a decision about further academic probation or dismissal. A letter with the decision of the Department faculty is sent from the Graduate Program Director of the Department to the student with a copy included in the student's file.

There are also cases where graduate students have satisfactorily completed their course work and their comprehensive oral exam but have not completed their M.S. thesis. Each year in the late summer or early fall, the Graduate Program Director of the Department reviews the status of all students who have not completed their theses. All students for whom five years has passed from matriculation in the graduate program without completing his or her thesis receives a letter from the Graduate Program Director informing him or her that he or she has not completed the degree requirements and that he or she must apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for a one-year extension to complete the degree. The letter indicates that the extension is invariably granted if requested. All students for whom six years has passed from matriculation in the graduate program without completing their theses receive a letter from the Graduate Program Director of the Department informing the student that he or she has not completed the degree requirements and that he or she will be imminently dropped from the program unless a completed and signed thesis is submitted. Copies of both the five-year and six-year letters are included in the student files when they are sent out to the students.

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) has a number of policies and procedures that apply to all graduate students at Boston College. The policies and procedures cover such topics as:

• Academic Grievances
• Academic Integrity
• Audit
• Doctoral Program Policy
• Incomplete Grades
• Leaves of Absence
• Time-To-Degree

Detailed information on university or school policies and procedures that apply to graduates can be found through the link www.bc.edu/schools/gsas/policies.html.