[ advising ] top

Graduate Program Director: Dave Liddell

Contact the Graduate Program Director for questions about admission requirements, application procedures, financial aid or any other questions about the program. You should also contact the faculty member that you are interested in working with in order to discuss potential research topics. Prior to admission, all students must have a provisional thesis advisor.

[ research/specializations] top

There are five broad areas of research emphasis for graduate students and faculty within the department: (1) sedimentary geology, (2) structural geology and regional tectonics, (3) geomorphology, (4) hydrogeology and (5) petrology. Summaries of these activites follow, but also go to our "research" page to explore in more detail.

Research in sedimentary geology has included: sedimentation and development of coral reefs and associated carbonate environments during Pleistocene and Holocene times, changes in shallow-water carbonate environments through early Paleozoic time, study of mixed carbonate-siliciclastic deposition in Paleozoic and Proterozoic time, and Proterozoic basin analysis, isotope geochemistry, and paleobiology.

Research in structural geology and regional tectonics has included the examination of the mechanical and chemical evolution of fault zones; the structural and tectonic development of extensional structures in the Great Basin; the development of fold-and-thrust structures in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah; and the characterization of fluid-flow properties in fractured crystalline and deformed sedimentary rocks.

Geomorphology research has included the study of climate, tectonic, and anthropogenic controls on landscape change, erosion, and sedimentation. This includes studies on hillslope processes, landscape evolution of the Colorado Plateau and Grand Canyon; the downstream effect of dams, and river restoration.

Research activity in hydrogeology has included wellhead protection in confined to semiconfined aquifers, the relationships between stream losses and water table depths, and the identification and geochemical characterization of groundwater recharge to surface streams.

Research in petrology focuses on the origin and evolution of magmatic systems, oceanic lithosphere, collisional orogens, and convergent margin systems. These efforts use field relations, phase chemistry, and whole rock geochemistry to decipher these systems, and their relationship to the tectonic and geochemical evolution of the Earth.

Geology faculty members commonly interact with the faculty and staff of the Utah Water Research Laboratory, the Department of Watershed Sciences, the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

[ degree requirements ] top

Master of Science Degree.
There are two MS degree programs in Geology - the Plan A (thesis) in Geology and the Plan B in Applied Enviromental Geoscience degree. For the Plan A degree the recommended distribution is 20 credits of coursework and 10 credits of thesis for the MS degree. A minimum of five 6000-level geology courses (other than GEO 6800) is recommended for the degree program.

Master of Science --- Applied Environmental Geoscience - AEG (non-thesis)
The department offers advanced study leading to the MS degree in Applied Environmental Geoscience. This terminal degree program requires a combination of advanced courses selected from Geology offerings, as well as additional courses from other units on campus, such as Civil and Environmental Engineering, Plants, Soils & Biometeorology, Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Mathematics & Statistics, and the College of Natural Resources. Plan B only; see graduate requirements in USU graduate catalog for description of Plan B reports.
Program Prerequisite: Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Earth Science, or related science discipline.
Grade Requirements: Only two grades of less than B (C to B-) will be accepted as part of the required degree program as listed on the “Program of Study for Master’s Degree.” A 3.0 grade point average must be obtained in required coursework as listed on the Program of Study. Thesis (Plan B report) credits will be graded P-F only (i.e., no letter grade will be given).
Degree Requirements: A total of 32 credit hours is required for graduation with the MS in Applied Environmental Geoscience. The recommended distribution is 29 credits of coursework and 3 credits of thesis to obtain the required 32 credits for the MS degree. A minimum of 12 credit hours must be in support courses outside of geology (e.g., watershed science, soils, geography, chemistry & biochemistry). At least 16 credit hours, but no more than 20 credit hours, must be in geology, including 3 credits of thesis. All coursework must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee. Graduate students using Department or University facilities and/or under geology faculty supervision must register for a minimum of 3 credits every semester, up to and including the semester in which the thesis is cleared by the School of Graduate Studies. Registration may not be required during the summer.

Advisement: All graduate students in the AEG program must have a supervisory committee consisting of their primary faculty advisor and at least two other faculty from geology or related units on campus; at least one must be from outside the area of specialization. Students are required to meet with their faculty advisor and graduate committee at least twice annually for course and program

For both MS degree programs only two grades of less than B (C to B-) will be accepted as part of the required degree program as listed on the "Program of Study for Master's Degree." A 3.0 grade point average must be obtained in required coursework as listed on the Program of Study. Thesis credits (Plan A or B) will be graded P-F only (i.e., no letter grade will be given). Geology graduate students using department or University facilities and/or under geology faculty supervision must register for a minimum of 3 credits every semester, up to and including the semester in which the thesis is cleared by the School of Graduate Studies. Registration may not be required during the summer.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree.
Students completing a PhD in Geology must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Complete at least 90 credits of graduate coursework (including at least 21 credits of GEO 7970 dissertation/research) beyond a B.S. or at least 60 credits (including at least 15 credits of GEO 7970 dissertation/research) beyond an M.S., with a minimum class grade of B and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3.

2. If an M.S. is completed first, then no more than 12 credits of the 60 credits required for the PhD may be taken in coursework numbered below the 6000 level. If an M.S. is not completed first, then no more than 21 credits of the 90 credits required for the PhD may be taken in coursework numbered below the 6000 level.

3. Complete at least 30 credits of advanced coursework (6000 level and above) beyond the BS or 21 credits of advanced coursework beyond the MS, including at least 15 credits of 7000-level geology coursework, and excluding GEO 6900, 7970, and 7990.

4. Complete 3 credits of PhD Seminar (GEO 7800).

5a. Academic Track: Complete 9-12 credits of department-approved education or instructional technology courses, and successfully teach one geology course under the supervision of a faculty mentor. ELED/SCED 6190 and GEO 6900 (teaching internship) required.

5b. Professional Track: Complete 9-12 credits of department-approved courses in statistics, remote sensing, and/or geographic information systems. Completion of professional internship program is encouraged. Approved courses include WATS 4930, 6760, WATS/BIE/BMET 6250, FRWS 6740, 6750, ENVS 6550.

6. Pass a written comprehensive examination showing depth and breadth of knowledge in geology and the student’s area(s) of emphasis. The student may be required to take additional classes to satisfy any deficiencies.

7. Successfully complete a written dissertation research proposal, present that proposal orally to the department, and defend it during an oral examination. The oral examination will include questions of a deep and probing nature, and may range beyond the dissertation proposal into areas unrelated to the student’s specialization.

8. Complete at least 15 credits of dissertation research credits (GEO 7970) if admitted with a prior master’s degree, or 21 credits of dissertation research credits (GEO 7970) without an earned master’s degree.

9. Successfully complete and defend a dissertation. The dissertation will be a written document and may consist of several papers submitted or accepted for publication. The defense will be oral, including a presentation of the work and successful defense of the work to the faculty.

[ financial assistance ] top

Departmental financial support for incoming students consists primarily of graduate teaching assistantships, which are awarded on a competitive basis. There is often other financial support available, such as research assistantships, resulting from grants or other external funding. Students requesting financial support should apply directly to the department no later than February 15. Admission to a graduate program does not guarantee financial assistance.