Accelerated Master's Degree Program
The Accelerated MS program in the Geology and Geophysics Department allows a student
to receive a BS and an MS degree in five years. Students in the program work with
a faculty advisor and tailor their undergraduate 4000-level elective credits to develop
a foundation for their MS thesis, complete GEOL 3909 and 3999 to jumpstart their MS
thesis work, and enroll in and complete 6 credit hours of graduate coursework during
their final two semesters of undergraduate coursework.
Admission Requirements
- To apply to the program, the overall GPA and G&G GPA must both be at least 3.5.
- The applicant must have completed 60 hours overall and must have completed or be enrolled
in the following courses:
GEOL 2081 (4 credits), GEOL 3032 (4 credits), GEOL 3041 (4 credits), GEOL 2061 (4 credits), GEOL 3071 (4 credits)
Application Procedure
- Students are encouraged to select a faculty advisor whose research areas align with their interests.
- Students should submit the , along with the required statement of purpose and a letter of recommendation from the selected advisor. The application deadlines for starting in the Fall and Spring semesters are April 15 and November 15, respectively. If these dates fall on a weekend, applications are due the preceding Friday.
- Students should submit the completed application to the Undergraduate Advisor in E240 Howe Russell.
- Students will be notified of the decision on their application by the end of the semester
in which they submitted it.
Suggested Timeline for the Accelerated MS Program
| Semester 6 | Summer | Semester 7 | Semester 8 | Semester 9 | Semester 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application/Admission Landmark | Apply to Accel. MS program by April 15 for Fall admission and by Nov. 15 for Spring admission; you will be notified by the end of the semester. | Apply to the 蘑菇tv Grad School | Complete bachelor's degree; admitted to G&G Accel MS program and to Graduate program for Semester 9. | Start as a graduate student; write and defend a thesis proposal. | Defend thesis and graduate with MS degree. | |
| Advisor/Committee | Student selects an MS advisor | MS Committee is selected | ||||
| Current Undergraduate Courses | Continue undergrad coursework | GEOL 3666 | Continue undergrad coursework | Continue undergrad course work, complete BS degree | ||
| Research Courses (3909 and 3999 must support topic selected for 8000) | Recommended GEOL 3909 (3 hours) | GEOL 3909 (3 hours) | GEOL 3999 (3 hours) | 3 hours of GEOL 8000 | 3 hours of GEOL 8000 | |
| Graduate Courses | 3-hour course for graduate credit | 3-hour course for graduate credit | 9 hours of graduate course credits | 9 hours of graduate course credits | ||
| Difference in Undergraduate Courses | +3 | 6 | -3 | -3 | ||
| Graduate Course Credits | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 12 |
*The undergraduate program is up to Semester 8; the graduate program is during Semesters 9 and 10.
Notes:
During semester 6:
- BS student seeking admission to the Accelerated MS Program apply for admission to the Accelerated MS Program and select a graduate faculty member from the department who will act as the advisor for the MS thesis.
- A decision on the application will be made by the end of Semester 6.
During Semester 7:
- BS students formally apply to the G&G Graduate Program through the 蘑菇tv Graduate School
- BS students take GEOL3909 (Research for Undergraduates). This research is intended to build a foundation for future MS thesis research.
- BS students select three hours of graduate coursework from the 4000-level or 7000-level geol courses. Complete the Department鈥檚 鈥淎pplication for the Accelerated Master's Degree Program鈥� that must be completed by undergraduates before taking any course for graduate credit, otherwise the course will not receive graduate credit.
During Semester 8:
- BS students take GEOL3999 (Undergraduate thesis) as one of the technical electives for the bachelor's degree. This is to further build on the research experience.
- BS students select three hours of graduate coursework. Again, the graduate school form must be completed to receive graduate credit for the course.
- It is expected that during Semester 8, the BS student will be admitted to the 蘑菇tv Graduate School
- The MS student will complete the graduate program during Semesters 9 and 10; he/she will be required to take 9 hours of graduate courses and 3 hours of thesis credits during each of these two semesters.