Students are not admitted directly into the Master of Arts program. However, students admitted to the Ph.D. program may, with the approval of the faculty, pursue a Master of Arts degree. This option is only available to students who are admitted to the Ph.D. degree program. The M.A. in Earth Sciences can be a non-terminal or a terminal degree. The non-terminal degree is for students continuing in the doctoral program. The terminal degree is for students that are admitted to the doctoral program but leave before completing all the work required for a Ph.D. in Geology.

Non-terminal M.A. in Earth Science

The non-terminal degree is for students who are continuing in the doctoral program. Students can earn their M.A. in Earth Science by completing the following requirements: 33 hours of graduate courses, with no more than 12 hours at 4000-level courses, completion of Grant Writing course (GEO 5222 Grant Writing for Physical and Biological Sciences), completion of Geology Technical Session (GEO 5050 Geology Technical Sessions) for all semesters in residence, with a minimum of 4 semesters, and passage of an oral examination or a dissertation proposal defense. M.A. requirements are usually completed by the second or third year of study.

Terminal M.A. in Earth Science

The terminal degree is for circumstances when a student who is admitted to the doctoral program leaves before completing all the work required for a Ph.D. in Geology. In these cases, students may be given the opportunity to complete a terminal M.A. in Earth Science. The terminal M.A. requires 33 hours of graduate courses, with no more than 12 hours at 4000-level courses, completion of Grant Writing course (GEO 5222 Grant Writing for Physical and Biological Sciences), completion of Geology Technical Session (GEO 5050 Geology Technical Sessions) for all semesters in residence, with a minimum of 4 semesters, and may or may not require the completion and defense of an oral examination or a dissertation proposal defense depending on the approval of the Geosciences faculty and the graduate program director.