Applied Geosciences, MSAG
The Online Master of Science in Applied Geosciences in the College of Liberal and Professional Studies and Department of Earth and Environmental Science (EES) is a 12-cu, graduate program designed to prepare mid-career professionals (preferably a minimum of 3-years’ experience) in geoscience organizations (consulting, geotechnical, government, non-profit/NGO) for the next step in their careers. In this entirely online program, students take 8 cu’s of required courses and 4 cu’s of electives. As a culminating exercise, students must complete a Project Design capstone that is an applied project directly related to their career goals.
Curriculum
Students are required to complete 12 cu’s of graduate level course work for the program. Students must take eight required courses, four electives, and complete a Masters level Project Design capstone positively evaluated by two readers in order to earn the MS Applied Geosciences degree.
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 8 | |
| Aqueous Geochemistry | ||
| Hydrology | ||
| Environmental Groundwater Hydrology | ||
| Geocomputations | ||
| Applied and Environmental Geophysics | ||
| Geomechanics | ||
| Engineering Geology and Applied Structural Geology | ||
| Project Design | ||
| Four Elective Courses | 4 | |
| Students will choose four electives to complement their backgrounds and reach their career goals. Students choose from a selection of courses that are designed to help mid-career professionals boost career opportunities. | ||
| Geologic Field Methods | ||
| Role of the Environmental Professional in Managing Contaminated Site Liability | ||
| Fate and Transport of Pollutants | ||
| Field Study of Soils | ||
| Contaminated site investigation, remediation, and long-term stewardship” | ||
| Water Resources for Geologists and Environmental Scientists | ||
| Landslides | ||
| Engineering Geology: Surficial Materials & Processes | ||
| Modeling Geographical Objects | ||
| Modeling Geographical Space | ||
| Total Course Units | 12 | |
Project Design Capstone Requirement
The project design capstone research is the culmination of the student’s career. The capstone draws on methodology directly related to the student’s career goals for the program. Students are expected to submit their project design proposal and reader candidates as part of the Project Design capstone course (EESC 6998) in the first year of their program (second year for part-time students). Students should plan to spend a minimum of one year on the research and writing of the capstone.
Field Opportunities
Students who did not take a field course in their undergraduate career and plan to apply for Professional Geologist licensure can take EESC 5704 Geologic Field Methods to fulfill the field component required by many states including Pennsylvania. This course must be taken in person to meet the requirements for state licensure and the instructor has adapted the course to a one week in person (daily field trips) model. For this model, online students will complete online exercises before traveling to Philadelphia where they will spend one week immersed in the course material. Upon returning home they will complete post-trip reports to complete the licensure requirements. In addition to this field course, several courses will have video taped field components and opportunities for students to do field work in their local area.
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2025 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.