Graduate Program Coordinator: Dr. Ken Anderson Office: Parkinson 310 Phone: (618) 453-3351 E-mail: kanderson@geo.siu.edu You may request application materials from: geology@geo.siu.edu For complete information about graduate education at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, consult the SIUC Graduate School Graduate Catalog.  What these pages contain... Introduction Admission and Application Application Deadlines Financial Support Master of Science Degree Master of Arts Degree (Non-Thesis Option) Graduate Certificate Doctoral Program Graduate Course Descriptions Introduction The Department of Geology offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science (Thesis Option), Master of Arts (Non-Thesis Option), the Graduate Certificate in Earth Sciences, and the interdisciplinary degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Resources & Policy. The objectives of the graduate degree programs are to develop the student's competence in the basic fields of geology and to provide for specialization dependent on student and faculty interest. Faculty and facilities are available to support thesis and dissertation research in the following sub-disciplines: Environmental geology Geomorphology Hydrogeology Applied seismology and potential-field geophysics Environmental geophysics Active tectonics Ore deposits and economic geology Coal and energy resource geology Organic geochemistry Environmental geochemistry Low-temperature geochemistry Sedimentation and stratigraphy Paleontology, micropaleontology, and paleoecology Structural geology Petrology Quaternary geology If your interests do not fit into one of the classical sub-disciplines, we will help you design a unique study and research program. Interdisciplinary research with faculty in other departments is also encouraged. Southern Illinois and adjacent areas offer a wide variety of geological conditions ideal for individual study and research. Opportunities also exist for graduate student research in other areas of the United States (California, Nevada) and in foreign countries (Hungary). The Department of Geology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale strives to develop a diverse student population. All applications are welcomed and encouraged and will receive consideration. Admission to Graduate Degree Programs Admission to the graduate programs in Geology is based on an evaluation of the preparation, ability, and promise of the applicant. The following steps describe the process for applying to the graduate degree programs. Complete the application forms, either by mail or electronically. We recommend the online application process. Online application process: You must complete two applications, one for the Graduate School and one for the Department of Geology. You first complete the Graduate School form. After you are finished with that application, you will be directed to the online application for the Department of Geology. To start the online application process, go to the following link: Graduate School Application Mail application process: Request application materials from the Department of Geology. Requests can be made by e-mail, standard mail, or telephone (618-453-3351). Complete all application forms and return them to the Department of Geology. Each completed application must include an application fee of $45. You will have the opportunity to pay this fee with a credit card if you apply online. If you send your application by mail, please make the check payable to the Department of Geology. Arrange to have at least 3 letters of recommendation written by faculty, academic advisers, former employers, or others familiar with your academic performance, research potential, and other relevant work sent to the Department of Geology. Arrange to have official transcripts of all college-level course work sent directly to the Department of Geology. If you took the GRE, arrange to have your scores sent directly to the Department of Geology. The GRE is highly recommended, but not required, for application to the Geology graduate program.  Final admission to the graduate program in Geology requires the following: unconditional acceptance by the Graduate School (see above); positive recommendation for acceptance from the departmental Graduate Admissions Committee. The Department of Geology normally admits graduate students for entrance in the fall semester; however, applicants will be considered for spring admission. Students will be expected to have satisfactorily completed, at the undergraduate level, the equivalent course work in the basic sciences required for a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology at SIUC. A student admitted with course deficiencies may be required to complete or audit appropriate undergraduate courses. First-year teaching assistants are required to enroll in and complete GEOL 500. Other specific requirements will be determined by the student's advisory committee and the department Chair. Students are evaluated on an individual basis; their programs are determined by their career goals and the results of informal interviews with individual faculty members. Application Deadlines Application deadline for graduate programs and applicants wishing to be considered for Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships is February 14, 2008. Financial Support Graduate assistantships (teaching or research) are available on a competitive basis. These positions presently pay $12,180 per academic year (9 months) at a monthly stipend of $1,353 and include a tuition waiver valued up to $10,312 per semester. Applicants should contact the department chair for the most recent stipend information. Applications to the graduate program for the current academic year will be accepted until all assistantships are awarded. Students are responsible for payment of university fees which include medical insurance; fees can vary in amount but average about $1200 per semester. Teaching Assistants devote approximately 20 hours per week to instruction and related activities. Most teach laboratory sections of introductory and advanced Geology courses. Research Assistants spend an equal amount of time on research projects assigned by individual faculty members. The availability of Research Assistantships depends upon external or internal funding obtained by individual faculty members. As a matter of policy, the Department of Geology does not guarantee a student working toward a Master's degree financial support for more than two academic years nor a Ph.D. student for more than four academic years. In addition to Assistantships, the Department of Geology offers fellowship and scholarship support to graduate students on a competitive basis. Funding to help offset expenses of thesis or dissertation research and presentation of research results at national and/or regional professional meetings is available. The University also offers fellowships, research awards, and others means of financial support at both the Masters and Ph.D. levels: Graduate financial assistance.  Master of Science (Thesis Option) Summary of Degree Requirements At least 30 semester hours of graduate credit, no more than 6 of which are awarded for Independent Research (GEOL 591) and no more than 6 of which are awarded for Thesis (GEOL 599) research. Cumualtive grade point average of at least 3.00 out of 4.00. At least 15 semester hours credit in courses numbered 500 or above (including thesis and independent research hours, which must be completed at SIUC. At least 9 semester hours after admission to the degree program. At least 9 semester hours taught on the Carbondale campus or in an approved residency center. At least 21 semester hours of graduate course work graded A, B, or C. At least one-half of the required number of course hours earned at SIUC. Courses to be applied to the degree taken within six years of conferring the degree. Transfer credit taken at another institution or as an unclassified student approved by the dean of the Graduate School. A copy of an approved thesis submitted to the Graduate School. Comprehensive final oral examination and defense of thesis. Submission of departmental clearance form. In order to maintain active status, students who leave the university after completion of all program requirements other than the thesis must register for GEOL 601, Continuing Enrollment, each semester until the thesis has been submitted to the Graduate School. Additional detail concerning these degree requirements can be found on the Graduate School home pages. Master of Arts (Non-Thesis Option) Summary of Degree Requirements The Master of Arts Degree (non-thesis option) is open to post baccalaureate students with degrees in earth science, geology, or related fields. Two fields of concentration are available: Geospatial Analysis and Environmental Geology. It is intended to expand the knowledge, skills, and specialized training in geological topics. The required course work is thirty (30) graduate credit hours in geology. The courses taken will be determined by interests of the individual student, but must be approved by the student's three-person departmental advisory committee. At least three (3) credits of GEOL 591 Individual Research in Geology must be taken. Recommended Courses for the Geospatial Analysis Concentration GEOL 420 (3) Petroleum Geology GEOL 428 (3) Paleoecology and Environments of Deposition GEOL 434 (3) Engineering and Environmental Geophysics GEOL 435 (3) Solid-Earth Geophysics GEOL 466 (3) Tectonics GEOL 474 (3) Geomorphology GEOL 476 (3) Quaternary Geology GEOL 478 (3) Advanced Environmental Geology GEOL 481 (3) Sedimentary Basin Analysis GEOL 484 (3) Geologic Remote Sensing GEOL 526 (3) Advanced Topics in Applied Paleoecology GEOL 535 (3) Advanced Topics in Geophysics GEOL 536 (3) Earthquake Seismology GEOL 538 (3) Gravity and Magnetism GEOL 576 (3) Coastal Geomorphology and Sedimentology GEOL 577 (3) Advanced topics in Surficial Geology GEOL 578 (3) Fluvial Geomorphology GEOL 579 (3) Soil Geomorphology GEOL 591 (3) Individual Research in Geology GEOG 418 (3) Introduction to Geographic Information Systems GEOG 420 (3) Advanced Geographic Information Systemes Recommended Courses for the Environmental Geology Concentration GEOL 417 (3) Isotope Geochemistry GEOL 418 (3) Low Temperature Geochemistry GEOL 421 (3) Organic Geochemistry GEOL 420 (3) Petroleum Geology GEOL 428 (3) Paleoecology and Environments of Deposition GEOL 434 (3) Engineering and Environmental Geophysics GEOL 470 (3) Hydrogeology GEOL 470 (3) Hydrogeology Laboratory GEOL 474 (3) Geomorphology GEOL 476 (3) Quaternary Geology GEOL 478 (3) Advanced Environmental Geology GEOL 481 (3) Sedimentary Basin Analysis GEOL 484 (3) Geologic Remote Sensing GEOL 517 (3) Advanced Topics in Geochemistry GEOL 526 (3) Advanced Topics in Applied Paleoecology GEOL 527 (3) Micropaleontology GEOL 576 (3) Coastal Geomorphology and Sedimentology GEOL 577 (3) Advanced Topics in Surficial Geology GEOL 578 (3) Fluvial Geomorphology GEOL 579 (3) Soil Geomorphology GEOL 591 (3) Individual Research in Geology GEOG 418 (3) Introduction to Geographic Information Systems GEOG 420 (3) Advanced Geographic Information Systemes Additional detail concerning these degree requirements can be found on the Graduate School home pages.   Graduate Certificate in Earth Sciences Summary of Degree Requirements The Certificate in Earth Science with an optional concentration in Geospatial Analysis or Environmental Geology is open to post-baccalaureate students with degrees in earth science, geology, or related fields. It is intended to expand the knowledge, skills, and specialized training in geological topics. The course work will include eighteen (18) graduate credit hours in Geology. While there are no specific courses required, the courses taken will be determined by the student and the departmental Coordinating Committee. For the concentrations in Geospatial Analysis and Environmental Geology, please refer to the above recommended course lists for the Non-Thesis Masters program. Students must maintain a B average in graduate courses and must follow the rules of the Certificate Policy established by the Graduate School. Maximum time allowed to complete the requirements for the certificate is five years. Return to Geology home page. Return to Graduate School Catalog home page. Return to Graduate School home page. 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