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Applications are no longer being accepted as of December 6, 2025.

Specializations

Geology

Students must complete an MS or PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

  • MS students: 20-24 hours of regular course work selected from the GEOL and GEOS graduate-level course lists and a thesis.
  • PhD students: at least 32 hours of regular course work (12 after completion of the MS degree) selected from the GEOL and GEOS graduate-level course lists and a dissertation.
Hydrogeology

Students must complete an MS or PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

  • MS students: 20-24 hours of regular course work and a thesis. At least 14 hours must be selected from the Hydrogeology course list and at least 10 must be core courses in the Hydrogeology curriculum.
  • PhD students: at least 32 hours of regular course work (12 after completion of the MS degree) with 16 hours selected from the Hydrogeology course list and a dissertation. Core courses include GEOL818, GEOL870, GEOL872, GEOL888, GEOL889, GEOL985, GEOL986, GEOL987, and GEOL988. Additional courses are offered jointly through other departments.
Great Plains Studies

Students are admitted to the specialization by the Great Plains Studies Specialization Advisory Committee after admission to the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

  • MS students: nine credit hours of Great Plains Studies courses outside the student's major department.
  • PhD students: 15 credit hours of Great Plains Studies courses outside the student's major department. The student's thesis or dissertation must be relevant to the Great Plains and at least one member of the Examining or Supervisory Committee must be a Fellow of the Center for Great Plains Studies.
Meteorology/Climatology

Students must complete an MS or PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

  • MS students: 20-24 hours of regular course work selected from the Meteorology-Climatology course list and a thesis.
  • PhD students: at least 32 hours of regular course work (12 after completion of the MS degree) selected from the METR and GEOS graduate course lists and a dissertation.
Geoscience Education

Students must complete an MS or PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Students who already completed an undergraduate and/or Master’s degree in Geoscience* or closely related field are eligible to pursue this interdisciplinary specialization.

  • MS students: 20-24 hours of regular course work selected from the Geoscience, Educational Psychology, Teaching and Learning, and Psychology graduate-level course list.
  • PhD students: at least 32 hours of regular course work (12 after completion of the MS degree) selected from the aforementioned graduate-level course list.

* According to National Research Council, this includes: Geology, Earth Science, Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, Climate Science, Ocean Science, Marine Science, and Environmental Science

Water Resources Planning and Management

MS students: 9 hours of water resources-related courses from departments outside the student's major field and approved by the Water Resources Advisory Committee as well as a thesis oriented toward water resources planning and management.

Degree Completion Plans

Graduate courses (listed as 800 and higher):