MS Requirements
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Students holding a BS degree are encouraged to apply directly to the PhD program. They may elect to receive a MS degree while working toward the PhD, but the MS degree is not a prerequisite to the PhD.

Specific Course Requirements for the MS degree are a minimum of 24 credits at the graduate level of which at least 22 must be in courses and seminars.  Of the 22, at least 12 credits must be in Geological Sciences, no more than 4 credits may be in seminars, and at least 4 must be in accepted cognate courses.  Cognate courses are those generally offered by other academic units that serve to broaden expertise in areas related to the candidate’s research.  Research credits may be used in partial fulfillment of these requirements but are excluded from the 22 credits of coursework.

MS students will write a thesis, or a report on a research project, or a publishable scientific paper that is deemed acceptable by two faculty members.  There is no final examination requirement for the MS degree.  MS students admitted into the PhD program will take the PhD preliminary exams in the fourth term of their MS program.

Questions?
Consult Rackham's Masters Students web site for University requirements about MS degrees, such as time limits and diploma application. Or see the Masters Degree information on the Rackham Graduate School Academic Policies web site.

Still more questions? Contact the Geological Sciences Graduate Program Office.

Thesis Submission Deadline
Five copies of the thesis, including the original with the required signatures, must be submitted to the Geological Sciences Graduate Program Office by the last day of classes of the term in which the student plans to receive his/her MS degree.

Masters Thesis Cover Pages
Each Masters Thesis must have the appropriate cover page from the list below.