The M.A. in Geoscience program consists of course work pertaining to a specific core group of courses supplemented by various electives. All candidates will complete a five-course core. The core introduces the student to each of the earth spheres, thereby providing a basis for further study and specialization. It consists of courses in meteorology, oceanography, the field as a classroom, and environmental geology. Earth Systems, emphasizing the interaction of the various components, is taken last as a capstone experience. Students selecting the non-thesis option will be required to complete Geometrics in addition to the core. Additional course work will be individually designed by the student in conjunction with his or her committee. In general, these courses will be combined graduate and undergraduate courses at the 300 level or above. Each course syllabus will detail the specific requirements for graduate students. Students may take up to six (thesis option) or nine (non-thesis option) elective credits outside the department. As a component of each course taken within the department (both core and elective), candidates are required to write a three-to-five page essay relating the content of five courses to other courses chosen either by the student or assigned by the faculty member teaching the course. One purpose of this requirement is to emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of the degree program. A second purpose is to enhance the student's written communication skills. A department file of essays will be maintained for each candidate so that the department can monitor a student's progress.
ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM
In addition to meeting the general requirements of the West Chester University Office of Graduate Studies, students seeking admission to the Department of Geology and Astronomy should have either an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, a combined score of 1000 on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination, or the permission of the Department's Graduate Review Committee to enroll.
Applications should be submitted to the University's Office of Graduate Studies, which will forward the application to the Department's Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Coordinator, in turn, will present the application to the Department's Graduate Review Committee. An applicant may be called for an interview at the discretion of the Review Committee. The Committee will select applicants to begin the program based on the strength of the application and the interview, if one is scheduled. All graduate students in the degree program must complete an introductory course in geology and one in astronomy before being accepted as fully matriculated students. Students will receive credit for these courses but may not use them toward the total number of credits required for graduation.
DEGREE CANDIDACY
All students must apply for degree candidacy after 12 to 15 credits of course work. Once each semester, the department will meet to consider degree candidates. Elevation to degree candidacy will be decided on the basis of a majority vote of the department faculty. Students must show reasonable progress toward achieving the stated goals and objectives of the program in order to be accepted as a degree candidate. Those admitted to degree candidacy will be notified in writing by the Graduate Coordinator. Students who are denied degree candidacy will be notified in writing by the Graduate Coordinator as to the deficiency or deficiencies and may reapply after one year for a final time. Prior to seeking degree candidacy, each student must select a three-member committee. Students in the non-thesis option choose a major advisor and two others who constitute an advisory committee. This committee approves the student's course work, evaluates the portfolio, and conducts the oral comprehensive examination. Students pursuing the thesis option, select a major thesis advisor and two others who constitute the thesis committee. This committee approves the student's selection of courses, helps develop the thesis proposal, guides the thesis research, approves the thesis, and conducts the oral thesis defense.
THESIS OR NON-THESIS
Degree requirements for the thesis option include 27 credit hours of course work, including the 15-hour core, plus six credits of thesis research. Students choosing this option must submit a thesis proposal that will be approved by the entire department. A student may enroll in ESS 600 Thesis I only after his or her thesis proposal has received department approval. Normally, this will occur after all course work has been completed. The student will enroll in ESS 601 Thesis II in the semester during which the thesis defense will occur. Final program completion consists of a seminar presenting the results of the thesis research and an oral defense of the thesis. The seminar is open to all students and faculty of the university community and advertised at least one week prior to the defense.
Degree requirements for the non-thesis option include 36 credit hours of course work, including the 15-hour core and ESS 521 Geometrics. Students selecting the non-thesis option will be required to assemble a portfolio consisting of five essays. The portfolio will be evaluated by the advisory committee prior to the comprehensive oral exam and assigned a grade of pass or fail. Portfolios receiving a failing grade may be resubmitted a maximum of two additional times within six months of the original portfolio submission. To complete the program, the student must pass a comprehensive oral examination. If the student does not complete the oral examination to the satisfaction of the examining committee, the student may be required to attempt the oral examination a second and final time. The student has the option in this circumstance to expand the examining committee to four members. The additional member must be chosen from the faculty of the Department of Geology and Astronomy. Failure to complete the oral examination successfully disqualifies the student from eligibility for the Master of Arts degree.
CAREER and JOB OUTLOOK (www.bls.gov)
Geoscientists study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. They study the Earth’s geologic past and present by using sophisticated instruments to analyze the composition of earth, rock, and water. Many geoscientists help to search for natural resources such as groundwater, metals, and petroleum. Others work closely with environmental and other scientists to preserve and clean up the environment.
Geoscientists often begin their careers in field exploration or as research assistants or technicians in laboratories or offices. As they gain experience, they get more assignments that are difficult. Eventually, some are promoted to project leader, program manager, or to a senior research position. [And for said positions] A master’s degree is the preferred educational requirement for most [of these] entry-level research positions in private industry, Federal agencies, and State geological surveys. Geoscientists in research positions with the Federal Government or in colleges and universities frequently are required to design programs and write grant proposals in order to fund their research. Geoscientists in consulting jobs face similar pressures to market their skills and write proposals so that they will have steady work. However, those who choose to work in management will spend more time scheduling, budgeting, and reporting to top executives or clients.
Graduates with a master’s degree should have excellent opportunities, especially in the management, scientific and technical consulting industry and in the engineering services industries. In addition to demand resulting from job growth, replacing those who leave the occupation for retirement, managerial positions, or other careers will generate a number of jobs. With relatively few students earning master’s degrees in the geosciences, job openings may exceed the number of qualified job seekers over the 2006-16 projection decade. However, geoscientists with doctoral degrees, who primarily work as college and university faculty or do basic research, may face competition. There are few openings for new graduates with only a bachelor’s degree in geoscience, but these graduates may have favorable opportunities in related occupations, such as high school science teacher or science technician.
There will be fewer opportunities for geoscientists in Federal and State government, mostly because of budget constraints at key agencies, such as the USGS, and the trend among governments toward contracting out to consulting firms instead of hiring new government employees. However, departures of geoscientists who retire or leave the government for other reasons will result in some job openings over the next decade.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
Curriculum
I. Core courses (required) (10 semester hours)
ESS 523, 536, 547, and 596
II. Courses for precollege teachers (26 semester hours)
ESS 530 and 570, plus 20 semester hours of electives approved by their committee, at least 11 of which must be ESS or SCE courses.
III. Courses for professional geologists (26 semester hours)
ESS 521 and 539, plus 20 semester hours of electives approved by their committee, at least 11 of which must be ESS or SCE courses.
All students complete a project submitted as part of the degree candidacy application (after completing nine credits towards degree), and a final written project that is presented at the geoscience seminar.