Prospective Graduate Students

The Department of Geology and Geological Engineering offers graduate students quality class room education and state of the art research opportunities in a variety of geologic and engineering areas. The Research links provide information on current research and resources within the program. Opportunities also exist for interdisciplinary research with faculty in other university departments, and with research scientists at the Mississippi Minerals Research Institute and the USDA National Sedimentation Laboratory located here in Oxford.

Graduate Degrees Offered

The Department of Geology and Geological Engineering offers studies in the following graduate degrees:

  • Master of Science in Engineering Science with emphasis in Geology
  • Master of Science in Engineering Science with emphasis in Geological Engineering
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Science with emphasis in Geology
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Science with emphasis in Geological Engineering

The Department also supports graduate degrees in Hydrology:

  • Master of Science in Engineering Science with emphasis in Hydrology
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Science with emphasis in Hydrology

Geology/Geological Engineering Distinctions

Geology

Geology is the branch of science that studies a wide variety of Earth systems including (1) the origins and history of the Earth, (2) extraction of earth resources such as coal, oil and natural gas, (3) natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanism and landslides, (4) global climate change, (5) hydrology, and (6) interactions between the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.

Geological Engineering

Geological engineering combines the two challenging disciplines of geology and engineering, which makes for a rewarding career. In planning a construction project, the "geologist" part looks for the most stable, ideal piece of land for building. The location is identified by examining factors like the slope of the land and the composition of the soil and rocks beneath the surface to assess erosion or unstable conditions. The geological engineer then relies on his or her engineering training to evaluate how the structure to be built will affect the environment as well as the structural design considerations related to data from analyzing the geology of the site.

Admissions and Other Information

Information regarding admissions for both Geology and Geological Engineering is available on the School of Engineering's Prospective Graduate Students webpage. For information on fellowships, teaching assistantships, or research assistantships, contact the Department directly.

Additional information concerning graduate degree requirements and deadlines can be found on the Graduate School webpage. International students should visit the International Programs Office webpage.

Financial Support Available for Graduate Students

Research Assistantships are available.

These positions are usually for the academic year and the summer too. These are awarded depending upon your interests, currently available research funding, and the recommendations of your advisor and faculty investigator.

Teaching Assistantships are available.

Be sure to note your interest these with your admission application. The support available varies from semester to semester. A typical load for a TA position is three sections of labs, but at times, a fourth section may be available for students interested in additional support. For 2009-2010, our anticipated support levels are shown for a nonresident student in the table below.

  • Three sections of lab TA per semester: $5250.00

  • Optional intro lab, if available per semester: $1500.00

  • Tuition waiver per semester: $2551.50

  • Nonresident benefit per semester: $12,982.50

  • Total Academic Year Benefit: $25,965.00

Summer funding may be available for teaching and or research assistantships.

Students will also benefit from the Health Insurance Program for graduate students.