Geoscience, Master of Science (072)
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/geoweb
Program Coordinator
Jason Polk, jason.polk@wku.edu, (270) 745-5015
The graduate program in Geoscience provides advanced professional training for careers as hydrologists, environmental resource managers, city and regional planners, engineering geologists, geophysical and geochemical geologists, meteorologists and climatologists, earth science teachers, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialists, consultants in business and industry, and professional educators. The program also provides a scientific foundation for graduate students who plan to continue advanced studies leading to the Ph.D.
Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP)
This degree offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in approximately five years. Contact the graduate program coordinator for additional information.
Program Admission
- A competitive GRE score is required with a minimum score of 4.0 on the analytical writing component.
- A resume or CV
- Focused 1-2 page description of research interests, including potential research topics with an identified theme, defined problem, and/or potential questions that demonstrate knowledge of a field of interest within the Geosciences and how these intersect with current faculty expertise within the Department
- Written evidence of an agreement from a graduate faculty member in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences willing to supervise the proposed research project
Graduate School Admission
Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate School admission requirements.
Program Requirements (30 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| GEOS 500 | Geoscience Research and Literacy | 3 |
| GEOS 502 | Geoscience Research Methods | 3 |
| GEOS 520 | Geoscience Statistical Methods | 3 |
| GEOS 599 | Thesis Writing and Research | 6 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 15 hours from GEOS, GEOL, GEOG graduate courses appropriate to support the thesis research project and approved by the thesis director: 1 | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | A maximum of six hours of advisor approved electives that are consistent with the student's research focus may be selected from other departments. |