Master of Arts in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Degree Requirements for the Master of Arts in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Earth and Planetary Sciences include:
- A minimum of 24 semester hours of course work and 6 hours of thesis work as described below. The thesis must be approved by the Graduate Committee, the Graduate Student Advisor, and the Director of University Admissions.
Required Courses
| I. Earth and Planetary Science Core Requirements (12 SH) | ||
| MAT 507 | Applied Statistics 1 | 3 SH |
| OR | ||
| PHY 510 | Thermodynamics | 3 SH |
| PHY 520 | Scientific Methods | 3 SH |
| PHY 530 | Planetary Physics | 3 SH |
| PHY 590 | Seminar in Earth and Planetary Sciences | 3 SH |
| II. Earth and Planetary Options (12 SH) | ||
| 1. Astronomy/Astrophysics Option* | ||
| AST 501 | Observational Techniques | 4 SH |
| AST 505 | Stellar Atmospheres | 4 SH |
| AST 510 | Galactic Structures & Kinematics | 3 SH |
| AST 550 | Advanced Topics in Astronomy | 1-2 SH |
| AND/OR | ||
| PHY 598/599 | Faculty/Student Developed Studies | 1-6 SH |
| 2. Meteorology/Climatology Option* | ||
| MTR 510 | Air-Sea Interaction | 3 SH |
| MTR 521 | Dynamic Meteorology | 3 SH |
| MTR 550 | Advanced Topics in Meteorology | 1-2 SH |
| AND/OR | ||
| PHY 598/599 | Faculty/Student Developed Studies | 1-6 SH |
| 3. Earth and Planetary Sciences Option** | ||
| Select 1 to 2 courses from AST, MTR, ES labels and/or PHY 598/599 Faculty/Student Developed Studies with faculty advisement | ||
| III. Thesis requirement | ||
| EPS 592 | Independent Thesis Research in Earth and Planetary Sciences | 6 SH |
| Total: 30 SH |
||
The thesis approach is culminated in EPS 592 (Independent Thesis Research), a six semester hour requirement. The thesis will be completed under the guidance of an appropriate member of the Physics, Astronomy and Meteorology Department recommended by an advisor with the approval of the Chairperson of the Department and the faculty member concerned. An inter-Department research advisor is also possible.
* One year of calculus-based physics, one year of calculus, and a semester course in Differential Equations are required to enter this program.
** This option may be used by teachers, and they may substitute 6 semester hours of Education (ED 500, ED 501) in lieu of the thesis requirements.
