Program Overview
Geosciences, M.S.
The Master of Science in Geosciences at Middle Tennessee State University equips students for diverse careers in earth sciences, environmental consulting, geospatial and data science, natural resource management, and more across industry, government, and academia. The program requires a minimum of 36 semester hours, typically completed over four semesters, and offers two tracks: Professional Science and Thesis Research.
Program Tracks
- Professional Science Track: This two-year program blends business and science coursework with a professional internship as the capstone experience. It includes 9 credit hours of business classes, 3 credit hours of statistics, 3 credit hours of professional internship experience, and 21 credit hours of Geosciences-specific courses.
- Thesis Research Track: This track centers on the investigation of a scientific research problem. Under faculty mentorship, students define a research question, collect and analyze data, and present their findings both in writing and orally.
Career Opportunities
The Geosciences master's program prepares students for careers in local, state, and federal government agencies; private industry; the non-profit sector; and academic positions supporting spatially related projects and research. Examples of professions boosted by this master's degree include:
- Anthropologist
- Archaeologist
- Engineering geologist
- Environmentalist
- Environmental engineer
- Geochemist
- Geologist
- Geophysicist
- GIS professional
- Historian
- Oceanographer
- Paleontologist
- Petroleum geologist
- Political scientist
- Professor
- Seismologist
- Teacher
Employers of MTSU Alumni
Many MTSU graduates with Geosciences degrees are employed with environmental and geospatial consulting firms, government agencies, and energy and mining companies. Places that our graduates have found work include:
- Tennessee Department of Transportation
- Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- Nashville Metro Planning Department
- Wiser Consultants
- Maine Department of Transportation
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Science in Geosciences requires:
- An earned bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college with a major in geosciences, environmental sciences, or related areas.
- Basic competency in word processing, electronic mail, library retrieval systems, presentation graphics, spreadsheets, and databases.
Application Procedures
Applicants must:
- Submit application with the appropriate application fee.
- Submit official transcripts from all collegiate institutions attended.
- Submit three letters of reference.
- Submit an official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) report. A composite GRE score of 286 is expected for consideration for unconditional admission.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Geosciences requires completion of 36-39 (thesis option) or 36 (non-thesis option) semester hours. All students must satisfactorily complete either a pre-professional internship (3 credit hours) or a thesis (6-9 credit hours).
Curriculum
Professional Sciences Track (36 hours)
- Business Core (15 hours): Includes courses such as Accounting and Legal Issues for Managers, Managerial Communication, Internship Program, Leadership and Motivation, and Probabilistic and Statistical Reasoning.
- Geosciences Courses (21 hours): Includes required courses like Geosciences Colloquium and Quantitative Methods in Geosciences, and electives from a wide range of geosciences and related fields.
Thesis Research Track (36-39 hours)
- Required Geosciences Courses (5 hours): Includes Geosciences Colloquium and Quantitative Methods in Geosciences.
- Electives (25 hours): Students select from a broad range of geosciences and related courses.
- Thesis Research (6-9 hours): Students conduct original research under faculty supervision, culminating in a thesis defense.
Faculty
The Department of Geosciences is composed of experienced faculty members, including:
- Dr. Jeremy W. Aber, Associate Professor
- Dr. Mark Abolins, Professor
- Dr. Warner Cribb, Professor
- Dr. Racha El Kadiri, Associate Professor
- Dr. Alisa Hass, Associate Professor
- Zada Law, Director, Geospatial Research Center
- Dr. Henrique Momm, Professor
- Todd Moore, Professor
- Brittany Price, Assistant Professor
Information
For more details about the Department of Geosciences, its facilities, and programs, please refer to the department's full website.