Geology and Geological Engineering Department

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Contact Information

Dr. Laurie Anderson
Department of Geology and Geological Engineering
Mineral Industries 307
(605) 394-2461
E-mail: Laurie.Anderson@sdsmt.edu

Geology Faculty

Professors Duke, Paterson and Price; Associate Professor Uzunlar; Assistant Professor Terry; Professors Emeritus Fox, Lisenbee and Redden.

Geological Engineering Faculty

Professors Davis and Stetler; Assistant Professors Sawyer and Katzenstein; Professor Emeritus Rahn

Geology and Geological Engineering

The Department of Geology and Geological Engineering offers advanced study leading to an M.S. degree in geology and geological engineering or a Ph.D. degree in geology and geological engineering. Students must elect to pursue either a Geology Specialization or a Geological Engineering Specialization, each of which has different background requirements and program requirements. The available coursework and current faculty expertise support the following areas of concentration. Students take a core of required courses supplemented by electives determined by the student‘s committee based on the intended field of study:

1. Energy and Mineral Resources
2. Environmental/Exploration Geophysics
3. Ground Water / Environmental Studies
4. Mineral Deposits/Mineralogy/Petrology
5. Sedimentation/Stratigraphy
6. Paleontology*
7. Structural Geology/Tectonics
8. Geomechanics/Engineering geology

* Ph.D. only. Students concentrating in Paleontology at the Master‘s level should apply for the separate M.S. in Paleontology.

Background Requirements for M.S. and Ph.D.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants except School of Mines graduates. The TOEFL exam is required for students whose native language is not English.

Geology Specialization

1. All incoming students are expected to present a full year each of college-level Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry as part of their undergraduate record. Deficiencies in these areas must be remedied by taking the necessary coursework prior to or in the first year of enrollment in the graduate program.
2. All incoming students are expected to have completed courses in, or to develop proficiency in, the following areas. Additional subjects may be required by the student‘s graduate committee depending on the student‘s area of concentration. The student and the graduate committee will arrange in writing how these requirements can best be met.
   
   • Physical Geology
   • Mineralogy
   • Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
   • Petrology
   • Structural Geology
   • Field Geology

Geological Engineering Specialization

1. All incoming students are expected to present three semesters of Calculus and one semester of Differential Equations, as well as two semesters each of Physics and Chemistry, as part of their undergraduate record. Deficiencies in these areas must be remedied by taking the necessary coursework prior to or in the first year of enrollment in the graduate program.
2. All incoming students are expected to have completed courses in, or to develop proficiency in, the following areas. Additional subjects may be required by the student‘s graduate committee depending on the student‘s area of concentration. The student and the graduate committee will arrange in writing how these requirements can best be met.
   • Physical Geology or Geology for Engineers
   • Mineralogy
   • Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
   • Structural Geology
   • Statics
   • Mechanics of Materials
   • Fluid Mechanics

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