Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 SDSM&T Academic Catalog 
    
2021-2022 SDSM&T Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Geology and Geological Engineering, MS


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Contact Information

Dr. Laurie Anderson, Department Head 
Department of Geology and Geological Engineering
Mineral Industries 303
(605) 394-2461
E-mail: Laurie.Anderson@sdsmt.edu

MS in Geology and Geological Engineering

The MS in Geology and Geological Engineering offers two emphases: a Geology emphasis and a Geological Engineering emphasis.

The thesis option is the only option to which students are admitted.

SD Mines students admitted to the Accelerated MS option may apply up to 9 credits of 500/600 level courses taken as an undergraduate to both the BS and the MS degrees. Students may use 400-level courses only if 500-level versions of these courses are not available.

For more information on this degree see the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering  page under the Graduate Programs Listing in this catalog.

Degree requirements for thesis option


Distribution of Credits


Core requirements: 1 credit
Research requirements: 6 credits
Elective requirements: 23 credits
Total credits: 30

A minimum of 15 credits of the 30 required must be taken at the 600-level or above.

Core requirements


A research planning course must be taken during the first fall semester of enrollment. Students in the Geology specialization take GEOL 700 ; students in the Geological Engineering specialization take GEOE 700 .

Research requirements


The completion of a master’s thesis, approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee and the Dean of Graduate Education, is required for this degree.

  • Credits: Credit to be arranged. **
  • OR

  • Credits: Credits to be arranged **
  • ** At least 6 credits of 798 are required.  No more than 6 credits of 798 may be counted toward the degree.

Elective requirements


Geology Emphasis


A minimum of 23 elective credits are required to complete the degree. The candidate’s committee is responsible for assisting the student in developing a program of study that prepares the student for his/her intended field of study. The program of study must include at least twelve (12) credits of electives with a GEOL/GEOE/PALE prefix and at least eleven (11) credits of additional GEOL/GEOE/PALE or other electives.

Geological Engineering Emphasis


A minimum of 23 elective credits are required to complete the degree.  All MS students in the Geological Engineering semphasis are expected to focus in one of the three areas of groundwater/environmental, geomechanics, or energy/mineral resources. The candidate’s committee is responsible for assisting the student in developing a program of study that prepares the student for his/her intended field of study. The program of study must include at least twelve (12) credits of electives with a GEOL/GEOE/PALE prefix and at least eleven (11) credits of additional GEOL/GEOE/PALE or other electives.

Examinations


Candidates for the MS degree must fulfill all degree requirements of the graduate office and the program. Departmental requirements include a written thesis proposal with oral proposal defense. The thesis proposal and its defense will be scheduled through the student’s major advisor and will have the thesis committee’s approval. A final thesis proposal, which may require revisions following the thesis proposal defense, serves as a contract of expectations for the student’s thesis. The thesis proposal defense must take place at least one semester prior to the thesis defense. Students must declare any non-disclosure agreements and associated materials or information as an addendum to the thesis proposal document.

Additional requirements


Any physical specimens (and associated documentation) collected, prepared, and cited in a thesis or dissertation are to be deposited in the Museum of Geology as part of the student’s work. Guidelines and forms are available.

In addition to these degree-specific requirements, the student must also meet the requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees  by the Council of Graduate Education.

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