Geology and Geological Engineering, M.S.

Contact Information

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

Geology Faculty

Professors L. Anderson, Duke, Paterson, Price and Uzunlar; Associate Professor Masterlark; Assistant Professors Belanger, Pagnac and Terry; Professors Emeritus Fox, Lisenbee, Martin and Redden; Adjunct Professors Benton and McCormick; and Haslem Post-doctoral Fellow Boyd.

Geological Engineering Faculty

Professors Davis and Stetler; Assistant Professors Katzenstein and Sawyer; Professor Emeritus Rahn; Adjunct Faculty M. Anderson, Iles, Long and Roggenthen.

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 complete courses determined by the student’s committee based on the intended field of study in:

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. 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.
2. All incoming students are expected to have completed courses in the following areas.
   
   
   • Physical Geology
   • Mineralogy
   • Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
   • Petrology
   • Structural Geology
   • Field Geology

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.

Students with more than three (3) course deficiencies should complete them prior to applying for admission.
 

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.
2. All incoming students are expected to have completed courses in the following areas:
   
   
   • Physical Geology or Geology for Engineers
   • Mineralogy
   • Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
   • Structural Geology
   • Statics
   • Mechanics of Materials
   • Fluid Mechanics

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.

Students with more than three (3) course deficiencies should complete them prior to applying for admission.

Master’s Program

The M.S. thesis option requires 32 credits, including six to eight (6-8) credits fo thesis research and twenty-four to twenty-six (24-26) credits of coursework.  The non-thesis option includes 32 credits of coursework and is available to students at the discretion of the department head.  Candidates for the M.S. degree must fulfill all degree requirements of the graduate office and the program, including an oral comprehensive exam covering course material.