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Master of Science Degree |
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The
Department of Geological Sciences first offered a Masters degree in
1972. The program has concentrated in the applied aspects of
geological sciences and has placed many of its graduates in
excellent positions in hydrogeology and engineering geology.
Many other students pursued training in structural geology,
stratigraphy and sedimentology, geochemistry, and petrology.
Numerous graduates have earned Ph.D.'s at leading American
universities.
The pages below outline the requirements for the graduate programs
in Geological Science. Click on any of these links to gain a
better understanding of the graduate program.
Section 1 |Application for
Admission| |Financial Assistance| |Admission
Categories and Conditions|
Section 2 |Special
Action Admission| |Make-Up Program|
|Advisement|
Section 3 |Writing
Proficiency Requirement| |Advancement
to Candidacy|
Section 4 |The Master's
Degree Program| |Course Selection|
Section 5 |Additional Information| |Thesis
or Comprehensive Examination|
Thesis Abstracts
Thesis Titles
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| The Master of Science degree in
Geological Sciences prepares students for professional employment in
industry and government, advanced study toward the Ph. D., or
teaching at community colleges. The Cal State LA MS degree has
two degree OPTIONS:
I:
Geology Option
II:
Environmental Hydrogeology Option
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| Application
for Admission |
| Students with a bachelor's degree from
another campus who desire admission to Cal State L.A.'s graduate geology
program must submit: |
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(1)
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an application for admission to the University
with the appropriate application fee, |
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(2)
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a Departmental
application, |
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(3)
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official transcripts showing all past
academic work sent directly to the Admissions Office and the Department
of Geological Sciences from every college or university previously
attended, and |
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(4)
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three letters of recommendation sent
to the Department of Geological Sciences. Application should be made
at least three months before classes start. Applications are available
from the Department of Geological Sciences or the Admissions Office,
Administration 101. Early submission of applications is encouraged. |
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(5)
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Three letters of recommendation sent
directly to the Department of Geological Sciences. |
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(6)
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An Advisor’s consent form indicating
that you have contacted one of our faculty members and that he/she
consents to be your research advisor. |
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(7)
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A written essay about the your
background, desired area of study and career objectives. |
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Application
should be made at least three months before classes start.
Application forms are available from the Department of Geological
Sciences or the University Admissions Office. Early submission
is encouraged.
Cal State
L.A. graduates submit Part B of the University graduate
application (Part A is not necessary) as well as the application to
the Department. The Department will submit a GS-1 form in the
student’s behalf.
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| The
University has different requirements and application filing
deadlines for the admission of international (foreign visa)
students. Verification of English proficiency through the
TOEFL examination requirement, financial resources, and academic
performance are all important considerations in admission.
Academic records from foreign institutions must be on file at least
eight weeks before registration for the first quarter and, if not in
English, must be accompanied by certified English translations.
Application filing periods for international applicants differ from
those for domestic applicants because of additional time required in
evaluating records and preparing necessary documents for the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). |
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| Application filing periods are published
with the University Application |
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| Financial
Assistance |
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Most
Geology graduate students are employed full or part-time off campus.
The Department maintains a directory of employers of
geologists and hydrogeologists in southern California and is
prepared to assist in locating employment. Full-time teaching or
research assistantships are NOT available through the Department.
A small number of Graduate Teaching positions may be
available to those with demonstrated teaching abilities; contact the
Department chair for information.
The Department has four scholarships for students of proven
merit: Martin Stout Scholarship, Robert Stone Scholarship, Robert
Bean Scholarship, and the Chance-Dana Award. These scholarships are presented at the annual awards banquet
each spring quarter.
Graduate students may be
eligible for Graduate Equity Fellowships of the Forgivable Loan
Program. Information about this and other financial support is
available at the Office of Financial Assistance, Student Affairs
Building, Room 124. To be eligible for a scholarship, an application
must be filed with the Office of Scholarships
and Financial Assistance in the Student Affairs Building Room
124. |
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| Admission
Categories and Conditions |
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Department and University admission requirements
are different. The University requires possession of a bachelor's
degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum 2.5
grade point average (GPA) in the last 90 quarter units (60 semester
units) attempted. The Department requires a minimum 2.75 GPA in the
last 90 quarter units attempted and completion of upper division course
work that is substantially equivalent to that required for a Bachelor
of Science degree in geology at Cal State L.A.
The
Environmental Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology Options are also
available to students with science or engineering BS degrees in
fields other than Geology. For
these students, course equivalency requirements may vary.
The
University and Department differences in requirements and other
circumstances produce four admission categories:
(A)
graduate
classified,
(B)
graduate conditionally
classified standing for students without a BS in geology ,
(C)
graduate-conditionally classified for students
with grade point deficiency , and
(D)
Special Action standing for students with a GPA of less than
2.50. (Rarely granted).
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| A. Classified
Standing |
| Classified standing indicates that a
student meets all University and Department admission requirements
and is eligible for admission to the graduate degree curriculum. This
status is granted by the School dean upon completion of all requirements
listed below and upon recommendation of the Department: |
| (1) |
A GPA of 2.75 or higher in the last 90 quarter units
attempted. |
| (2) |
Submission of a GS8 form by the Department to the
College dean certifying that all departmental admission
requirements, procedures, and prerequisites have been completed.
These requirements include acceptable GRE sores, positive letters of
recommendation, and appropriate undergraduate coursework verified
with transcripts. |
| (3) |
Submission of an approved program developed in
consultation with the graduate advisor. |
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B. Conditionally
Classified Standing for Students without a BS in Geology
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Entering post baccalaureate
students who meet all other University and Department admission
requirements, but who lack an appropriate BS degree or lower
and/or upper division science and math courses may be granted
conditional classified standing. These students must
complete a Make-up Program consisting of undergraduate
courses specified by the graduate advisor before beginning work on
graduate-level courses. (See the Make-up Program courses.)
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| C. Graduate-Conditionally
Classified Standing for Students with GPA Deficiency |
| International
students and those students with a GPA between 2.5 and 2.75 for the
last 90 quarter units who meet all other University and Department
admission requirements, may be admitted with conditional classified
standing.
These students must complete 16 quarter units of qualifying
courses on a conditional program with a minimum 3.0 GPA. These
qualifying courses, selected in consultation with the graduate
advisor, must be 400-level courses.
Transfer and extension units don’t count.
Prior to enrolling in these courses, students must submit
their conditional program to the College dean for approval.
Failure to achieve a 3.0 GPA on the conditional program
permanently disqualifies the student from the program.
In
extraordinary circumstances and with the prior approval of the
Department graduate adviser, Department chair, and College dean, a
student on a conditional program may enroll in one graduate
(500-level) course before attaining classified graduate standing.
This course may not be part of the 16-unit conditional
program.
Continue with Graduate Program Section
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