Applications for Fall semester are due by February 15th.
- Graduate College Application
- See the faculty directory to view teaching and research information. Most faculty have their own website address listed under their email address. You are encouraged to contact faculty members directly regarding their research.
- See information about Graduate College Admissions.
- Take courses without yet being accepted into any program at UVM in the UVM Continuing Education Program.
- Direct specific program inquiries to the Geology Graduate Program Coordinator, Nico Perdrial.
Specific Requirements
Requirements for Admission to Graduate Studies for the Degree of Master of Science
Bachelor's degree in geology or related field from an accredited institution with year-long courses in chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics preferred. The M.S. program is also open to undergraduate majors in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, or mathematics who have accumulated 12 semester hours of coursework in geology. Required remedial course-work in geology, if any, will be established by the student and the faculty during the admission process and during advising at the beginning of the first semester.
- Strong undergraduate record, letters of recommendation, and satisfactory basic GRE scores.
- Applicants should identify a potential faculty advisor (or advisors) and include research interests in the application statement.
- Application to the program is a competitive process and admission is dependent upon available Teaching and/or Research Fellowships.
Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Science
Advancement to candidacy requires satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination includes both a written and oral 1) research thesis proposal and 2) progress report during the second and third semesters of enrollment, respectively.
Minimum Degree Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
Successful writing, oral presentation, and defense of a research thesis are required. Satisfactory completion will be determined by the candidate’s thesis committee. Advanced courses in geology must total at least 30 semester hours, including at least one 300-level course and six to nine credit hours for thesis research. A minimum of 15 graded credits used in compilation of the graduate GPA must be taken in residence at UVM. Advanced courses in related sciences are encouraged and may be substituted for some selected geology courses on approval by the departmental advisor. With the prior approval of their department and the Graduate College, students may apply one 100/200 level, three-credit undergraduate course towards their graduate program. A student's advisor must petition the Graduate College for approval before the student enrolls in the course. Consult individual programs for further limitations. Under no circumstances will a course numbered below 100 be applicable to a master's program.