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MA in Earth Sciences

Outline of Study

Within the first four weeks of initial registration, the candidate, in consultation with the advisor and an Entrance Interview Committee, prepares an outline of study, which is submitted to the department for approval. The outline indicates the courses the candidate expects to take, including undergraduate courses for those areas in which the candidate is deficient.

Course Requirements

Eight graduate-level courses (32 credits) are required, of which at least four must be Earth Sciences courses, including at least two non-research Earth Sciences courses (other than GRS ES 699). Three of the eight required courses can be research courses associated with thesis research.

Thesis and Thesis Defense

A written thesis, approved by at least three members of the department (usually the student’s advisor and two mutually agreed upon second readers), must be submitted to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. All MA candidates must give an oral presentation and defend their research results in a public forum.

Student Organizations

The Boston University Geological Society (BUGS)

The Boston University Geological Society (BUGS) is an organization of earth sciences students with activities complementing the classroom study of earth sciences. In addition to regular meetings and frequent fundraising events, BUGS organizes field trips, sports teams, and external lectures.

Sigma Xi

Eligible students may be elected to the Society of Sigma Xi.

Courses

  • CAS ES 500 Field Geology
  • CAS ES 503 Structural Petrology
  • CAS ES 505 Plate Tectonics and Kinematics
  • CAS ES 511 Groundwater Hydrogeology
  • CAS ES 514 Dynamic Landsurface Hydrology
  • CAS ES 522 Metamorphic Petrology
  • CAS ES 533 Quantitative Geomorphology
  • CAS ES 534 Ice-Age Systems
  • CAS ES 541 Coastal Processes
  • CAS ES 543 Estuaries and Nearshore Systems
  • CAS ES 545 Tropical Oceanography of the Caribbean Sea
  • CAS ES 546 Tropical Oceanography of the Caribbean Sea: Applications and Research
  • CAS ES 561 Mechanics of Earthquakes
  • CAS ES 571 Geochemical Modeling
  • CAS ES 573 Analytical Methods in Geochemistry
  • CAS ES 576 Aquatic Geochemistry
  • CAS ES 581 Solid Earth Geophysics
  • CAS ES 587, 588 Seminar in Earth Sciences
  • GRS ES 611 Glacial and Pleistocene Geology
  • GRS ES 623 Marine Biogeochemistry
  • GRS ES 640 Marine Geology
  • GRS ES 643 Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
  • GRS ES 652 Experimental Analysis of Marine Symbiosis: Organism-Sediment Relationships
  • GRS ES 660 Geodynamics I
  • GRS ES 671 Introduction to Geochemistry
  • GRS ES 681 Geological Record of Global Change
  • GRS ES 683 Geodynamics II Fluids and Fluid Transport
  • GRS ES 699 Teaching College Earth Sciences I
  • GRS ES 701 Quantitative Methods for the Earth Sciences I: Mechanics of Earth Materials
  • GRS ES 702 Quantitative Methods for the Earth Sciences II: Analysis and Modeling of Geological Processes
  • GRS ES 711 Fluvial Geomorphology
  • GRS ES 712 Laboratory and Field Hydrogeology
  • GRS ES 714 Advanced Groundwater Hydrogeology
  • GRS ES 732 Geology of Continental Margins
  • GRS ES 733 Advanced Desert Geomorphology
  • GRS ES 742 Coastal Dynamics
  • GRS ES 751 Advanced Paleoceanography
  • GRS ES 762 Nonmarine Terrigenous Clastic Deposits and Processes
  • GRS ES 771 Isotope Earth Science
  • GRS ES 781 Methods of Seismology
  • GRS ES 783 Climate-Tectonic Linkages

Advanced Topics

Hours arranged. 4 cr.

  • GRS ES 830 Advanced Topics in Surface Processes
  • GRS ES 831 Advanced Topics in Tectonics
  • GRS ES 832 Advanced Topics in Paleoclimatology
  • GRS ES 833 Advanced Topics in Seismology and Geophysics
  • GRS ES 834 Advanced Topics in Geochemical Cycles
  • GRS ES 835 Advanced Topics in Marine Geosciences
  • GRS ES 836 Advanced Topics in Igneous and Metamorphic Geology

Directed Study or Research

Hours arranged. Variable cr.

  • GRS ES 911, 912 Geomorphology and Hydrogeology
  • GRS ES 913, 914 Environmental and Urban Geology
  • GRS ES 921, 922 Crystallography and Mineralogy
  • GRS ES 925, 926 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
  • GRS ES 927, 928 Structural Geology and Tectonics
  • GRS ES 931, 932 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
  • GRS ES 941, 942 Coastal and Marine Geology
  • GRS ES 951, 952 Paleontology
  • GRS ES 961, 962 Geophysics
  • GRS ES 963, 964 Seismology
  • GRS ES 971, 972 Geochemistry

Related Courses

A number of related courses in mathematics and natural science taught by other departments may be selected for graduate credit as part of the MA and PhD programs in Earth Sciences. The following courses are recommended; those marked with an asterisk (*) require a petition for graduate credit.

Astronomy

  • CAS AS 591, 592    Introduction to Space Physics I, II

Biology

  • CAS BI 303    Environmental Ecology*
  • CAS BI 504    Evolution
  • CAS BI 617     Lakes and Rivers
  • CAS BI 666    Marine Ecology

Chemistry

  • CAS CH 351, 352    Physical Chemistry*
  • CAS CH 354    Physical Chemistry Laboratory*

Geography

  • CAS GG 502     Advanced Topics in Remote Sensing
  • CAS GG 517      Models for Hydrologic Analysis
  • GRS GG 845    Topics in GIS

Mathematics

  • CAS MA 411    Advanced Calculus*
  • CAS MA 561    Methods of Applied Mathematics I
  • CAS MA 562    Methods of Applied Mathematics II
  • CAS MA 575    Applied Regression and Analysis of Variance I
  • CAS MA 576    Applied Regression and Analysis of Variance II

Physics

  • CAS PY 371     Electronics for Scientists*
  • CAS PY 405    Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I*
  • CAS PY 406    Electromagnetic Fields and Waves II*
  • CAS PY 408    Intermediate Mechanics*

Cooperative Program with Boston College

A listing and descriptions of available courses offered at Boston College as part of the cooperative program may be obtained in the departmental office. Cross-registration is designated by the symbols XRG.

Related Bulletin Pages

Beyond the Bulletin