2023-24 Academic Catalog

Geosciences

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.msstate.edu.

Department Head: Dr. John C. Rodgers, III
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Andrew Mercer
Online Programs Coordinator: Dr. Mike Brown
Hilbun 108
Box 5448
Mississippi State, MS  39762
Telephone: 662-325-3915
On-Campus Programs
Email: tina@geosci.msstate.edu
Online Learning Programs
E-mail: yjacobs@geosci.msstate.edu

Admission

The Department of Geosciences offers graduate study leading to the Master of Science degree in Geoscience and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Earth and Atmospheric Science. An applicant to the program must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 on a scale of 4.00 for entry to the master’s program and at least 3.00 at both the undergraduate and graduate level for entry to the doctoral program.

Although helpful, an undergraduate background in Geosciences is not a prerequisite for admission into the M.S. in Geoscience program. Applicants to the master’s program in the Broadcast or Professional Meteorology concentrations are required to have passed Calculus I prior to arrival on campus, and the completion of Calculus II will greatly improve the chances of being accepted. All other master’s applicants are recommended to have completed Calculus I.

Applicants to the doctoral program are required to have completed a thesis-based master’s degree and have a background in one of the departmental emphasis areas. All applicants for the Doctoral program must identify a mentor (dissertation supervisor) prior to acceptance into the program. Applicants who have not completed a thesis or are from other science disciplines will be considered on a case-by-case basis through a petition, initiated by the identified mentor, to the department’s graduate faculty. The doctoral degree student should anticipate a four-year program of study. Depending on the applicant’s emphasis area of interest, Calculus I and II may be required for admission.

The application package must contain the application for admission; at least three letters of reference; official bachelor’s degree transcript; official transcripts from all colleges attended after earning the bachelor’s degree (both undergraduate and graduate work); and a statement of purpose. A student admitted to the Broadcast Meteorology concentration can only begin studies in the fall term. Applicants desiring assistantship funding consideration are strongly advised to submit the assistantship application no later than January 15.

Provisional Admission

An applicant who has not fully met the GPA requirement stipulated by the University may be admitted on a provisional basis. The provisionally-admitted student is eligible for a change to regular status after receiving a 3.00 GPA on the first 9 hours of graduate courses at Mississippi State University (with no grade lower than a C). The first 9 hours of graduate courses must be within the student's program of study. Courses with an S grade, transfer credits, or credits earned while in Unclassified status cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student shall be dismissed from the graduate program. Academic departments may set higher standards for students to fulfill provisional requirements; a student admitted with provisional status should contact the graduate coordinator for the program’s specific requirements. While in the provisional status, a student is not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship.

Academic Performance

The Department of Geosciences follows the Graduate School guidelines regarding academic dismissal from an academic program. Additionally, a grade of U given for thesis or dissertation research hours, three grades of C, or a grade of D or F for any regular class will result in dismissal from the program. A student in the Broadcast Meteorology concentration who earns a C in the first year of graduate study will be required to take a proficiency exam in the summer before the second year. Unsatisfactory performance on the exam will result in dismissal from the program.

Concentration Descriptions

  • The Applied Meteorology Program is designed for individuals with meteorological, environmental or hazards-related careers. This non-thesis concentration is offered through distance education.
  • The Broadcast Meteorology concentration is designed for students intending to pursue meteorology careers in media. This non-thesis concentration combines meteorology coursework with the Practicum in Broadcast Meteorology sequence.
  • Environmental Geosciences is a non-thesis concentration intended for students interested in a broader cross-section of the geosciences. It is offered both on-campus and through distance education.
  • The Geography concentration is a thesis-based program appropriate for students interested in studying the spatial distribution of cultural and physical features across the Earth’s surface. It can be tailored toward specific interests in either human or physical geography.
  • The Geology concentration is thesis-based and intended to prepare students for careers in professional geology or further graduate study.
  • The concentration in Geospatial Sciences is a thesis-based program designed to prepare students to use geospatial technologies to provide insight into Earth and atmospheric processes.
  • The Professional Meteorology/Climatology concentration is thesis-based and is intended to prepare students for forecasting careers or further graduate study.
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