Masters Degree Requirements

The MS degree requires successful completion of 26 credits of course work and 4 hours of thesis credit for a total of 30 hours (minimum). A master’s thesis is required. Master’s students have six calendar years to complete the degree. A master’s committee is comprised of 3 faculty members (minimum).

Required courses: GEOL 5020 and 2 semesters (1 credit/sem) of Distinguished Lecture Series.

Requirements specific to the M.S. in geophysics: Students must complete 6 hours of mathematics and three hours of physics or engineering courses at the graduate level. M.S. students must also take at east 12 hours of 4000- and 5000-evel courses in geophysics. Recommended graduate level mathematics courses include differential equations, numerical analysis, and real and complex variables; in physics and engineering they include classical mechanics, continuum mechanics, elasticity electricity and magnetism. Substitutions for graduate-level geophysics courses may be made with the permission of the candidate’s advisor. Remaining graduate-level course requirements may be made up from courses in physics, engineering, mathematics and geology.

First semester: Student and advisor meet to identify any background deficiencies. Deficiency coursework must be completed with a grade of B or better early in the student’s graduate residence.

Second Semester: Oral qualifying examination, committee and program filed. See links below for format and send committee member names to acadcoord_gg@uwyo.edu.
MS Program of Study
Masters Oral Exam Requirements

Final Semester: Oral presentation of the written thesis.
Signature Form

Additional Graduation Requirements:

1. Declare graduation requirements (docx)
2. Pay graduation fees

For any additional information, please visit the UW Graduate Student Resources page.