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Location: Earth Sciences Building, Room 118
Department number: 403.220.3254
Fax: 403.284.0074
E-mail address: geosciencegrad@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based or course-based

The course-based Master of Science degree may be taken on a full-time or a part-time basis.

The Master of Science degree is also offered with specialization in Reservoir Characterization (Interdisciplinary). For further information on this specialization, see the separate listing in this Calendar.

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Science requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Science

a) Normally, a four-year Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent. An Honours degree in geology or geophysics, or a field related to geophysics, such as physics or mathematics, is preferred.

b) A concise statement outlining the applicant’s research interests and reasons for wishing to attend the ��ݮ����Ƶ����.

c) For those students required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 580 (written test), 92 (Internet-based test), a MELAB score of 82, an IELTS score of 7.5, or a PTE score of 64.

d) Two reference letters.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) Normally, a Master of Science degree or equivalent in geology or geophysics or a field related to geophysics, such as physics or mathematics.

b) A concise statement outlining the applicant’s research interests and reasons for wishing to attend the ��ݮ����Ƶ����.

c) For those students required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 580 (written test), 92 (Internet-based test), a MELAB score of 82, an IELTS score of 7.5, or a PTE score of 64.

d) Two reference letters.

Deadlines for complete applications:

February 1 for September admission
January admission is considered on a case-by-case basis and applications must be received by September 1.

Thesis-based programs: Application for credit should be made to the graduate program at the time of admission, so that the graduate program can take previous work into account when specifying a student’s program.

Course-based programs: The student must request advanced credit in writing at the time of application for admission.

Masters programs: The total of advanced credit and transfer credit will generally not exceed either one-third of the program or two full course equivalents, whichever is less.

Doctoral programs: Credit for relevant courses taken during the Master of Science program may result in the reduction of the required four course minimum for doctoral students. Credit may be granted for a maximum of three half courses for students with Master of Science degrees from the Department of Geoscience at the ��ݮ����Ƶ����, and two for students with Master of Science degrees from elsewhere.

Advanced credit is not guaranteed and will be determined by the Graduate Coordinator or Department Head with consideration of the recommendation of the Interim Supervisor.

Courses for which advanced credit is being sought must be from a recognized institution and not have been used for any degree or diploma accreditation. They must be graded, graduate level courses, and the graded level of performance must be equivalent to a “B” grade or higher standing at the ��ݮ����Ƶ����. Advanced credit is not normally given for courses taken more than five years before admission to the current graduate degree program or for courses taken for the purposes of qualifying for admission.

In addition to the Faculties of Graduate Studies and Science requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Science (course-based)

a) Nine half courses, five of which must be at the 600 level or higher (includes Geology 701 or Geophysics 701 research project).

b) Completion of a Research Project (Geology 701 or Geophysics 701). The student is required to present and defend the project in a one-hour defense once the written research report is in near-final form. The supervisor and two other members of the department assess the project. If a company is involved the company supervisor may also assess the project.

c) Completion of at least six half courses in the first year of study by full-time students, and at least one half course in the first academic session by part-time students. Following is a list of required courses for the two concentration areas that are offered.

Geology Course-based Concentration

a) Geology 707.

b) At least seven additional geology or geophysics courses at the 500 or 600 level. At a minimum, three must be at 600 level. Up to four appropriate courses from another department may be substituted for a 500-level geology or geophysics course subject to program approval. Course-based students may receive credit for both Geology 703 and 701. Courses are selected in consultation with the supervisor and with the approval of the graduate coordinator.

c) Geology 701. This course constitutes the research component of the degree and cannot be submitted and defended until after all other courses are completed.

d) Students with deficiencies may be required to take more than nine half courses upon the advice of their supervisor.

Geophysics Course-based Concentration

a) Four of the following: Geology 707, Geophysics 547, 551, 557, 657, 659.

b) At least four other Geophysics courses at the 500, 600 or 700 level. At least four of the eight required courses must be at the 600 or 700 level. One or two appropriate courses from another department may be substituted for a 500-level geology or geophysics course subject to program approval. Course-based students may receive credit for both Geophysics 703 and 701. Courses are selected in consultation with the supervisor and with the approval of the graduate coordinator.

c) Geophysics 701. This course constitutes the research component of the degree and cannot be submitted and defended until after all other courses are completed.

d) Students with deficiencies may be required to take more than nine half courses upon advice of their supervisor.

Master of Science (thesis-based)

a) Completion of a minimum of four half courses in the first year of program.

b) Students with deficiencies may be required to take more than four half courses upon advice of their supervisor.

c) An oral public presentation of thesis results.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) Completion of four half courses in the first year of program.

b) Subject to supervisor and graduate coordinator approval, some credit may be granted for courses taken during a Master's program, to reduce the course requirement.

c) Students with deficiencies may be required to take more than four half courses upon advice of their supervisor.

d) Students with a Bachelor of Science degree, but no Master's degree, to complete a minimum of five half courses, with four in the first year of program.

e) Students in Geology to take Geology 707 during the first academic year in program.

f) That all students take either Geology or Geophysics 701 or 703.

g) An oral public presentation of thesis results.

Master of Science (course-based)
Full-time students are normally expected to provide their own financial support and pay tuition and fees as outlined in the graduate student calendar since the department does not normally offer financial support to course-based Master of Science students.

Normally, part-time students will be working in the field of Geology and/or Geophysics, and the company supervisor can agree to work with the supervisor in the Department to supervise the student’s research project, and to evaluate the research project.

The Department does not give graduate credit for courses taken below the 500-level.

Expected completion time is two years for students in thesis-based Master’s degree programs, two years for full-time students in a course-based Master’s program, and three or four years for doctoral students. Maximum completion time is four years for students in a thesis-based Master’s program, and six years for students in a course-based Master’s program and doctoral students.

Upon admission, a student is assigned an interim supervisor by the Graduate Coordinator. The interim supervisor is chosen from the research field the student has specified. Usually the interim supervisor becomes the permanent supervisor, but the Graduate Coordinator must approve the final selection before the thesis proposal is submitted. Supervisory committees for doctoral students are selected by consultation between the permanent supervisor and the student.

Doctoral students have a two hour oral candidacy examination that must be completed by the twenty-eighth month of program.

Questions on the research proposal may be included in the oral candidacy examination. Students should contact their department for further details.

Master of Science-thesis based and doctoral students have final thesis oral examinations that are open to the public, with a public presentation on the same day.

Master of Science thesis-based students must file a thesis proposal by March 15 of the second session of study for September registrants and July 15 for January registrants. The thesis proposal must not be more than five pages of text long and include an abstract and a list of references cited in the text. The supervisor will assess the proposal in detail.

Ph.D. thesis students will submit a more substantial thesis proposal within 18 months of registration.

None.

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar.

Students applying for scholarships must submit their applications to the Department by February 1.

No financial support will be given to students enrolled in the course-based Master’s program.

The department requires all graduate students to file a comprehensive Annual Report. The report is due by December 15 and covers activities for the current calendar year. Recent September registrants are required to report activities for their first term of study only.

No office space will be provided to students enrolled in the course-based Master’s program.

Detailed information about the graduate program can be found at departmental web site.

The current faculty research interests can be found at .