GRADUATE HANDBOOK
Welcome
Welcome to the Department of Geosciences at Georgia State University! The Department of Geosciences is a multi-disciplinary unit in the College of Arts and Sciences, which is the largest college in the university. Faculty members and students in the department draw from the disciplines of geography, geology, and water science to address a range of environmental and social problems. The primary aim of the graduate program is to provide you with advanced training in scientific inquiry and knowledge production and to hone your analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills. In addition, we hope to assist you in developing the ability to examine scientific problems along with the technical expertise to ask and answer research questions from a range of disciplinary perspectives. We prepare our students for continued study in academia (thesis track) and also for careers in a range of fields, from environmental consulting to field geology to urban planning (capstone track).
The department offers an M.S. in Geosciences, and students choose a concentration in Geography, Geology, or Water Science. M.S. students pursue either the research-intensive thesis track or the capstone track, described in more detail below. In addition, the department offers a post-graduate Professional Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which can complement the M.S. degree in Geosciences and other fields and/or stand alone as a career-enhancing certificate. The department also offers a Ph.D. in Chemistry with a concentration in geology. The policies and practices outlined here expand those found in the University’s Graduate Catalog. Be sure you familiarize yourself with the requirements of the university, the college, and the department.
In the Geosciences Graduate Handbook, we provide resources and suggestions on best practices as you make your way through the M.S. degree program in our department. The handbook is divided into sections that address different elements of the graduate experience. If you have questions about the content of the sections, please email [email protected].
Our Commitment to You
As faculty and staff members in the department, our goal is to ensure that you receive a high-quality graduate education. All faculty members are experts in their fields, and they have chosen a research university (rather than industry or a teaching college) so that they have the opportunity to engage students in their research endeavors. Faculty members are committed to your success, whether that success is in developing a thesis topic, conducting research, and defending the thesis, or helping you design a program of study and capstone project that will help you meet your career goals. Faculty members’ commitment to you requires their time, energy, and resources. And, indeed, your faculty members are one of your greatest resources in graduate school. Likewise, the staff members in the department are there to support you in registration, human resource matters, teaching assistantships (if relevant), and technology needs, among others. They are critical to ensure the smooth functioning of the department.
Your Commitment to Us
Entering a graduate program is a commitment. Not only is it a commitment by faculty and staff members to you, but it is a commitment of your time and energy and resources to your coursework, to your assistantship (if relevant), to your thesis or capstone project, and to ethical conduct in your scientific discipline.
Contact Us
The Department of Geosciences
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Office/Delivery Address
38 Peachtree Center Ave. SE
7th Floor
Suite 730
Atlanta, GA 30303