The graduate programs in earth and environmental science are designed to enable the student to pursue further study in the various areas of the department for professional or personal reasons, to further his/her preparation for the teaching profession or for a career requiring advanced training.

For the arts and science student, a graduate program is designed to give opportunity for in-depth study in the broad field of earth and environmental science. The program provides sufficient flexibility through electives so that emphasis in (1) environmental geology; (2) metamorphic and igneous geology; (3) sedimentology, stratigraphy, and paleobiology or; (4) oceanography and marine geology is possible. Most of the courses for the oceanography and marine geology emphasis will be taken at the various sites of the New Jersey Marine Science Consortium during the summer.

Thesis and non-thesis options are available for most of our graduate degrees. We strongly encourage our students to complete thesis research. A master’s thesis is an in-depth and original research project conducted during your graduate studies. Students generally conduct these projects over the course of several semesters under the guidance of a faculty advisor. All students should consider the “thesis option” because prospective employers and continuing programs (i.e. PhD) are more interested in applicants with substantial research experience.