Geology is an interdisciplinary science that emphasizes the study of major Earth systems and how they are connected. The Department of Geology has strong research groups in paleontology (paleontology and evolutionary paleoecology; our program is ranked 6th in the nation), Quaternary geology and geomorphology (glacial geology, fluvial and slope processes, desert geomorphology, and tectonic geomorphology), sedimentology and stratigraphy (sequence stratigraphy, geology of shales, and geochemical records of Earth history), tectonics (mountain building and volcanism), environmental geology (groundwater studies and landslide and seismic hazard mitigation), and biogeochemistry and global change (carbon cycling, isotope geochemistry, and impacts of climate change). 

The goal of the Department of Geology is to produce well-rounded graduate students who not only take part in advanced research, but also gain extensive field, laboratory, and teaching experience. The department and the University of Cincinnati provide financial support on an academic year and summer basis for most graduate students in the form of Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, tuition scholarships, endowed fellowships, and external grants to aid students in achieving their goals.

Curriculum
MS Geology Master's Program

Graduate Research Course
Graduate Research
This course should be taken during fall semester of the first year.
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
GEOL7005    Graduate Research (C min)    1

General Coursework
Graduate-level Coursework
Students enroll in 15 credit hours of lecture- and lab-based coursework. These courses may be taken from the GEOL discipline or related disciplines in the College of Arts & Sciences and in the College of Engineering & Applied Science.
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
6XXX+    General Coursework
15 hours of graduate-level coursework. (C min)    15 - 21

Thesis Research
Thesis Research
Students enroll in a minimum of 1 credit hour of GEOL8005 each semester for a total minimum of 4 credit hours.
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
Master's Thesis Research GEOL 8005.
Minimum of 1 credit hour each semester. (C min)    4 - 10

Geology Colloquium
Geology Colloquium
Students must register for GEOL7025 each semester for a total of 4 credit hours.
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
GEOL7025    Geology Colloquium (C min)    1

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Admission Requirements

An application must include:

• Online application for admission.
• 3 letters of recommendation. Recommenders are notified once the online application is submitted. Recommenders upload letters directly to the online application.
• Unofficial transcripts from major universities attended. Unofficial transcripts are to be downloaded to the online application. Official transcripts are necessary only if accepted into the program. 
• Official TOEFL scores (for international students whose native language is not English; UC's ETS code is 1833)
• The student may include official GRE scores, but scores are optional.

Tuition fee-2 years$60,000

Total fee-2 years$92,000