Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ : Geoscience

Geoscience - GEOS

Contact Information

Location: Earth Sciences Building, Room 118
Program number: 403.220.3254
Fax: 403.284.0074
Email address: geosciencegrad@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL:

1. Degrees and Specializations Offered

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based or course-based (may be taken on a full- or part-time basis)

Within the course-based Master of Science degree, an Interdisciplinary Specialization in Reservoir Characterization is offered. Details can be found in the calendar underÂ Interdisciplinary Specializations.

2. Admission Requirements

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 applicantâ€™s research interests and reasons for wishing to attend the Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ.

c) For those students required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 580 (paper-based) or 97 (Internet-based test), an IELTS score of 7.0, a MELAB score of 83, or a PTE score of 68. This requirement can also be met by completing Tier III of the with a minimum grade of "B" on Academic Writing & Grammar III, "B" on Reading Comprehension & Proficiency III, and "B" on Listening Comprehension & Oral Fluency III.

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 applicantâ€™s research interests and reasons for wishing to attend the Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ.

c) For those students required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 580 (paper-based) or 97 (Internet-based test), an IELTS score of 7.0, a MELAB score of 83, or a PTE score of 68.This requirement can also be met by completing Tier III of the with a minimum grade of "B" on Academic Writing & Grammar III, "B" on Reading Comprehension & Proficiency III, and "B" on Listening Comprehension & Oral Fluency III.

d) Two reference letters.

3. Application Deadline

Deadlines for submission of complete applications are available on the Future Students website:

Master of Science (course-based):

Master of Science (thesis-based):

Doctor of Philosophy:

4. Advanced Credit

Application for credit should be made to the graduate program at the time of admission, so that the previous work can be taken into account when specifying a studentâ€™s program.

The total of advanced credit and transfer credit in course-based Master's programs will generally not exceed either one-third of the program or 12 units (2.0 full-course equivalents), whichever is less.

Advanced credit is not guaranteed and will be determined by the Graduate Program Director 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 â€œBâ€ grade or higher standing at the Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ. 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.

5. Program/Course Requirements

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

Master of Science (course-based)

a) Twenty-seven units (4.5 full-course equivalents), 15 (2.5 full-course equivalents) 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 defence once the written research report isÂ submitted. The supervisor and two other members of the department assess the project. If an industrial partner is involved, the industrial research supervisor may also assess the project.

c) Completion of at least 18 units (3.0 full-course equivalents) in the first year of study by full-time students, and at least 3 units (0.5 full-course equivalent) 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 21 units (3.5 full-course equivalents) inÂ geology or geophysics courses at the 500 or 600 level. At a minimum,Â 18 units (3.0 full-course equivalents)Â must be at 600 level. Up to four appropriate courses (12 units, 2.0 full-course equivalents)Â 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 Program Director.

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 27 units (4.5 full-course equivalents) upon the advice of their supervisor.

Geophysics Course-based Concentration

a) Four of the following: Geology 707, Geophysics 547, 551, 557, 657, 671, 673.

b) At least 12 units (2.0 full-course equivalents) in 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 Program Director.

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 27 units (4.5 full-course equivalents) upon advice of their supervisor.

Master of Science (thesis-based)

a) Completion of a minimum of 12 units (2.0 full-course equivalents) in the first year of program.

b) Students with deficiencies may be required to take more than 12 units (2.0 full-course equivalents) upon advice of their supervisor.

c) An oral public presentation and defence of thesis.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) Completion of 12 units (2.0 full-course equivalents) in the first year of program.

b) Subject to supervisor and Graduate Program Director approval, some credit may be granted for courses taken during a master's program, to reduce the course requirement. Course requirements may be waived for a maximum of 9 units (1.5 full-course equivalents) for students with Master of Science degree from the Department of Geoscience at the Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ, and 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) for students with Master of Science degrees from other programs or institutions.

c) Students with deficiencies may be required to take more than 12 units (2.0 full-course equivalents) upon advice of their supervisor.

d) Students with a Bachelor of Science degree, but no master's degree, to complete a minimum of 15 units (2.5 full-course equivalents), with four in the first year of program.

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

f)Â Students take either Geology or Geophysics 701 or 703.

g) An oral public presentation and defence of thesis.

6. Additional Requirements

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.

Part-time students may be working in the field of Geology and/or Geophysics.Â An industrial supervisor can agree to work with the academic supervisor in the Department to supervise and evaluateÂ the studentâ€™s research project.

7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses

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

8. Time Limit

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

9. Supervisory Assignments

Upon admission, a student is assigned an interim supervisor by the Graduate Program Director, either based on prior communication between the student and a prospective supervisor, orÂ chosen from the research field the student has specified.Â A permanent supervisor (usually the interim supervisor) is appointed within two months. Supervisory committees for doctoral students are selected by consultation between the permanent supervisor and the student.

10. Required Examinations

Candidacy

Doctoral students have a two-hour Field of Study (FOS)Â oral candidacy examination thatÂ must be completed by the twenty-eighth month of the program. The FOS oral examination cannot be attempted until the written thesis research proposal has been passed by the Supervisory Committee.

Questions on the research proposal may be included in the FOS oral candidacy examination. Details of the Department of Geoscience's Doctoral Candidacy Requirements can be found at .

Thesis Examination

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.

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements for Thesis Examinations, the Department requires:

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student's research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

11. Research Proposal Requirements

Master of Science thesis-based students must file a thesis proposal by March 1 of the second session of study for September registrants and July 1 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.

PhD students will submit aÂ more substantial thesis research proposalÂ within 18 months of registration. The thesis proposal will be judged a pass or fail by the Supervisory Committee. The thesis research proposal must be passed before the FOS oral examination can be scheduled. Details about the thesis research proposal and the Department of Geoscience's Doctoral Candidacy Requirements can be found at .

12. Financial Assistance

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 have complete applications submitted to the Department by January 15.

No financial support will be given to students enrolled in the course-based masterâ€™s program.

14. Other Information

The department requires all graduate studentsÂ complete anÂ Annual Progress Report in May of each year.

No office space will be provided to students enrolled in the course-based masterâ€™s program.

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