| |  | | Geology | Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information—Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Minnesota, 310 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-624-1333; fax 612-625-3819; geology@umn.edu; www.geo.umn.edu).
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General
Information section of this catalog for Graduate School requirements that apply
to all major fields.
Curriculum—The geology major includes the areas of structural geology, tectonics, metamorphic geology, Quaternary studies, climate and environmental change, limnology, paleontology, groundwater geology, hydrogeology, geofluids, surface processes, geomorphology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, mineralogy, experimental and theoretical petrology, experimental geochemistry, biogeochemistry, isotopic and aqueous geochemistry. Students may accommodate other areas of interest such as earth resources, engineering geology, environmental geology, materials science, soil science, and paleoecology by choosing a minor or supporting field from outside the department.
Prerequisites for Admission—Most candidates for advanced degrees have completed a bachelor’s degree in geology, geophysics or in the broad field of earth and material sciences. However, applications from students in fields such as chemistry, physics, or biology are encouraged. At least one year of study in calculus, chemistry, and physics are required. In general, an outstanding academic record is expected.
Special Application Requirements—A department application, the student’s statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and official GRE scores are required for admission and financial aid consideration. Applications for admission are considered at any time, although applications for financial aid should be submitted to the department by January 8 to ensure consideration. Studies may begin in any semester or summer session, although fall semester is preferable. IMPORTANT: Refer to the Graduate Programs section of the department Web site for a listing of all required applications materials and preferred method of submission.
Key to test abbreviations (GRE, TOEFL, GMAT, MELAB).
 For an online application or for more information about Graduate School admissions, see the General Information section in this catalog, or visit the Graduate School Web site.
Interdisciplinary Collaborations—In addition to the department’s long history of collaboration with the engineering, physical science, and math departments in the Institute of Technology, there are many organizations within and without the University with which the faculty collaborate in order to promote a wide range of interdisciplinary studies: Antarctic Geospatial Information Center; Bell Museum of Natural History; Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior; Department of Geological Sciences, Duluth campus; History of Science and Technology; Institute for Rock Magnetism; Institute on the Environment; Institute of Technology Characterization Facility; Large Lakes Observatory, Duluth; Limnological Research Center; Macalester College; Minnesota Geological Survey, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute; National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics; Postsecondary Teaching and Learning; Quaternary Paleoecology Minor Program; Red Lake Peatland Observatory; Science Museum of Minnesota; St. Croix Watershed Research Station; Water Resource Science Program. Check the department’s Web site for a current listing of research facilities within the department of geology and geophysics.
Courses—Refer to Geology and Geophysics (GEO) in the course section of this catalog or in Twin Cities Courses on the University Catalog Web site for courses pertaining to the program. All courses must be taken at 4xxx and 5xxx, with several formal courses to be included at 8xxx.
Use of 4xxx Courses—For both the M.S. and Ph.D., typically no more than 30 percent of the total course credits are 4xxx.
| M.S. Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C Degree Requirements | | The M.S. is offered Plan A (with thesis), Plan B (with project), and Plan C (coursework only with emphasis in hydrogeology and environmental geoscience). Plan A requires a minimum of 30 course credits consisting of at least 14 course credits in the major, 6 course credits in the related field, and 10 thesis credits. Plan B requires a minimum of 30 course credits consisting of at least 14 credits in the major and 8 credits in the related field. Plan C is the coursework-only option, which requires a minimum of 30 course credits consisting of at least 14 credits in the major and 9 credits in the related field or a minor. Courses in the minor and related field are normally taken from outside the department, although they may be taken from within in special cases.
Language Requirements—None.
Final Exam—Plan A students must pass the final oral examination in defense of their thesis. Plan B students must pass the final oral and/or written examination.
Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—The master’s minor is established individually with approval by the graduate studies committee. Typically no more than 50 percent of the total course credits are 4xxx.
| Ph.D. Degree Requirements | The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 36 course credits consisting of at least 12 course credits in the minor or supporting field. In some cases, fewer than 24 credits in the major field are acceptable provided the total is at least 36. Courses in the minor and supporting program are normally taken from outside the department, although they may be taken from within in special cases.
Language Requirements—None.
Final Exam—Ph.D. students must pass a final oral examination in defense of their thesis.
Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—The Ph.D. minor is established individually with approval by the graduate studies committee. Typically, no more than 50 percent of the total course credits are 4xxx. |
Faculty | | For latest graduate faculty listings, see <www.grad.umn.edu/faculty_rosters/faculty.html>. Key to membership categories (abbreviations after faculty names).
Regents Professor
Thomas C. Johnson, Geological Sciences, Duluth, ASM
Herbert E. Wright Jr., (emeritus), ASM
Professor
E. Calvin Alexander Jr., SM
Subir K. Banerjee, M2
Erik Brown, Geological Sciences, Duluth, ASM
Steve Colman, Geological Sciences, Duluth, ASM
R. Lawrence Edwards, SM
Jonathan Foley, Institute on the Environment, ASM
John W. Goodge, Geological Sciences, Duluth, ASM
Vicki L. Hansen, Geological Sciences, Duluth, ASM
Marc Hirschmann, SM
Peter J. Hudleston, SM
Emi Ito, SM
David L. Kohlstedt, M2
Howard D. Mooers, Geological Sciences, Duluth, ASM
Ronald L. Morton, Geological Sciences, Duluth, ASM
Christopher Paola, SM
Hans-Olaf Pfannkuch, SM
William E. Seyfried, SM
James H. Stout, SM
Christian P. Teyssier, SM
Harvey Thorleifson, SM
Donna L. Whitney, SM
Associate Professor
David Fox, SM
Christina Gallup, Geological Sciences, Duluth, ASM
Karen L. Kleinspehn, SM
Lee Penn, Chemistry, ASM
Bryan Shuman, Geography, AM2
John Swenson, Geological Sciences, Duluth, ASM
Nigel J. Wattrus, Geological Sciences, Duluth, ASM
Josef P. Werne, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duluth, ASM
Assistant Professor
James Almendinger, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, AM2
Annia K. Fayon, AM2
Joshua M. Feinberg, SM
Karen B. Gran, Geological Sciences, Duluth, AM2
Kent C. Kirkby, AM
Katsumi Matsumoto, SM
James D. Miller, Geological Sciences, Duluth, AM2
Lesley Perg, SM
Martin Saar, SM
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Mark Edlund, AM2
Carrie Jennings, AM2
Senior Research Associate
Kang Ding, AM
Daniel R. Engstrom, AM2
Paul H. Glaser, AM2
Michael J. Jackson, AM2
Mark Zimmerman, AM2
Other
Val W. Chandler, Minnesota Geological Survey, AM2
Kristina Curry, Bell Museum of Natural History, AM2
Raymond Rogers, AM2
Anthony C. Runkel, Minnesota Geological Survey, AM2
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