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Earth Science M.S. Degree Program

Dartmouth Earth Sciences Graduate Application

Graduate studies in the Department of Earth Sciences at Dartmouth College involve academic course work and independent research. The M.S. program is intended to continue a student's training in one of a broad range of earth science disciplines and to prepare students for either a professional career or doctoral studies. In either case, we view the M.S. degree as a substantial effort that demands publication-worthy research.

Procedures- The graduate coordinator of the department appoints an academic advisor during registration with appropriate consideration of the student's background, interests, and professional goals. In consultation with the advisor, the student plans a program of course work for the first year. The student should formally select a thesis advisor within the first year of residence and submit to the thesis adviser a proposal for thesis research by May 1 (see below for more information). The academic advisor supervises completion of the department requirements for the M.S. program (as outlined below) until the research proposal has been accepted; responsibility then passes to the thesis advisor. The student may change either thesis or academic advisors by mutual agreement and after approval of the graduate coordinator.

Requirements- The general College requirements of the MS degree at Dartmouth College are given in the ORC and include at least three terms of residence and eight courses of graduate level, not more than four of which may be replaced by research or special study approved and supervised by the Department.

The specific departmental requirements for the M.S. degree include the following:

  1. Eight graduate courses at the discretion of the thesis committee. These courses must include EARS 62, 201 and 202 and either EARS 107 or EARS 115, if the equivalent has not already been completed elsewhere. Of the eight courses, at least two in addition to EARS 201, 202, 107 or 115 must be numbered 100 or above.
  2. Complete four terms of thesis research.
  3. Submit names of thesis committee by April 1 st of your first year. (Committee must consist of a minimum 3 people, 2 of which must be from the Earth Sciences Dept.)
  4. Submit a thesis proposal by May 1 st of your first year. The submitted thesis proposal must be signed by all members of your committee, signifying their approval. See Section 11 for details on writing a proposal.
  5. Complete a thesis of professional quality and pass a final oral defense of the thesis. A draft of the thesis is due to your committee members two weeks prior to your defense.
  6. An essential element of graduate education at Dartmouth is the experience gained in teaching other students. To provide a balanced educational program, all graduate students are expected to TA at least one on-campus course per year. Students may participate in more than one term of teaching. Each student's program will be arranged, according to his/her individual needs and interests, and the teaching needs of the Department.
  7. Submit 2 originals of your thesis to the Graduate Studies Office, one for the Kresge Science Library and the other for the archives in Baker Library. Two more copies, one for you and one for your advisor, are generally bound. You may have personal copies bound through ACME Book Company at: www.acmebook.com.

In addition, students are required to make up any deficiencies in their background, including cognate course requirements in math, physics, chemistry and biology as appropriate. These requirements are summarized below:

  1. Complete the equivalent of the following Dartmouth courses: Math 3 and 8.
  2. Complete the equivalent of any two of the following Dartmouth introductory course sequences: Chemistry 5 and 6 (or 3 and 4), Physics 3 and 4 (or 13 and 14), and/or Biology 14 and 15
  3. Complete an undergraduate science major with broad background in earth sciences

Students with questions about these requirements are urged to speak wit htheir advisors to discuss their degree options as early as possible.

GRADUATE WHITE BOOK

The Whitebook (on campus access only) - A guide to assist incoming and resident graduate students in the dual tasks of working toward a degree in Earth Sciences and surviving in Hanover.

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