The MS program provides graduates with advanced training in the Geosciences, culminating in the completion of an independent research thesis project. The academic curriculum and extensive faculty expertise provide the opportunity for study in many areas of the Geosciences. Graduates are employed as environmental consultants, engineering geologists, hydrogeologists, hydrologists, and geotechnical engineers.

The Department of Geology  welcomes students with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines.

For more information visit the SJSU Geology website.

University Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit a complete graduate application by applying through the CSU Cal State Apply system and meet all university admission requirements . The GRE is not required. Applicants from countries in which the native language is not English must achieve a minimum English-language proficiency test score as indicated on the Graduate Program Test Requirements webpage.

Students can be admitted in either classified or conditionally classified standing.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified

If an applicant’s preparation for advanced graduate work is considered insufficient to meet the course prerequisites or other departmental requirements (typically because the student does not have a BS in Geology or related field), the conditions will include taking the core Geology BS courses to meet their requirements.

Advancement to Candidacy

The university requirements for advancement to candidacy  for the master’s degree are outlined in the Graduate Policies and Procedures  section. Students should seek advancement to candidacy as soon as possible for their given program and on the advice of their graduate program coordinator. Graduate students may submit a Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy form to the Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations (GAPE) office after satisfying the following: achieved classified status; completed a minimum of nine letter-graded units with all grades “C” or higher; fulfilled the Campus Graduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CGGWAR) requirement; achieved a minimum cumulative and program 3.0 GPA, and, graduate within the seven-year time limit for degree completion. Graduate students must submit their petition no later than one semester prior to graduating. Courses that satisfy the CGGWAR are listed in the course requirements for the program.

Additional Department Requirements

The student’s approval of the candidacy must be done by the departmental graduate advisor. The student will prepare a written thesis proposal in consultation with her/his thesis adviser. The student will defend her/his proposal in an oral examination with her/his thesis advisor and a minimum of two other thesis committee members

Program of Study Requirements

Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, GPA, and culminating experience requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements  section of the Graduate Policies and Procedures . Students must comply with all other graduate requirements contained in this catalog.

Course Requirements

An approved program for each candidate may be designed in consultation with the advisor on the basis of each individual’s objectives. The program shall include at least 30 semester units earned beyond the bachelor’s degree in 200-level and 100-level courses approved for graduate credit. This total includes 4 semester units of thesis research. At least 12 units must consist of 200-level courses. All students are required to take a 2-unit seminar (GEOL 285 ). All candidates are required to submit a master’s thesis.

Culminating Experience

An oral presentation of thesis research is to be made before an open meeting of the Geology Department. The thesis must be approved by the student’s thesis committee and submitted in final form, as defined in the SJSU Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines, to the Graduate Division of the university in accordance with published deadlines.