Program Description

The combined Bachelors/M.A. program in Geology introduces students to diverse and contemporary topics within the broad area of Geology and Environmental Earth Science at an advanced level beyond the Bachelors degree. The combined degree program prepares students for careers such as earth science education and environmental consulting or for entry into research-based M.S./Ph.D. programs. The combined program requires 30 hours of graduate coursework of which 9 hours can be double-counted toward both degrees. Of these 30 hours a minimum of 15 must be taken from at least 4 sub-disciplines within Geology and Environmental Earth Science, and a minimum of 12 must be at or above the 600 level. Successful completion of an oral comprehensive examination is required for graduation.

Academic Preparation

As undergraduates, students enroll in the Geology or Environmental Earth Science B.S. degree program. During the fourth year, students transition into the state master's program M.A. or M.S. Geology curriculum.

Declaration of Interest

Students may declare their interest in enrolling in a combined program anytime during their academic career at Miami, from the time they are admitted for an undergraduate degree. Completing the coursework required for a combined program requires careful planning, so please contact the Program Director as soon as possible if you are considering the combined degree program. Students should contact their academic advisor in the Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science if interested in the combined program.

Admission

To be eligible to apply for the combined program, students must have earned a minimum of 64 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Applications Procedures

To apply to a combined bachelors/masters program, complete the Graduate School online application and pay the $50 application fee. Be sure to check “combined program.” In advance of the above students are encouraged to contact the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science to discuss their interests and to outline a plan of study.

Student Classification and Graduation

Students in the combined program will remain as undergraduates until they apply for graduation or submit a request to the Graduate School to have their classification changed from undergraduate to graduate. Students must have completed a minimum of 124 hours to be classified as a graduate student (note: this change in classification may affect eligibility for financial aid). Students MUST receive their bachelor's degree prior to completing their master's degree. Upon receiving the bachelor's, students will automatically be classified as graduate students.