Master of Science in Geography:

OUTCOME 1. Explore and investigate critical problems relating to human and natural resources and public policy development.

OUTCOME 2. Conduct scientific research analyzing and evaluating the complex relationships between humans and the environment across various spatial scales

OUTCOME 3. Implement geographical theories, methodologies, and tools (i.e., Geographic Information Systems [GIS], Global Positioning Systems [GPS], and Remote Sensing [RS] technologies) used by contemporary professional geographers in conducting critical spatial analysis.

  

Master of Science in Geology:

OUTCOME 1. Investigation of Prior Research. M.S. candidates will locate peer-reviewed articles, maps, government reports, and other documents relevant to their area of research and will digest and distill ideas from the published literature in a treatment of past research.

OUTCOME 2. Formulation of a Research Question/Hypothesis. Working together with their faculty thesis advisor (Major Professor), M.S. candidates will identify an unanswered question of interest and importance.

OUTCOME 3. Field and/or Laboratory Procedures. Methodologies will be discovered and/or developed that are appropriate to evaluate the research question. These will be described in detail including the materials needed to carry out the research project.

OUTCOME 4. Data Analysis and Critical Thinking. M.S. candidates will develop enhanced numerical and computer skills and will prove the ability to think critically about their own data and that produced by past researchers.

OUTCOME 5. Quality Illustrations. M.S. candidates will create publication-quality figures (maps, line drawings, charts, etc.) and will produce high-quality photographic illustrations where appropriate.

OUTCOME 6. Communication Skills. Research in geology, as in other sciences, is a community effort, not an individual one. Recipients of the Geology Master of Science degree, whether pursuing further research in a Ph.D. program or going into industry, must be good communicators. A major objective of the M.S. Geology curriculum is to insure that students have good written and oral communication skills.

OUTCOME 7. Time-Management Skills and Professional Responsibility. By the end of their candidacy, Geology graduate students will have acquired good time-management skills and professional behavior as evidenced by their ability to be good team members, keep appointments, meet deadlines, accept constructive criticism, and finish research projects on time. In addition to their thesis proposals (required), M.S. candidates are expected to apply for research funding from agencies such as the Geological Society of America (GSA), to give presentations (posters and/or oral presentations) at professional meetings, and to work with their supervising Professor to develop one or more manuscripts for publication of the final results of the thesis research.

 

Doctor of Philosophy in Earth System Science:

OUTCOME 1. Investigation of Prior Research. PhD candidates will locate peer-reviewed articles, maps, government reports, and other documents relevant to their area of research and will digest and distill ideas from the published literature in a treatment of past research.

OUTCOME 2. Formulation of a Research Question/Hypothesis. Working together with their faculty dissertation advisor (Major Professor), PhD candidates will identify an unanswered question of interest and importance.

OUTCOME 3. Field and/or Laboratory Procedures. Methodologies will be discovered and/or developed that are appropriate to evaluate the research question. These will be described in detail including the materials needed to carry out the research project.OUTCOME 4. Data Analysis and Critical Thinking. PhD candidates will develop enhanced numerical and computer skills and will prove the ability to think critically about their own data and that produced by past researchers.

OUTCOME 4. Data Analysis and Critical Thinking. PhD candidates will develop enhanced numerical and computer skills and will prove the ability to think critically about their own data and that produced by past researchers.

OUTCOME 5. Quality Illustrations. PhD candidates will create publication-quality figures (maps, line drawings, charts, etc.) and will produce high-quality photographic illustrations where appropriate.

OUTCOME 6. Communication Skills. Research in Earth System Science, as in other sciences, is a community effort, not an individual one. Recipients of the PhD of Earth System Science degree, whether pursuing further a academic teaching or research position, or going into industry, must be good communicators. A major objective of the PhD ESS curriculum is to insure that students have good written and oral communication skills.

OUTCOME 7. Time-Management Skills and Professional Responsibility. By the end of their candidacy, ESS graduate students will have acquired good time-management skills and professional behavior as evidenced by their ability to be good team members, keep appointments, meet deadlines, accept constructive criticism, and finish research projects on time. In addition to their dissertation proposals (required), PhD candidates are expected to apply for extramural research funding from agencies, to give presentations (posters and/or oral presentations) at professional meetings, and to work with their supervising Professor to develop one or more manuscripts for publication of the final results of the dissertation research.

 

Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems Science:

OUTCOME 1. Be able to explain the three components of geospatial science and how it applies to help solve geographic problems

OUTCOME 2. Be able to select the appropriate scale and map projections to use for various GIS applications

OUTCOME 3. Be able to create and maintain geospatial datasets

OUTCOME 4. Be able to select the appropriate spatial dataset formats to use for various GIS applications

OUTCOME 5. Be able to identify the appropriate type of spatial analysis to help solve geographic problems for scientific research and or in decision support.

OUTCOME 6. Be able to communicate effectively via mapping and graphic presentation

OUTCOME 7. Be able to create programs and scripts to automate geospatial tasks and implement geographic concepts.

OUTCOME 8. Develop skills for designing and implementing real-world GIS applications

OUTCOME 9. Gain hands-on experience with widely used GIS software