| How to
apply to our program – click
here! |
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| Our
department offers a Master of
Science and a Ph.D. in Environmental
Sciences - Degree track Geosciences.
Areas
of specialization within
our program are listed below.
We also
offer a non-thesis
Master of Environmental Science
and Management (MESM) degree.
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|
Ph.D. |
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| The
requirements for the doctoral
degree are 1) the completion
of a minimum of 72 credits of
graduate study beyond the baccalaureate
degree, of which a minimum of
42 credits must be taken at
the University of Rhode Island;
2) the passing of a qualifying
examination; 3) the passing
of a comprehensive examination;
4) the completion of a satisfactory
dissertation; 5) the passing
of a final oral examination
in defense of the dissertation;
and 6) fulfillment of the residence
requirement by taking a minimum
of six credits per semester
for at least two consecutive
semesters after satisfying qualifying
examination requirements.
Click
here for further information
regarding the degree requirements. |
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| Master
of Science |
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| Admission
requirements: Bachelor's
degree and GRE exam scores.
Background in sciences or engineering
recommended. By the end of the
first year, students lacking
an undergraduate major equivalent
to the bachelor of science degree
in Geosciences will be required
to demonstrate, through course
work and/or qualifying examinations,
comparable knowledge of geology
and related fields.
Program
requirements: for thesis
option, 30 credits of course
work; thesis and defense; an
oral preliminary examination;
and a graduate seminar (for
no program credit). |
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| Specializations |
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| Hydrogeology:
general areas of Environmental
Hydrogeology, Aquatic Geochemistry,
and Modeling. Fate and transport
of contaminants in the unsaturated
and saturated zone, stable isotope
hydrology, innovative remediation
technologies, and water resources
management. Field and laboratory
studies of ground-water flow,
ground-water chemistry, and the
interaction between ground water
and the geologic framework. |
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| Sedimentology:
emphasis on field projects-a)
measurement of Recent barrier,
lagoonal and estuarine processes,
and investigation of lithofacies;
b) Recent braided rivers and alluvial
fans; c) depositional systems
of ancient rocks. Stratigraphy-paleontology:
paleoenvironmental reconstructions,
historical geology, paleontology,
paleobiology. Coastal geomorphology:
analysis of coastal land forms
using field techniques, remote-sensing
aerial and satellite imagery.
Emphasis on Rhode Island barriers,
Cape Cod, and barrier islands
of the Atlantic coast. |
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| Geoarchaeology:
two areas are emphasized: 1) the
petrographic and geochemical characterization
of archaeological artifacts, debitage,
and quarry specimen to constrain
sources, distribution patterns,
trade routes, and other archaeological
issues, and 2) landscape development
and paleoclimate of late glacial
and early post-glacial time using
mapping, macrofossil analysis,
and dating by radioisotopic methods.
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| Glacial
geology: sedimentary aspects
of Pleistocene and Recent glacial
paleoenvironments of New England
and Alaska; environmental mapping.
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| Geophysics/Seismology:
under construction. |
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| Petrology-geochemistry:
field and laboratory petrologic
studies in the New England Appalachians,
in the Sierra Nevada of California,
and elsewhere, including petrogenesis
of volcanic, plutonic, and metamorphic
rocks. |
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| Structure
and tectonics: deformation
at regional to microscopic scales;
neo-tectonic relationship between
deformation and metamorphism;
emphasis on New England tectonics.
|
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| Resource
and environmental studies:
relevant aspects of the above
specializations. Individual programs
may include courses and/or research
in conjunction with the Graduate
School of Oceanography and other
departments; interdisciplinary
studies are encouraged. |
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| Nonthesis
option: |
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| Master
of Environmental Science and Management
(MESM) |
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| The MESM
program is an interdisciplinary,
interdepartmental, professional
degree program designed for students
who are seeking professional environmental
positions in areas other than
research. |
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| It is considered
to be a terminal degree. Students
who plan to go on for a Ph.D.
should enroll in the Master of
Science in Environmental Sciences
degree program. The MESM degree
program serves graduate students
from 7 departments within URI's
College of the Environment and
Life Sciences (CELS) |
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| The program
requires 36 credits of coursework.
MESM students enroll in one of
the following 6 specializations.
Each specialization has unique
course requirements and faculty
advisors drawn from 2 or more
CELS departments. Click
here for more details |
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