APPLICATION PROCESS AND PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Department of Geological Sciences, 62 SCI
California State University, Bakersfield
9001 Stockdale Highway
Bakersfield, California 93311-1022

Application for Master of Science in Geology  

Application for Admission MS Geology 

Persons seeking an M.S. in Geology apply to CSUB by visiting CSUMentor. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may request an admissions application packet be sent to you. Contact the Graduate Student Center (661)654-2786 or e-mail at gsc@csub.edu and let them know you need a graduate application sent to you. Transcripts will be required of all institutions attended in order to determine graduate eligibility and admission.

 Please submit all admission application documents to:

CSU Bakersfield
Office of Admissions - Graduate Programs 47SA
9001 Stockdale Highway
Bakersfield, CA 93311

Upon receipt of all necessary documents your eligibility will be based on the minimum admission requirements listed below. If you are deemed eligible, an admission letter will be sent upon completion of the departmental review of your qualifications. Your status will also be reflected on myCSUB.

After admission by the Graduate Committee of the Geological Sciences Department, the Graduate Coordinator serves as adviser.  Once the student embarks on the M.S. Thesis research the faculty member directing the research project will serve as advisor.

Once a student has started on a M.S. Thesis research project, the research adviser will assemble a thesis committee. 

Academic advising is available through the Graduate Coordinator and the research adviser of the student.

Admission Requirements for Master of Science in Geology

1.   An acceptable baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.

2.   An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 90 quarter (60 semester) units of course work; or Graduate School Examination scores of 1,000 or greater (verbal and quantitative); or a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all previous graduate course work (at least 20 quarter units); or an approved petition to the Graduate Committee of the Department waiving this requirement by proposing other evidence of adequate prior academic preparation.

3.   Formal decision by the Department Graduate Committee to accept the student into the graduate program.  The decision will be based on a formal application procedure, which includes evaluation of GPA, Graduate Record Examination scores, letters of recommendation, and other materials which may be required by the Committee and/or offered by the student.

Student Classifications for Master of Science in Geology

Conditionally Classified Status -- Acceptance at a Conditionally Classified Standing indicates the space has been made available for the student within the program and that the student has met the minimum preparation requirements to commence the program as listed below.

1.   An acceptable baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.

2.   An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 90 quarter (60 semester) units of course work; or Graduate School Examination scores of 1,000 or greater (verbal and quantitative); or a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all previous graduate course work (at least 20 quarter units); or an approved petition to the Graduate Committee of the Department waiving this requirement by proposing other evidence of adequate prior academic preparation.

3.   Formal decision by the Department Graduate Committee to accept the student into the graduate program.  The decision will be based on a formal application procedure, which includes evaluation of GPA, Graduate Record Examination scores, letters of recommendation, and other materials which may be required by the Committee and/or offered by the student.

4.   Acceptance into an academic advising relationship with a member of the faculty of the Department.

5.       Conditionally Classified Status will be granted only if space is available for the student in the program.  The faculty reserves the right to select those students which it deems most qualified for graduate work.

Classified Status -- Acceptance as a Classified Student indicates that all prerequisite course work has been completed, that a formal Plan of Study has been developed, and that the student’s progress in graduate level courses warrants continuation in the program.  Specific requirements for Classified Status are listed below.

1.   Completion of all requirements for Conditionally Classified Status.

2.   Completion of 60 units in Geology; the last 40 units must be courses above the introductory level.  Required courses (or their equivalents) are GEOL 303 (Mineralogy), 309 (Sedimentation and Stratigraphy), 306 (Petrology and Petrography), 307 (Structural Geology) and a summer field course in Geology.

3.   Completion of the following prerequisite courses in cognate areas: CHEM 211 (Principles of General Chemistry I), CHEM 212 (Principles of General Chemistry II), PHYS 201 (Basic Principles of Newtonian Physics), PHYS 202 (Basic Principles of Maxwellian Physics), MATH 140 (Elementary Statistics) or PHYS 203 (Basic Principles of Contemporary Physics), MATH 211 (Calculus I), and MATH 212 (Calculus II).

4.   Completion of at least 20 quarter units of courses applicable to the Master of Science Degree in Geology with a grade of “B-” or better, and graduate GPA of at least 3.0.

5.   Satisfactory completion of the Graduate Record Examination (Advanced Test in Geology) and other examinations or course work which may be assigned by the Graduate Committee of the Department.

6.   Formal acceptance of the student’s Plan of Study by the Graduate Committee of the Department.

Candidate Status -- Acceptance as a candidate indicates that the student has completed at least 30 quarter units within the approved Plan of Study and that there is a reasonable expectation that the student will complete all remaining requirements within one year.  The specific requirements for Candidate Status are listed below.

1.   Completion of all requirements for Classified Status.

2.   Completion of at least 30 quarter units of courses applicable to the Master of Science Degree in Geology with a grade of “B-” or better, and a graduate GPA of at least 3.0.

3.      Certification by the student’s academic advisor that there is a reasonable expectation that the student will satisfactorily complete the approved Plan of Study within one year.

4.   Approval of the student’s Master’s Thesis research topic by the Thesis Director, Thesis Committee, and Graduate Committee of the Department.

5.       Certification by the student’s Thesis Advisor that there is a reasonable expectation that the student will satisfactorily complete the Master’s Thesis within one year.

Time limits have been set for completion of requirements at each level of status.  Admission to Classified Status must be accomplished within two calendar years after acceptance as a Conditionally Classified Student.  No more than three courses (15 units) may be taken for graduate credit until all prerequisites have been satisfied.  Admission to Candidate Status must be attained within four calendar years after acceptance as a Conditionally Classified Student.  All requirements, and graduation, are to be completed within five calendar years after acceptance as a Conditionally Classified Student.  The five-year time limit can be extended by petition to the Graduate Committee of the Department.

Completion of all requirements for the Master of Science in Geology required satisfactory completion of all courses in an approved Plan of Study and satisfactory completion of a thesis, including oral examination and any revisions required by the Thesis Committee or Departmental Graduate Committee, and maintaining a 3.0 GPA.

Application for Certificate in Hydrogeology

Applicants must be accepted as Post- Baccalaureate students at CSUB.  

Admission Requirements for Certificate in Hydrogeology

Applicants should have a BA or BS in Geology or a directly related field.  Applicants in related fields should have completed course work in Physical and Historical Geology, Stratigraphy and Sedimentation, Structural Geology, and one year each of college chemistry, physics and calculus.  Some of the courses in the Certificate program may have additional prerequisites. 

FINANCIAL AID

The Victor & Virginia Church Scholarship, The Theodore Decker Memorial, The C.E. Strange Fund and Teaching Assistantships

Our students have many sources of financial aid unique to our department in addition to the campus, state, and federal sources available to all students. Added to the school year 1999-2000 are two $5,000 CSUB Merit Scholarships. The Victor & Virginia Church Scholarship is targeted specifically for Geology majors and the Theodore Decker Memorial is targeted for Physical Science majors.  Our students also have access to scholarships from the C.E. Strange Fund, given principally to Geology majors. Several of our students are able to supplement their income with grants from this generous endowment as high as $500-$1,000 per year.

Students also receive aid as research assistants from grants and contracts held by faculty members and, also, from grants given out by the CSUB research office. In addition, most of our junior and senior level and graduate students are able to find part-time work with local industry enabling them to gain relevant work experience while attending school.

Fully supported teaching assistantships including tuition waivers are granted on a competitive basis to qualified graduate students.

DISCLAIMER: Statements found on this site are for informational purposes only. While every effort is made to ensure that this information is up-to-date and accurate, official information can be found in the University publications.