V. MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN PALEONTOLOGY

Summarized from the Graduate Student Handbook. Faculty whose major field is Stratigraphy and Paleontology: Bishop, Fox, Gries, Herbel, Martin, and Sankey.

I. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS. The student must complete the following minimum course credits:


 

 Thesis Degree

  Non-Thesis Option
 Coursework (600 or above)**

  25 credits

  33 credits
 PALE 793 Thesis Seminar

 1 credit

 1 credit
 PALE 700 Research (minimum)***

  6 credits

  2 credits
 

  32 credits

 36 credits

**Up to 6 credits may be 400-level courses. These must be out-of-department courses, or GEOE 425, PALE 371, PALE 472.

***With the consent of the student's graduate committee, a student may count up to 9 credit hours of thesis research (PALE 700) toward the degree credit requirements. This allows the student to exchange a 700-level (or 600-level) course for 3 extra hours of thesis work. However, the student may register for additional research credits for continuing registration purposes.

II. REQUIRED PREREQUISITE NON-GEOLOGY/PALEO COURSES:

 

 Course

 Credits

 MATH 481

Engineering Statistics or equivalent

 3 or 4

 MATH 123

 Calculus I

 4

 PHYS 119

 Physics I

 3

 CHEM 112

 General Chemistry I

 3

 CHEM 114

 General Chemistry II

 3
     


III. REQUIRED PREREQUISITE GEOLOGY/PALEONTOLOGY COURSES:

 

 

 Course

 Credits

 GEOL 201

Physical Geology

 3

 GEOL 205

Physical Geology Lab

 1

GEOL 231

 Historical Geology

 3

 GEOL 322

 Structural Geology

 3

 GEOL 212

 Mineralogy and Crystallography

 3

 GEOL 410

 Field Geology

 5 or 6

 GEOL 341

 Elementary Petrology

 3

 GEOL 331

 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation

 3

 PALE 471

 Invertebrate Paleontology

 3

 


IV. REQUIRED GEOLOGY/PALEONTOLOGY COURSES FOR M.S.

 

 

 Course

 Credits

GEOL 631

Rocky Mountain Stratigraphy I *or

 3

*GEOL 632

Rocky Mountain Stratigraphy II

GEOL 633

 Sedimentation

 3

PALE 671

 Advanced Field Paleontology (Summer)

 2

 PALE 673

 Comparative Osteology

 3

 GEOL 410

 Field Geology

 5 or 6

 GEOL/PALE 770

 Seminar in Paleontology

 2

GEOL/PALE 793

 Graduate Seminar

 1

GEOL/PALE 676

Vertebrate Paleontology

6

 GEOL/PALE 678

 Vertebrate Biostratigraphy

 6

 PALE 700

 Graduate Research (Thesis)

 6

 

 

V. UNDERGRADUATE PREREQUISITES: At lease 2 credits must be taken from the following:

 

 

 Course

 Credits

PALE 371
 Vertebrate Paleotological Techniques
and Exhibit Design

 3

PALE 472
 Museum Conservation & Curation

3

 

VI. SUPPLEMENTARY GEOLOGY/PALEONTOLOGY COURSES:

   

  GEOL 517

 Data Base Development

 3

 GEOL 643

 Introduction to Microbeam Instruments

 3

 GEOL/PALE 672

 Micropaleontology

 3

 GEOL 604

 Advanced Field Geology

 3

 

VII. A language proficiency examination is required.

VIII . All samples and specimens collected during a student's tenure at the school of Mines and Technology must be curated into the systematic collections of the Museum of Geology.

 



VI. IMPORTANT LANDMARKS IN MASTER'S STUDY

1. Before End of First Semester >>> Program of Study

1. Present a Program of Study (POS) to the Department Graduate Coordinator

a) This is submitted before the end of the first semester of study, and must be signed by all members of the graduate committee.

b) The POS may be changed or updated at a later time if necessary.

2. Before the end of the Third Semester of Coursework & before beginning thesis.

2. Present a Thesis Proposal to the Major Advisor and Committee.

a) Before the end of the third semester of coursework, and before commencing thesis/dissertation research.

 

3. Completion of coursework including the core curriculum.

4. Oral Examination over Coursework no sooner than Second Year & at least 3 months before thesis defense.

4. Pass the Oral Coursework Examination.

a) Shall be taken no sooner than during the second year of graduate studies and at least three months before the Thesis Seminar and Defense.


b) If the five-year limit is exceeded and if the graduate student is readmitted to the graduate program, the student must retake the Oral Coursework Examination.

5. Presentation of the Thesis Seminar followed by the Thesis Defense.

a) The Oral Coursework Examination and the Thesis Seminar and Defense may not be scheduled during finals week, the week before finals, or the summer.

b) Under special circumstances the student may petition the Department Chairman for consideration of summer scheduling. If accepted, this will require registration for 2 credits during the summer.

c) All samples and specimens must be curated into the collections of the Museum of Geology prior to scheduling Thesis Defense.

 

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