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Geology

Master of Science (M.S.)

"We love to hire UT grads."
"They are well prepared with strong analytical skills and are able to relate theory and concepts to practical applications to solve problems and get the job done.” — Mike Angle, assistant chief and assistant state geologist, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

"We love to hire UT grads."
"They are well prepared with strong analytical skills and are able to relate theory and concepts to practical applications to solve problems and get the job done.” — Mike Angle, assistant chief and assistant state geologist, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Geology Master's Degree Overview

The research-based geology master's degree program at The University of Toledo combines practical skills and academic knowledge. 

Our graduate students learn to assess, understand and solve geology-related problems. They choose a thesis or non-thesis track and: 

  • Receive personalized training in a variety of near-surface geophysical methods with state-of-the-art equipment 
  • Develop desirable skills in GIS, remote sensing and sediment coring 
  • Learn to collect and analyze data to solve problems 

The master's degree program faculty has expertise in Quaternary geology and water resources, with an emphasis on environmental geology. Our program focuses on near-surface geology, emphasizing: 

Coastal geology Hydrogeology
Glacial geology and geomorphology Water resources
Quaternary geology  

Geology Master's Degree Highlights

High job-placement rate. There is a growing demand for UToledo geology students by state geological surveys in the Midwest. Most of our geology master's students are employed by the time they graduate. 

State-of-the-art tools. UT graduate students in geology have access to the latest equipment, including: 

  • Geophysical equipment to investigate shallow, sub-surface stratigraphy on land and water 
  • Coring equipment from land, water and ice platforms 
  • Fleet of drones to complement more traditional remote-sensing and GIS methods 

A rich, natural laboratory. The region around UT offers abundant natural sites that allow our master's students to study: 

Geologic history of natural areas Mine subsidence
Formation and history of sand dunes around the Great Lakes Watershed modelling of runoff and nutrient loading in Lake Erie
Deglacial history and formation of the Great Lakes basins Groundwater flow patterns in aquifers feeding wet prairies

Teamwork. Geology students get a holistic understanding of unique ecological areas. They work on interdisciplinary projects with UToledo ecologists who also are part of the Department of Environmental Sciences. Master's candidates study groundwater/surface-water interactions and use geophysical and remote-sensing techniques to map ecological regions. 

Regional partnerships. Our graduate students benefit from our collaboration with experts from the Ohio, Michigan and Indiana geological surveys, who assist with field experiments.  

Competitive funding. UToledo geology graduate students can apply for research grants and teaching assistantships (minimum $17,500/year). 


Career Opportunities

During the past 10 years, nearly all UToledo master's students in geology have been employed within six months of defending their theses. Many found positions even before they graduated, working for geological surveys, city governments and environmental consulting firms. 

UToledo geology graduates have been employed as: 

Environmental consultant, Mannik Smith Group, Maumee, Ohio Assistant professor, Central Connecticut State University
Environmental business manager, Atlantic Richfield Company, Butte, Mont. Hydrologist, Flynn Environmental, Inc., Akron, Ohio
Project manager and geologist, NAEVA Geophysics, Inc., New York City Data scientist, Boston Consulting Group
Glacial geology research scientist, Indiana Geological and Water Survey  

Graduates of our geology master's program also have pursued Ph.D.s at such universities as: 

  • Indiana University 
  • University of Illinois 
  • University of Nebraska 
  • University of Wisconsin 

Professional Licensure Information

Our Alumni

Melinda Higley"The professors in the Department of Environmental Sciences were always willing to do field work with us, while simultaneously helping us to develop independence with our research and critical thinking. As I entered the working world, I felt like a prepared and capable scientist."

Melinda Higley, '09. Read more about Melinda's career here.

 

Chris Maike"I was given so many opportunities at The University of Toledo, including a variety of fascinating courses and field trips around the country. I owe a great amount to my advisor. He always gave me words of encouragement and constructive feedback."

Chris Maike, '14. Read more about Chris' career here.


Geology Master's Degree Plan of Study

Courses in the geology master's program at UToledo teach many practical skills, including: 

GIS Shallow-earth geophysics
Remote sensing Groundwater monitoring and modeling
Sediment coring  

All new graduate students take Glacial Stratigraphy & Geophysics. The field- and lab-intensive course introduces the glacial history and stratigraphy of the region. Students identify a research problem, develop a hypothesis and analyze their collected field data to test the hypothesis. The results are usually of such high quality that students present them at a professional meeting. 


View Plan of Study

Research Opportunities

The award-winning faculty members in the geology master's program have national and international reputations. They have expertise in a variety of areas, including: 

Geomorphology Invertebrate paleontology/paleoecology
Quaternary history of the Great Lakes Coastal and marine geology
Land subsidence Oceanography
Groundwater resources General hydrogeology

UToledo master's students in geology are active, productive researchers. Many student-research projects are based on near-surface, high-resolution geophysical methods and remote sensing applications. You can learn more about students' thesis projects here. 

Geology graduate students have won numerous awards, including: 

  • Ohio Rocks! grants to support master's degree research  
  • Graduate research grants from the Geological Society of America  
  • Best Environmental Sciences Presentation 2018 from the Midwest Graduate Research Symposium (MGRS) 

Want More Information?


Geology Master's Degree

2 years

Program Availability

 On Campus

Program Quick Links

View Admission Requirements
Department of Environmental Sciences
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
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Last Updated: 3/21/2023