Master’s in Geology

About 90% of past students with MS Geology degrees from NAU are employed in the areas of environmental and engineering consulting industry, energy industry, teaching and other related jobs, and federal and state agencies. The MS in Geology offers the opportunity to research sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks, along with stratigraphy, structure, volcanology, surficial processes, and water resources.

Explore research in this area

Remember, a successful graduate experience depends on finding the right program for you, and also the right advisor – a faculty member who shares and can support your research interests. You should plan to identify one or more potential faculty advisors well in advance of the application deadline, and to have at least one conversation about the match between your interests and opportunities in their lab.

• Past & Present Climate Change
• Tectonics & Earth’s Interior
• Sedimentary Geology & Geomorphology
• Water Management, Policy & Science

How to apply

First, get to know our faculty and review current opportunities for students. It is very important that you reach out to faculty members you would be interested in working with before you apply. Faculty expect to receive emails from prospective students. To get the best response, be as specific as possible about why you are interested in their research or their lab (reading one or more papers from the lab is a great place to start!), and what you are hoping to get out of grad school. They can then tell you more about their research and if they have space available in their labs.

Second, entry into any SES Graduate Program requires an online application through the Graduate College.

A completed application for admission will include:

• An online application for admission to the NAU Graduate College, with the required application fee;
• A statement of your interests and goals, and your reasons for pursuing an advanced degree;
• Unofficial transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work;
• Names of the faculty advisor(s) you have been in contact with and would like to work with;
• Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional supervisors (you will only have to provide contact information, and then recommenders will submit letters directly to NAU. Give them time to submit before the deadline);
• Submission by the January 1st application deadline.

Funding your graduate education 

Graduate students in this program are supported via Research Assistantships (funded by grants obtained by individual faculty within the School), and/or Teaching Assistantships. Both RA and TA positions include a yearly stipend of at least $15,000 (higher if an advisor can supply summer support) plus funding for tuition and health insurance. Decisions about RA/TA support are made together with admission – there is no separate application process required. Talk to your potential faculty advisor about funding availability, including summer support.

Once students are in the program, there are also scholarships and fellowships available to cover some research costs, student fees, and/or stipend supplements.