Earth and Environmental Sciences, MS
The course-based MS program in Earth and Environmental Sciences consists of 30 credit hours of graduate-level coursework that advances beyond the undergraduate curriculum in this field. The program offers breadth by requiring a set of courses from different subdisciplines. Subsequently, students can choose to focus on one of four pillars (Solid Earth and Planetary Science; Surface and Sedimentary Processes; Climate and Environment; GIS, Geospatial, and Quantitative Methods). Six credit hours are filled by means of research or an internship.
The Earth and Environmental Sciences, MS requires a minimum of 30 credit hours and a cumulative grade point average of 3.000. Details about program requirements can be found below.
See Curriculum Requirements and Recommended Plans of Study below.
Curriculum Requirements
The MS in EES requires 30 credit hours of coursework and is designed that it can be completed in 12 months and is open to Tulane undergraduates as a 4+1 program and to external candidates.
To assure sufficient breadth, the degree requires that at least one 3-hr course is taken from three of the four pillars (Solid Earth and Planetary Science; Surface and Sedimentary Processes; Climate and Environment; GIS, Geospatial, and Quantitative Methods).
To develop professional skills, another 6 credit hours are devoted to an internship and/or independent study.
The remaining 15 credit hours are filled according to student interests; they may include up to 6 credit hours taken in other departments (e.g., RCSE, CMPS, EBIO, PHYS; approval by the EES Graduate Committee required).
Up to 12 credit hours may be transferred from graduate-level courses taken previously toward the undergraduate degree at Tulane University. However, only 6 hours can be double-counted; the additional 6 hours would have to be taken beyond the 120 credit hours for the Bachelor’s degree.
Transferred credit hours must be approved by the EES Graduate Committee. Each student will be assigned an advisor for general academic guidance. The department will also provide a database of internship options.
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one course from three of the following four Pillars | 9 | |
| Solid Earth and Planetary Science | ||
| Special Topics Volcanology | ||
| Special Topics Critical Minerals | ||
| Planetary Geology | ||
| Rocks and Minerals and Earth Materials Lab | ||
| Structural Geology | ||
| Surface and Sedimentary Processes | ||
| Coastal Marine Geology | ||
| 3D Stratigraphy | ||
| Groundwater Hydrology | ||
| Depositional Mechanics | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
| Climate and Environment | ||
| Special Topics Climate Data & Analysis | ||
| Paleoclimatology | ||
| Environmental Geochemstr | ||
| Natural Climate Solutions | ||
| Shark Paleobiology | ||
| Special Topics Earth System Models | ||
| GIS, Geospatial, and Quantitative Methods | ||
| Advanced GIS * | ||
| Remote Sensing for Env Anlys | ||
| Intro Remote Sensing * | ||
| Intro to GIS and Intro to GIS lab * | ||
| Additional Earth and Environmental Sciences elective coursework | 15 | |
| Choose from EENS courses available such as the following: | ||
| Natural Hazards & Mitigation | ||
| The Scientific Enterprise | ||
| Earth & Env Sci.Field Studies | ||
Up to 6 credit hours taken in other departments (e.g., RCSE, CMPS, EBIO, PHYS; approval by the EES Graduate Committee required) | ||
| Professional Skills Coursework | 6 | |
Internship | ||
| Independent Research | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- *
available as summer course
Recommended Plans of Study
These are example of plans of study for the MS in Earth and Environmental Sciences encompassing all requirements for the program. Students are responsible for reviewing university, school, and program requirements, along with prerequisites and the sequencing of courses in coordination with their program advisor.
See Three Semester Plan of Study and 4+1 Plan of Study
Three Semester Plan of Study
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| Pillar Electives* | 6 | |
| Earth and Environmental Sciences Electives | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Pillar Elective* | 3 | |
| Earth and Environmental Sciences Electives | 9 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Summer Session | ||
| Professional Skills Coursework | 3 | |
| Professional Skills Coursework | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- *
Complete one course each from three of the four Pillars
4+1 Plan of Study
Senior/Final Undergraduate Year
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FALL | ||
| Pillar Elective* | 3 | |
| Graduate Earth and Environmental Sciences Elective ** | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| SPRING | ||
| Pillar Elective* | 3 | |
| Graduate Earth and Environmental Sciences Elective ** | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
Graduate Year
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FALL | ||
| Pillar Elective* | 3 | |
| Earth and Environmental Science MS Elective | 3 | |
| Professional Skills Coursework | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| SPRING | ||
| Earth and Environmental Sciences MS Elective | 3 | |
| Professional Skills Coursework | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- *
Complete one course each from three of the four Pillars.
- **
Only two graduate EENS courses taken in the senior year can apply to the undergraduate degree. The additional EENS graduate courses taken in the senior year must be taken as graduate-level courses and can only apply to the graduate degree.
Program String and Field of Study: SEMS_GR, EENS
For more information, contact the School of Science and Engineering.