Environmental, Earth, and Geospatial Sciences

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OVERVIEW

The mission of the Department of Environmental, Earth and Geospatial Sciences (DEEGS) is to promote intellectual, professional, and personal excellence through the highest quality instruction, research, and service in the environmental, earth and geospatial sciences.  Its vision is to be recognized as a regional, statewide, and national resource for students and society as well as professionals who work in the many fields that are encompassed by the environmental, earth, and geospatial sciences

The Master of Science in Earth Sciences program is designed to develop master’s level competence through the applied earth sciences concentration, with an emphasis on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS) of the physical environment, and the sampling of environmental and health‐related data; or the general earth science concentration, which is designed to enhance the knowledge of earth science teachers and other professionals who wish to pursue professional opportunities or further graduate work. Students in the programs currently focus their studies in the fields of seismology, natural hazards, GIS and Remote Sensing applications, environmental health & impacts and remediation technology among others. The core courses are designed to provide students with the analytical and methodological skills necessary to understand or derive explanations for individual occurrences, for recurring processes, and for invariable as well as statistical regularities in the earth’s lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.

The Master of Earth Sciences requires the completion of two semesters of residence and at least 36 credits of graduate-level courses are required.  Graduate courses at NCCU are numbered above 5000.

There are two options for obtaining the M.S. degree in Earth Sciences: thesis and non-thesis project options.  In addition to core requirements and classes related to a student’s concentration, Master’s students in Earth Science must successfully complete, as a graduate student, approved graduate courses in statistics and technical writing. The master’s degree also requires successful completion of a written Comprehensive Examination and a language requirement.

Option 1: M.S. in Earth Sciences with Thesis: For this option, laboratory research under the close supervision of a faculty member and writing of a master’s thesis are required. Students must present the results of the research in defense of the thesis for successful completion of the program by taking EASC 5900 (Thesis).  Students must also successfully present their proposed research topic before a thesis committee before they can be admitted to candidacy.  The total credit hours required for the thesis option is 36.

Option 2: M.S. in Earth Sciences with Non-thesis Project: This option is designed primarily for individuals who wish to complete a project or internship using industry-based skills learned in the M.S. program in preparation for the workforce.  Under the supervision of a faculty supervisor, students may work with an external organization or agency.  They must write and present the results of this experience in defense of this internship for successful completion of the program by taking EASC 5800 (Internship).  The total credit hours required for the non-thesis project option is 36.

DEEGS Graduate Faculty

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