Rita Ghose, who graduated with a master's in earth and environmental sciences, studies geology to help boost the economy of Bangladesh.
Master of Science in Earth and Environmental Sciences
On this page:
- Why Choose the Earth and Environmental Sciences Program?
- Careers
- Success Stories
- Academics and Curriculum
- Admission
- Non-Thesis (Second) Master of Science
Why Choose the Earth and Environmental Sciences Program?
If you want to prepare for a career as professional geoscientist in industry, government, or to go on to Ph.D. studies, consider Wright State’s Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in earth and environmental sciences.
Careers
View the Earth and Environmental Sciences program profile for sample occupations, average salary, and employment projections.
Success Stories
 |
 Jared Shank, who has degrees in geography and earth and environmental science from Wright State, searches underground for the past as a member of a metal detecting club. |
Academics and Curriculum
The graduate degree program includes coursework (24 semester credits minimum), and an independent research project leading to a thesis (6 semester credits minimum). A completed thesis, evaluated by a faculty advisory committee, is required. Your research may focus on any area in which faculty are interested. Learn more about faculty research interests, which we organize into the areas of:
- Earth
- Energy
- Education
- Environment
The program requires 30 hours of graduate credits taken at Wright State. Your schedule of courses (24 credit hours minimum) and thesis research (6 credit hours minimum) will be specified through a program of study approved by an advisory committee of three graduate faculty members.
View the Master of Science in Earth and Environmental Sciences program information and degree requirements in the Academic Catalog.
Admission
Criteria for Admission to the M.S. Program
Admission into graduate programs of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is competitive. January 31 is the deadline for first review of complete applications, including transcripts, GRE scores, statement of academic and professional goals, and letters of reference. Applications received after January 31 will be reviewed, but may not receive the highest priority for acceptance and financial support.
Applicants to the M.S. program must have a baccalaureate foundation in science. The minimum requirement for admission is one year (either 2 semesters or 3 quarters) of undergraduate coursework in at least three of the following scientific disciplines:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics/statistics
- Biology
- Earth/environmental sciences
- Computer science
If you lack the minimum undergraduate coursework, you may be accepted into the M.S. program, but may be required to successfully complete coursework in disciplines of deficiency prior to graduation.
We invite you to send some information about yourself using the Inquiry from A Prospective Graduate Student form.
We will reply and direct you to the faculty and programs that best fit your interests.
Application Instructions for the M.S. Program
The application form for admission in the M.S. program must be completed online on the Graduate School website.
Supplemental materials (GRE test scores, transcripts, application fee, etc.) must be sent to the Graduate School at the mailing address given below. Your complete application must be received in the department by January 31 to be considered when we begin our main cycle of reviews and financial awards in early February. Because of delays in application transfers from the Graduate School to the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, we strongly encourage you to complete your application to the Graduate School (including supplemental materials) by January 31.
- Complete the online application on the Graduate School website.
- Submit a Statement of Educational and Professional Goals
This statement is submitted with your online application. It is evaluated by the admissions committee for both content and style. Therefore, it should be well written and express clear and realistic goals.
- Request Letters of Recommendation
At least three referees should be personally contacted and asked to write letters of recommendation. You should specify the names and contact information for referees within the application form. Please follow up with your referees after you made your initial request to make sure that the letters reach the graduate school in a timely manner.
- Request Undergraduate Transcripts
Transcripts are required from every undergraduate institution you attended. Your application remains incomplete until official transcripts are received. Since most institutions have many requests at the same time of year, make your request early so all documents will be received in time. The transcript request form is included in the application package.
If you are currently pursuing your undergraduate degree, it is important that you indicate courses you are currently taking that may not be reflected on your transcript.
- Contact ETS: General GRE Scores Required for Admission into the MS Program
Please note that General GRE scores are required for admission and financial award. Only in case of strong academic transcripts (high GPA), and highly favorable letters of recommendation, the GRE requirement may be waived as a special case. Please contact ETS and arrange to have the official GRE scores sent to Wright State University directly (Institution Code for Wright State University: 1179).
The graduate school requires a non-refundable application fee that must be included with your application to cover the cost of handling application materials.
Mailing Address
Please make sure that all supporting material, i.e., recommendation letters, GRE scores, transcripts, etc., are sent directly to:
Graduate School
wsugrad@wright.edu
Open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
E344 Student Union
Wright State University
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy.
Dayton, OH 45435-0001
Telephone: 937-775-2976
Fax: 937-775-2453
Non-Thesis (Second) Master of Science
This degree program offers a graduate degree (Master of Science, non-thesis option) in earth and environmental sciences. It is designed for professionals who desire a second graduate degree to re-train in applied subjects in earth and environmental sciences and who already hold an M.S. or a Ph.D. degree with a completed thesis or dissertation in a science or engineering field. Areas in which you may focus include:
- Hydrogeology and Hydrology
- Aquifer remediation techniques
- Surface water quality assessment
- Applied Geophysics
- Near-surface geophysics
- Environmental Sciences
- Biogeochemical processes
The program can be completed in as little as one year.
Program Details
- The standards for admission into the M.S. program with the non-thesis option are identical to the standards for regular admission.
- The non-thesis program requires 22 hours of graduate credits taken at Wright State. Your course schedule will be specified through a program of study approved by an advisory committee of three graduate faculty members.
- The 22 credit hours will include 4 hours of research (EES 6990), the result of which will be a review paper focused on a topic related to your area of interest. The paper should be developed under the guidance of an advisory committee.
