Location:

Butte, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Physics

Program Overview

Program Description:

Geophysical engineers are employed in oil, mining and the environmental fields. Montana Tech geophysics faculty has strengths in seismology, radar, gravity, magnetic, electrical and electromagnetic methods. The Department actively seeks graduate students who have a background in physics, geology, computer science or related engineering fields. Montana Tech Geophysical Engineering students have participated in geothermal, seismic, gravity, and magnetic studies in western Montana basins; evaluation of coal deposits in eastern Montana; characterization of earthen dams, oil reservoir characterization projects using neural networks, seismic characterization of drill sites in Antarctica; and archaeological investigations in California and Egypt. Engineering geophysical applications are also of interest; recent projects involved the combined use of seismic and electrical techniques in groundwater development investigations and characterizing rock pillar strength in an underground platinum/palladium mine in Montana. Recent funded student research projects include application of artificial neural networks, reservoir characterization, geophysics for archaeological applications, rapid seismic data collection, land and air based optical spectrometry, physical modeling of reservoirs, testing and calibration of new electromagnetic measurement devices, and the exploration of Antarctica. Marvin Speece, Department Head, received an International Polar Year (a large multinational scientific program) research grant from the National Science Foundation for his project titled, “Understanding the Tectonic and Stratigraphic History of Offshore New Harbor, Ross Sea, Antarctica.” Seth Betterly, a student researcher in Antarctica, states: “I feel the program has propelled me toward my career goals. The knowledge I have attained at Montana Tech, and the geophysical department in particular, has given me the confidence to succeed.”

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

Montana Tech is ABET accredited.

International Requirements:

International students are required to submit TOEFL scores and an International Statement of Financial Support showing at least $23,000 USD in addition to the application materials. It is the responsibility of the applicant to have foreign transcripts evaluated on a course-by-course basis by Educational Credentials Evaluators, Inc (ECE) to determine Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. The equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor's degree must also have been achieved. A copy of the report must be sent to Montana Tech's Graduate Office by ECE.