Location:

Rapid City, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Physical Sciences

Program Overview

Program Description:

he Department of Geology and Geological Engineering offers a master of science (MS) degree in paleontology, the only such advanced degree in the United States. For the MS in paleontology, students complete a research project culminating in the defense of a MS thesis; a non-thesis option is not available for this degree program. The MS in paleontology offers many opportunities for field-based research as well as courses in museum studies. Faculty expertise includes marine micropaleontology, vertebrate paleontology, and invertebrate paleontology. Areas of research include biostratigraphy, biogeography, paleoclimatology, trace element and isotopic paleontology, and evolutionary paleoecology. Resources available to graduate students in paleontology include the extensive collections of the Museum of Geology. For more information on this degree, please see the catalog on the program website.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

We are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) North Central Association.

Financial Aid:

No

Requirements:

• Complete the application format on our Graduate Education website. • Pay the $35.00 application fee. • Official transcripts from all U.S. institutions attended, including evidence of your bachelor’s degree if applicable. Transcripts must be mailed directly to SDSM&T by the issuing institution. Email copies are not accepted. A GPA of 3.0 is recommended; students with exceptional ability may apply with less than 3.0 GPA. • One page statement of purpose/personal statement of goals and research interests. • GRE score report: required . The SDSM&T school code is 6652. Scores of 50% or higher are recommended; strong quantitative scores are expected. • Three letters of recommendation. Should be submitted at the time of the online application. However can be submitted via email or postal mail.

International Requirements:

• Third party foreign transcript evaluation for all foreign institutions attended, including evidence of your bachelor’s degree if applicable. Effective August 15, 2012, SDSM&T requires a course-by-course evaluation report sent directly to us from the evaluating institution. We will only accept evaluation reports from Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) or World Education Services (WES). If you use ECE, order a catalog match report. If you use WES, order a course by course report. • Evidence of English proficiency, with the exception of applicants from countries where English is the native language. Applicants who have a prior degree from a university in the U.S. may be considered for exemption. Note that Engineering Management will only consider applications meeting the upper level score criteria.