Our department offers a MS degree in Geological Sciences. Students are extremely successful in getting jobs with oil companies and in environmental geology, and several have continued into Ph.D. programs at Universities such as Stanford, UCLA, University of Oregon, and Purdue, among others.
NMSU is located in the southern part of the Rio Grande rift, which provides an ideal setting for a wide variety of geologic studies. World-class exposures are ideal for class field trips as well as local MS projects.
Faculty research includes projects throughout New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Mexico and Australia. Faculty specialties can be viewed on their individual pages.Our laboratory facilities include an XRD, XRF, rock saws, a mineral separation lab, and shatterbox for preparing geochemical samples. We also have a new LIBS facility and soon will have a mass spectrometer for analyzing radiogenic isotopes.
In 2010 we will move into a newly renovated science building, Gardiner Hall, with expanded lab and teaching facilities.
Application Process
The deadline for applications for the Fall 2009 Semester is February 15, 2009. If you are not applying for financial aid (a TA position), you can submit your application up to July 1, 2009.There are two applications. One is directly to the University Graduate School and you use this form to pay the $30 fee and arrange for your official transcripts to be sent to NMSU. The other is to the department and consists of: 3 reference letters and a financial aid application. The process includes these steps:
1) Submit the graduate school application directly to the graduate school. Be sure to send the transcript request form to your college(s).
2) If you are applying for financial aid (usually a TA position), submit this form directly to the Department of Geological Sciences. This form also has a place for a statement of your interests.
3) Please email your current GPA and GRE scores to the Graduate Advisor . The NMSU GRE Institution Code is 4531 and the Geological Sciences GRE Department Code is 0504.
4) Print the Reference Letter form and have your referees send these directly to the Graduate Advisor at the address listed on the form.
Note: A student who does not qualify for financial aid may enroll and take classes leading to the department's MS degree in geology. If a TA position opens up during a subsequent semester, and if the student has the required minimum 3.0 GPA, there may be an opportunity to receive financial assistance. In addition, acceptance by the NMSU Graduate School does not mean that you will automatically receive financial aid from the department. Contact us if you have questions about your status.
Offers can be made anytime after your application is complete, but typically do not begin until after February 15. Offers may be made through March, April, and May, so please contact us if you have any questions or have accepted an offer from a different program.
If you prefer, we can mail you these forms:
Email us to request an application packet from the Department of Geological Sciences.
For more information contact:
Dr. Jeff Amato, Graduate Advisor
Dept. Geological Sciences/MSC 3AB
P.O. Box 30001
Las Cruces, NM 88003
(575) 646-3017
amato@nmsu.edu
Useful links for Graduate Students
Long-term class schedule (subject to change)