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2124 Snee Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-1504
607 255-5466

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Applying Degrees, Subjects & Concentrations Description Faculty View all

www.eas.cornell.edu
easinfo@cornell.edu
2124 Snee Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-1504
607 255-5466

Applying:

2009-10 Tuition: Research degree: $29,500; professional degree: $37,750

Application deadlines:
Fall, Jan. 15 (if financial aid is not needed, there is no specific deadline); Spring, check with field

Requirements summary:

Degrees, Subjects & Concentrations:

Subjects: Geological Sciences (M.S., Ph.D., M.Eng.)

Major concentrations: economic geology; engineering geology; environmental geophysics; general geology; geobiology; geochemistry and isotope geology; geohydrology; geomorphology; geophysics; geotectonics; mineralogy; paleontology; petroleum geology; petrology; planetary geology; Precambrian geology; Quaternary geology; rock mechanics; sedimentology; seismology; stratigraphy; structural geology

Minor concentrations: marine geology Degrees: M.S., Ph.D., M.Eng.

Course descriptions and rosters:

Description:

The geological science program is designed to give students broad and formal training in the basic sciences as well as field and practical experience through research in their specialty. The program has particular strengths in geophysics, geochemistry and petrology, structural geology, sedimentology, marine ecology, and paleontology. However, the exceptional flexibility of Cornell's graduate program provides ample opportunity for students to work across disciplinary areas. For example, arrangements exist for study of marine ecology, water resources, and various branches of applied geological science. Faculty members in other fields or divisions offer interdisciplinary courses including planetology and extraterrestrial geology, paleobotany, ecology and systematics, biogeochemistry, limnology, soil genesis, soil mineralogy, soil and rock mechanics, aerial-photograph analysis, environmental fluid mechanics and hydrology, fluid dynamics, elasticity, geotechnical and earthquake engineering, regional planning, hydraulics and hydrology, and materials science and engineering.

At least one minor subject outside the field is required for the doctoral degree. Before the end of their second semester in residence, all students must take a qualifying examination. This exam is in addition to those required by the Graduate School. It determines the candidate's fitness for undertaking advanced studies and enables the Special Committee to plan programs that will make the student familiar with the requisite knowledge in the chosen areas.

Research and study opportunities:
Research programs are being conducted by the field in such diverse areas as the study of seafloor spreading and plate tectonics on a global scale; carbon sequestration and storage in deep strata, the interaction of tectonics, topography, and climate in major mountain systems such as the Andes and Himalayas; investigation of igneous rocks in arc systems; tectonics, seismology, sedimentation, and geomorphology of the central Andes; structure and petrology of magmatic intrusions in the Coast Ranges of British Columbia; seismic reflection profiling of the deep crust and upper mantle; response of marine ecosystems to climate variability and change; dynamics and mechanics of the lithosphere and asthenosphere; application of geophysical techniques such as ground penetrating radar to environmental and archaeological problems; marine ecological and paleontological studies in the Caribbean Sea and Florida Keys; dynamics of marine ecosystems and organisms from plankton to whales using remote sensing and other tools; volcanic hazard assessment in the Andes; three-dimensional modeling of fluid flow in oil basins; biogeochemistry, soil development, and dynamics in young volcanic terrains; geochemistry and geophysics of oceanic islands, mid-ocean ridges and island arcs; remote sensing of seismic and volcanic deformation of the crust; dynamics of mantle plumes and earth science education. The field maintains working agreements with institutions worldwide to facilitate research projects in those areas or to work on materials especially accessible there. Current and recent graduate students have carried out field investigations in such diverse places as the Philippines, Montserrat (West Indies), British Columbia, Mauritius (Indian Ocean), Honduras, Argentina, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Monterey Bay (California), and Tibet. The Paleontological Research Institution, located near the campus, has world-renowned facilities and collections available to students interested in paleontology.

The Ithaca region itself is particularly suited for research in stratigraphy, paleontology, geomorphology, and glacial geology. The nearby Adirondack area is classic for studies of igneous and metamorphic petrology.

Application:
Students who are self-motivated and self-directed with strong quantitative backgrounds and a keen interest in and curiosity about the Earth are encouraged to apply. While helpful, prior study of geology is not a requirement for admission; applications from students with undergraduate degrees in other fields are welcome. Applicants are required to submit GRE general test scores. Please note that the field no longer accepts paper applications. Visit apply.gradschool.cornell.edu to apply online.

Faculty:

  • Richard Allmendinger -- Concentrations: geotectonics; seismology; structural geology; Research interests: structural geology

  • Warren Allmon -- Concentrations: paleontology; Research interests: macroevolution; evolutionary paleoecology; systematics of Cenozoic mollusks

  • Christopher Andronicos -- Concentrations: general geology; geotectonics; petrology; Precambrian geology; structural geology; Research interests: general geology; geotectonics; petrology; precambrium geology; tectonics; structural geology; metamorphic petrology

  • James Bell -- Concentrations: planetary geology; Research interests: planetary surface composition; mineralogy and weathering processes; spacecraft; telescopic and laboratory remote sensing instrumentation and data processing/analysis methods

  • J. Thomas Brenna -- Concentrations: geochemistry and isotope geology; Research interests: mass spectrometry; biomedicine; compound-specific isotope analysis; instrument development

  • Larry Brown -- Concentrations: environmental geophysics; geophysics; seismology; Research interests: geophysics; seismology; ground penetrating radar; geotectonics

  • Wilfred Brutsaert -- Concentrations: geohydrology; Research interests: geohydrology

  • Lawrence Cathles -- Concentrations: economic geology; engineering geology; environmental geophysics; geochemistry and isotope geology; geohydrology; geophysics; geotectonics; petroleum geology; Research interests: economic geology; geophysics

  • John Cisne -- Concentrations: general geology; geobiology; paleontology; sedimentology; stratigraphy; Research interests: paleontology

  • Louis Derry -- Concentrations: general geology; geochemistry and isotope geology; Research interests: low-temperature geochemistry; isotope geochemistry; biogeochemical cycles

  • Gregory Dietl -- Concentrations: paleontology; Research interests: paleontology

  • Michelle Goman -- Concentrations: Quaternary geology; Research interests: Quaternary paleoecology; Quaternary paleoclimatology

  • Charles Greene -- Concentrations: environmental geophysics; Research interests: oceanography; interaction of physical and biological processes in oceanic ecosystems

  • David Hysell -- Concentrations: geophysics; Research interests: geophysics; upper atmosphere physics; radar remote sensing; space plasmas

  • Teresa Jordan -- Concentrations: general geology; geotectonics; sedimentology; stratigraphy; Research interests: stratigraphy; sedimentology; tectonics; geomorphology

  • Robert Kay -- Concentrations: economic geology; general geology; geochemistry and isotope geology; geotectonics; mineralogy; petrology; planetary geology; Precambrian geology; Research interests: petrology; geochemistry

  • Suzanne Kay -- Concentrations: geochemistry and isotope geology; geotectonics; petrology; Research interests: igneous petrology; geochemistry

  • Rowena Lohman -- Concentrations: geophysics; Research interests: geophysics

  • Sturt Manning -- Concentrations: geochemistry and isotope geology; Quaternary geology; Research interests: dendrochronology; dendroclimatology; dendrochemistry in the Mediterranean, Near East and Northeast North America; radiocarbon dating and calibration; Aegean, Cypriot and East Mediterranean history

  • Thomas O'Rourke -- Concentrations: engineering geology; rock mechanics; Research interests: geotechnical and earthquake engineering

  • Jean-Yves Parlange -- Concentrations: geohydrology; Research interests: geohydrology

  • Jason Phipps-Morgan -- Concentrations: geophysics; geotectonics; Research interests: geodynamics, marine geophysics, geochemical evolution of the Earth, hotspot, mid-ocean ridge, and subduction zone processes

  • Matthew Pritchard -- Concentrations: geophysics; geotectonics; planetary geology; seismology; Research interests: active tecctonics/earthquake cycle; volcanology; planetary geophysics

  • Robert Ross -- Concentrations: general geology; geobiology; paleontology; Quaternary geology; sedimentology; stratigraphy; Research interests: evolutionary paleobiology; paleoceanography; geoscience education; micropaleontology

  • Andy Ruina -- Concentrations: engineering geology; geophysics; geotectonics; rock mechanics; seismology; Research interests: geomechanics

  • Steven Squyres -- Concentrations: planetary geology; Research interests: planetary science

  • Tammo Steenhuis -- Concentrations: geohydrology; Research interests: geohydrology

  • Jefferson Tester -- Concentrations: economic geology; engineering geology; geochemistry and isotope geology; geohydrology; petroleum geology; rock mechanics; Research interests: geothermal energy; advanced drilling technology; unconventional fossil fuel upgrading; carbon capture and sequestration; water purification and use

  • Joseph Veverka -- Concentrations: geomorphology; planetary geology; Research interests: astronomy; planetology

  • William White -- Concentrations: geochemistry and isotope geology; petrology; Research interests: geochemistry

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