UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

Department of Geology

Environmental Geology Online Programs

Environmental Geology Online Programs

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Master's
Degree

Environmental Geology Online Master’s Program

Overview

The Department of Geology is pleased to offer a new online, non-thesis Master of Science degree in Environmental Geology to serve remotely located learners and working professionals who are unable to attend on-campus. This degree is focused on environment-related expertise required for applied industry careers, including modeling of groundwater flow, characterization of contaminant migration, groundwater and contaminant geochemistry, and environmental geophysics.  These are areas of long-standing strength in the Department of Geology, which also has faculty expertise in innovative online pedagogy. The program also includes geospatial and data science components that are synergistic with two new programs in the Departments of Atmospheric Science and Geography and Geographical Information Science.

Career Opportunities

Environment-related careers are the dominant area of employment in the Geology field, and include environmental consulting, government regulatory jobs, non-profit organizations, as well as government and research jobs.  Technological advancements, regulations and other factors continue to play a role in the changes within the field, so this program provides an opportunity for those that completed their B.S. degree a while ago to update their skills and potentially advance in the field.  A Master’s degree is often required to advance within the profession and this program is designed to satisfy demand from non-traditional students so they may maintain personal and professional obligations.

Application Deadlines

  • Summer 2023 — April 15, 2023
  • Fall 2023 — August 1, 2023
  • Spring 2024 term — December 15, 2023
Cory Pettijohn
"One of my favorite roles as the Online Faculty Coordinator for the certificate and Master's programs is partnering our students with Illinois faculty and project mentors in the public and private sectors on customized capstone research projects. These dynamic projects demonstrate our students’ abilities to become industry leaders, excel in project management, and work in dynamic team environments."
— Cory Pettijohn
Teaching Assistant Professor, Faculty Program Coordinator of Environmental Geology Online M.S. and Certificate Programs

Coursework

Students pursuing the Environmental Geology Online Master’s degree will complete 32 total credit hours of coursework which will include courses from the [course rotation download] and may also include other adviser-approved electives. The program requirements will conclude with 4 to 8 hours of the program capstone course (GEOL 598 Capstone Research Project). If courses were taken previously for the Environmental Geology certificate sequence, they may be applied to the Master’s degree requirements. Students should consult with a program advisor to discus a program plan of study for the Master’s program to meet their personal and/or professional goals.

Click here to learn more about the course offerings and the Capstone Research Project.

Are you ready to be a leader?
Come join us and apply today!

Prerequisites

  • Bachelor of Science degree (in a physical science discipline) from an accredited college in the United States or an approved international institution of higher education.
  • GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher for the last 60 semester hours of their Bachelor of Science program. Students who do not meet the 3.0/4.0 GPA criterion may still be eligible to enroll if they have significant experience outside of the classroom. Such students are encouraged to contact Dr. J. Cory Pettijohn, Online Program Faculty Coordinator at: jcpettij@illinois.edu
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Environmental Geology
Online Programs

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Department of Geology

School of Earth, Society & Environment

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Campus Partners:

Environmental Geology
Online Programs

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