Earth Science and Engineering MS Program

Program Mission (MS):

The mission of the ErSE MS program is to educate the next generation of leaders and pioneers in Earth systems science. Through fundamental and interdisciplinary research and sustained engagement and partnership with industry and the global community, we develop quantitative, physics-based understanding of our dynamic planet to address Vision 2030 critical challenges in climate science, geohazards, and sustainable resource management, advancing societal resilience while deepening knowledge of Earth systems.

Program Goals (MS):

•  (Education): Provide a world-class, graduate education that ensures students master the fundamental physics and interdisciplinary science required to become leaders and pioneers in Earth systems science.
• (Research): Conduct fundamental and interdisciplinary research to develop quantitative, physics-based models of our dynamic planet, creating solutions for critical challenges in climate science, geohazards, and sustainable resource management.
• (Community & Impact): Cultivate sustained partnerships with industry and the global community, ensuring our research and graduates contribute directly to advancing societal resilience and deepening the global understanding of Earth systems.
• Integrate and critically evaluate advanced knowledge of Earth Science and Engineering principles, including geophysical fluid dynamics, seismology, geology, and data science, to analyze complex processes shaping the Earth system. 
• Design, analyze, and evaluate quantitative solutions to well-defined Earth science challenges by selecting and proficiently applying appropriate computational, data analysis, and field/laboratory methods.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) 
Knowledge and Understanding:  

• K1: Explain and analyze geophysical fluid dynamics and thermodynamics governing the atmosphere–ocean–climate system.
•  K2: Explain and evaluate Earth’s interior structure and processes using seismology, geodynamics, rock mechanics and composition, and related geological evidence.
• K3: Analyze geological processes (sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology, tectonic, magmatic) to interpret basin and crustal evolution across scales.
• K4: Integrate numerical simulation, inverse methods, geostatistics, and data-driven/ML approaches to formulate and evaluate solutions to geoscience problems in climate, water resources, natural hazards, and energy transition.

Skills:

• S1: Construct and calibrate integrated geoscientific models by designing and implementing workflows and research plans that synthesize geological, geophysical, and remote-sensing data, with uncertainty quantification and risk considerations.
• S2: Develop and apply physics-based numerical simulations to analyze complex Earth systems, such as subsurface flow, seismic wave propagation, and climate dynamics.
• S3: Design and execute experimental and field programs and analyze the resulting data to characterize Earth materials and processes.
• S4: Formulate data-driven solutions by applying machine learning, statistical analysis, and data assimilation to geoscientific challenges such as pattern recognition and prediction.

Values, Autonomy, and Responsibility: 

• V1: Demonstrate autonomy and responsibility by independently managing research or capstone work, making informed technical decisions, and upholding ethical, HSE, and regulatory standards within agreed timelines.
• V2: Work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, coordinating tasks and communicating clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders to solve complex problems.
• V3: Champion ethical and sustainable scientific practice by evaluating and communicating the safety, environmental, and societal impacts of geoscience projects, and adhering to professional codes of conduct.

Earth Science and Engineering MS Program:

• Thesis Option: Students demonstrate the learning objectives primarily through the conduct of original research, culminating in a master's thesis. This path emphasizes generating new knowledge and deep, focused inquiry.
• Non-Thesis Option: Students demonstrate the learning objectives primarily through an advanced capstone project and/or a portfolio of course-based work. This path emphasizes the sophisticated application and integration of existing knowledge to solve complex, open-ended problems.