在获得地球科学领域的硕士学位后，学生将能够：了解地球和行星的结构和组成，它们的演变以及当今的地球变化。在进行研究调查时使用适当的计算或分析技术。具备科学，书面和口头交流能力。培养为同行评审文献做出贡献的能力。MA学位是论文硕士学位。有关大学的一般要求，请参见论文硕士学位。所有即将入学的学生都应具有物理，化学和数学方面的深厚背景，并应该或应该在基础地球科学方面获得广泛的基础。该系鼓励具有其他科学，数学或工程学学位的合格学生申请。地球科学领域对MS和PhD的要求是相似的，但是PhD要求知识，研究技能和学术独立
Upon completion of the MS degree in the field of Earth Science, students will be able to: Understand the structure and composition of the Earth and Planets, their evolution, and changing the Earth today. Use appropriate computational or analytical techniques in the conduct of research investigations. Demonstrate significant skills in scientific communication, written and oral. Develop the ability to contribute to the peer-reviewed literature. The MA degree is a thesis master's degree. For general university requirements, please see Thesis Master's Degrees. All incoming students should have a strong background in physics, chemistry, and mathematics and should have, or should acquire, a broad grounding in fundamental earth science. The department encourages applications from well-qualified students with degrees in the other sciences, mathematics, or engineering. The requirements for the MS and PhD in earth science are similar, but the PhD demands a significantly higher level of knowledge, research skills, and scholarly independence. Most students need at least 2 years beyond the bachelor's degree to complete the MS or 4 to complete the PhD.