GRADUATE PROGRAM
Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

Coursework

Students who possess the equivalent of a Wesleyan E&ES BA degree are required to take six upper-level course credits (of which at least four must be in E&ES) and two MA thesis research credits. In addition, one year of each of any of the three following are required: mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology. Students with a focus on geology must include courses in physical geology, mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, sedimentology/stratigraphy, and geobiology. Students with an interest in environmental science must cover courses in environmental geochemistry, ecology, climate science, and geomorphology. Students who do not possess the equivalent of a Wesleyan E&ES BA degree must complete or have completed 11 upper-level courses in the sciences or mathematics, and at least five of these must be E&ES courses.

All full-time graduate students are expected to complete a minimum of four courses during their first year with a grade of B- or better. Failure to achieve these minimal expectations incurs automatic dismissal from the program. The culmination of the MA program is the completion and acceptance of a thesis, and a successful oral defense.

Thesis Proposal

Upon admission to the program, the student will meet with the E&ES Graduate Program committee to discuss the general requirements and goals of graduate study. Students should endeavor to select an advisor, thesis topic and thesis committee by the end of the first semester. After students have made a choice of faculty advisor and thesis committee, they must, in cooperation with the advisor, write a 1-2 page thesis proposal, in which they provide an outline of the proposed research. The thesis committee will read the proposal, and discuss it with the student before acceptance of the research project.

Evaluation Sessions

At the beginning of each semester each graduate student will be asked to prepare a written summary (~2-3 pages) of their progress and accomplishments and meet with their thesis committee. This summary will be reviewed by the thesis committee in order to discuss and evaluate the student's progress. The discussion of the committeee will be summarized by the student's advisor and prepared as a letter to the student. The summaries and letter will be placed in the student's file. Typical topics of discussion by the committee include:

1. Review of objectives and status of research and plans for future work.
2. Review of performance in course work taken. Outline of courses planned for the future, and their relationship to research and career goals.
3. Review of other accomplishments (i.e., department assistance, teaching).
4. General progress and comfort in the program.

In addition to a written statement of progress the student is required during the 3rd semester to deliver an oral presentation about their research goals and progress to the department. The purpose of this exercise is to give the student an opportunity to organize and present their work in a semi-formal setting and receive direct feedback.

An ideal timeline of student responsibilities is:

Thesis and Defense

Competence in research shall be demonstrated by a written thesis and an oral presentation of research results before the faculty. The format of the written work is to be discussed with the student's advisor and committee and is outlined by Wesleyan University rules. The schedule of the defense will be agreed upon by the advisor and thesis committee in consultation with the student within the constraints of the Wesleyan University rules. A defense cannot be scheduled any earlier than one month after the receipt of a completed thesis draft by the thesis committee. There are three readers on a thesis, including the thesis advisor. The thesis advisor gives the research grade, the two readers determine the quality of work with an emphasis on the thesis as a written document. One reader from outside Wesleyan University or from another department within Wesleyan University is allowed.

The oral defense typically consists of:

• A 30-minute presentation of the research results by the student.
• A 30-minute question and answer period about the thesis.
• A 30-minute question and answer period about general topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Directly after the defense the faculty meets to decide whether to award the Master of Arts degree, and to discuss the overall grade.