Overview

The students and faculty of the Geosciences program of Virginia Tech investigate earth processes at scales that range from atomic to planetary. We encourage interdisciplinary approaches to research in the geosciences, both within the department and through interdepartmental programs.

Areas that Employ Geoscientists

Geoscientists are employed in a variety of roles within the environmental industry. Some examples of these roles include regulatory compliance, sustainability evaluations of water resources, solid waste management, contaminated soil and groundwater investigation and remediation.
Energy companies employ geoscientists in a wide range of roles. Examples include the search for and production of oil, gas, and coal reserves, the identification of geothermal resources, carbon sequestration projects, as well as the business side of these industries.
Geoscientists play a key role in the discovery and extraction of mineral resources that are used in everything around us. Some examples include the rare earth elements that go into the batteries that power our electronic devices and the stone that goes into our roads and buildings. Geoscientists also play a critical role in ensuring that safe and environmentally responsible practices are followed during resource extraction and after mining has ceased.
The government sector, on all levels (local, state, and federal), employ geologists in a variety of roles. These include, but are not limited to, resource management, science policy development, environmental law, basic and applied research, and geoengineering.
Geoscience educators possess the hands-on experience and content knowledge needed for teaching about earth and environmental sciences in both formal (i.e. classroom) and informal (e.g.. museums, community outreach) educational settings.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Earth System History

Professional Development and Ethics in Geosciences

Intermediate Geographic Information Systems

Geodynamics

Dynamics of Planetary Surface and Interiors

Inverse Theory and Geoscience Applications

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-01-21 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-01 00:00:00
Starting 2027-08-26 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-05 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

115

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TOEFL^® IBT

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PTE Academic

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

30 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Blacksburg, United States

Disciplines

Earth Sciences Geology View 179 other Masters in Geology in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

115

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

A one to two page, double-spaced personal statement

A brief statement that describes your research interests and career aspiration in geosciences

Resume/CV

Transcripts from previous academic institutions

Three letters of recommendation

No GRE required

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

32622 USD / year

≈ 32622 USD / year
Out-of-State

32622 USD / year

≈ 32622 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

16232 USD / year

≈ 16232 USD / year

Living costs

Blacksburg

United States

1166 - 1906 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Geosciences.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Areas that Employ Geoscientists

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Blacksburg

Financing

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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