Master’s in earth sciences

The graduate degree program in the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences at SMU provides students the opportunity to develop advanced professional training in the Earth Sciences.

Through this program you will investigate the history of the Earth, its structure and resources. You will study the Earth’s interior and its surface properties: oceans, freshwater bodies, and glaciers, and the atmosphere surrounding the planet. You will learn responsible use of our natural resources and study issues of sustainability and how to mitigate the effects of natural and manmade hazards. You will gain understanding and context of Earth’s history through its rocks and fossils, and characterize and catalog its systems using satellites, lab measurements, theories, and data models. Each student is expected to conduct fieldwork and independent research on fundamental issues facing the Earth and its environment.

The M.S. Earth Sciences degree culminates with 30 credit hours, defense of a research proposition, and the preparation and public defense of a thesis.

The first thing everyone thinks of is energy exploration, but there is so much more to earth science than that. A master’s degree prepares graduates for specialized roles in environmental consulting, mining, and government regulation. Common titles include geologist, geophysicist, hydrogeologist, environmental scientist, and geotechnical engineer. There is also high demand for people with particular expertise in resource management and environmental protection.

U.S. News and World Report has a great article that lists a ton of compelling reasons to study earth science.

In a word, yes. A master’s in earth sciences offers STEM graduates high rates of employability and decent starting salaries. Specialized skills in environmental consulting, resource management, and renewable energy are increasingly in demand. A master’s often paves the way to more research, higher level consulting opportunities, and management roles. This degree can add hands-on or computational experience – GIS for instance – to existing STEM backgrounds. When pursuing a master’s, keep in mind that specialization matters and to watch for industry trends around energy and sustainability.  

Think of earth sciences as the umbrella: an all-encompassing field covering all of the systems of Earth, its atmosphere, oceans, and solid structures. It has the broadest scope, and views Earth as a whole system, covering geology, meteorology, oceanography, and environmental science. 

Geology is a subcategory that deals specifically with the study of Earth’s solids. This includes rocks and minerals, and forces such as plate tectonics and volcanoes. 

Geophysics is the study of Earth’s physical properties – magnetic fields, gravity, and electricity – and subsurface properties like resource exploration and seismology.

The highest paying jobs for M.S. earth sciences graduates are in the energy and natural resources sectors, particularly specialized roles in oil, gas, and mining. These graduates enjoy a median salary of approximately $148,760 as of 2024, due to their advanced skills in data, modeling, or engineering.

Other high-paying jobs are geological engineers with salaries exceeding $100,000 a year, natural science managers, hydrologists and data/geospatial analysts.

Private industry pays higher than consulting or government roles. And specializing in skills such as 3D modeling or geotechnical engineering can fetch higher salaries.

Earth sciences is an excellent field for research-driven careers. In addition to all of the job opportunities as geophysicists, hydrologists, paleontologists, and atmospheric scientists, there is more and more need for expertise in fields like renewable energy, environmental protection, and sustainable resource management. All of these roles rely on advanced technology and data analysis. Common research areas include paleontology, seismology, geochemistry, climate modeling, and hydrogeology.

A master’s in earth sciences is the preferred path to Ph.D. study. With a master’s, you will bring the research experience and technical knowledge needed to succeed in a doctoral program. 

This degree requires a significant amount of intensive research – a mix of fieldwork and computational analysis – for a minimum of 30 credit hours, culminating in a thesis. Luckily, SMU boasts world-class fieldwork program and high-performance computing facilities and laboratories.