Earth Sciences
Graduate Co-ordinator: Osman Salad Hersi, PhD
Department Description
The Department of Earth Sciences offers graduate work leading to the MSc degree. Areas of specialization include quaternary and soil studies; geochemical, igneous, metamorphic, and structural studies of the Canadian Shield; Phanerozoic carbonate, clastic, and evaporite studies; and coal, petroleum, mineralization, geothermometry and fluid inclusion studies, isotope, and uranium studies. Resources are available for particular western regional projects. Close co-operation with Saskatchewan Industry and Resources gives excellent opportunity for field work in the Shield and for access to sedimentary cores and data relating to the Phanerozoic rocks of Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Geological Society provides a pool of highly qualified personnel from which the department draws strength. On campus, staff and students of the department work in co-operation with the Energy Research Unit.
Graduate Programs
The Department of Earth Sciences has a Master's of Science program and a PhD program. Our faculty members are active in various fields of geoscience research including petroleum and mineral resources and environmental studies. Graduate students have the opportunities to conduct field-based projects in various parts of Saskatchewan, Canada and elsewhere in the world as well as laboratory-based research. The Department of Earth Sciences closely co-operates on many projects with the Saskatchewan Geological Survey, which provide significant funding opportunities for graduate students.
Courses
Degree Requirements
Typically the PhD program is entered following the completion of a Master's program. The PhD program consists of a minimum of 14 credit hours of course work and 46 credit hours of GEOL 901. The minimum course work will typically consist of:
| Course | Credit Hours |
| GEOL 801 | 6 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| GEOL 900 | 1 credit hour |
| GEOL 900 | 1 credit hour |
| GEOL 901 | 46 credit hours |
| Total | 60 credit hours |
Note: Students must complete a minimum of two credit hours of GEOL 900.
Degree Requirements
Typically the PhD program is entered following the completion of a Master's program. The PhD program consists of a minimum of 14 credit hours of course work and 46 credit hours of ESC 901. The minimum course work will typically consist of:
| Course | Credit Hours |
| ESC 801 | 6 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| ESC 900 | 1 credit hour |
| ESC 900 | 1 credit hour |
| ESC 901 | 46 credit hours |
| Total | 60 credit hours |
Note: Students must complete a minimum of two credit hours of ESC 900.
Degree Requirements
In exceptional circumstances, a candidate may transfer into the PhD program without completion of a Master's degree. In these cases, the PhD program consists of a minimum of 20 credit hours of course work and 70 hours of GEOL 901. The minimum course work will typically consist of:
| Course | Credit Hours |
| GEOL 801 | 6 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| GEOL 900 | 1 credit hour |
| GEOL 900 | 1 credit hour |
| GEOL 901 | 70 credit hours |
| Total | 90 credit hours |
Degree Requirements
In exceptional circumstances, a candidate may transfer into the PhD program without completion of a Master's degree. In these cases, the PhD program consists of a minimum of 20 credit hours of course work and 70 hours of ESC 901. The minimum course work will typically consist of:
| Course | Credit Hours |
| ESC 801 | 6 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| Elective 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| ESC 900 | 1 credit hour |
| ESC 900 | 1 credit hour |
| ESC 901 | 70 credit hours |
| Total | 90 credit hours |
Degree Requirements
| Course | Credit Hours |
| GEOL 8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| GEOL 8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| GEOL 900 | 1 credit hour |
| GEOL 900 | 1 credit hour |
| GEOL 901 | 22 credit hours |
| Total | 30 credit hours |
*One must be from the GEOL 800AA-ZZ series.
Note: Students must complete a minimum of two credit hours of GEOL 900.
Students may be required to take a departmental diagnostic examination immediately following first registration.
Degree Requirements
| Course | Credit Hours |
| ESC 8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| ESC 8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| ESC 900 | 1 credit hour |
| ESC 900 | 1 credit hour |
| ESC 901 | 22 credit hours |
| Total | 30 credit hours |
*One must be from the ESC 800AA-ZZ series.
Note: Students must complete a minimum of two credit hours of ESC 900.
Students may be required to take a departmental diagnostic examination immediately following first registration.