Earth Science

Distance Learning

The M.S. degree and graduate certificate in geospatial analysis (see below) are available for distance-learning students in the United States and abroad. Degree-seeking students come from all parts of the United States: California, Nevada, Colorado, Kansas, Florida, New York, Texas, etc. We also have distance-learning graduate students from other countries: Canada, Sweden, Estonia, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. Course and degree requirements are the same as for on-campus students (see above). The following combination of courses may be utilized to earn the M.S. degree.

• Graduate courses offered by ESU via Internet--see web-based courses.
• Up to nine hours of graduate courses transfered from other universities.
• Independent research and thesis conducted under faculty supervision.
• In-person field classes offered at ESU.

Distance-learning students Audrey Rager (left) and Linda Freeman (center) prepare to enter a lava-tube cave with adjunct professor Bill Hirt (right) from the College of Siskiyous, near Mt. Shasta, California. Photo © J.S. Aber.

The normal time period for earning an M.S. degree via distance learning is three or four years. Students have completed thesis research on a variety of topics, including remote sensing of Mount Shasta, California; dendrochronology and lichenometry in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado; ground-water movement and contamination associated with oil production and refining, Kansas; remote sensing of forest cover, Kansas; prehistoric ceramic artifacts, Arizona; and tsunami impact on Malaysia. Some distance-learning students have been supported with research assistantships to work on projects with faculty mentors.

For more information on ESU's Online earth science distance learning options see the attached flyer.

Note: Distance-learning students are encouraged to complete at least one online earth science course from ESU before applying for admission to the graduate program. This course may count toward the degree plan.