MSc in Geology

Geology is an Earth Science that is involved in the study of rocks and layers that compose the earth and how they change with time due to natural processes. It also includes the study of the solid physical properties of a planet and its natural satellites. As a field of study that is being immensely explored, Geology is filled with wide-ranging career opportunities. If you are fascinated with Earth Science and how it is impacted by diverse factors, MSc in Geology is an ideal course for you. In this blog, we will explore this postgraduate degree course in detail along with the key subjects and the world’s top colleges offering this course.

MSc Geology 

MSc Geology is a two-year postgraduate program that covers the wide-ranging aspects of this field and its interconnected disciplines such as Paleontology, Geography, Anthropology, etc. Master of Science in Geology encompasses the study of various layers of the earth from prehistoric times to contemporary time, it also assesses the evolution throughout the years. It provides students with detailed insight into the diverse processes of the atmosphere and the evolution of life. Along with this, you will be studying a range of subjects such as Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology, etc. which we will explore in the next section.

Syllabus of MSc in Geology

It is important to look at the syllabus of a course before pursuing it in order to understand the different subjects it will include, as well as to get an idea of whether that course will be the right choice for you. Every course has a few key elements that form the foundation of its curriculum, here are the key elements of an MSc Geology that you will be studying during the course:

• Mineralogy

Mineralogy is a sub-field of Geology that studies minerals, their chemistry, crystal structure and its physical properties. It also includes the processes of origin of minerals, their geographical distribution and their utilization. As a crucial field of Geology, Mineralogy explores how minerals are used in various forms such as ores, fertilizers etc. These ores are unprocessed forms of various important metals such as iron, aluminium etc. and some of these ores like limestone and granite are used as construction materials. Mineralogy analyzes these minerals in order to identify their basic properties and their uses in various industries.

• Petrology

One of the fundamental subjects of Geology- Petrology is the study of rocks and how they were formed. This subject constitutes of three sub-fields, i.e. igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Petrology uses methods from Geochemistry and Geophysics to study the composition and texture of rocks and to discover more about their origin. This field is an important division of Geology as rocks form the basic layers of earth and are integral to the understanding of elements that constitute earth from a microscopic perspective. 

• Economic Geology

Economic Geology is the study of earth minerals which are frequently used for industrial as well as economic purposes. These materials include metals, petroleum, natural gas, coal etc. Economic Geology is a practical field of study and is a crucial sub-field of Geosciences. Getting deeper into the discipline of Economic Geology, you can explore diverse career prospects such as mineral engineers, environmental scientists, conservationists, etc.

Other subjects covered during MSc in Geology are:

• Geochemistry
• Geophysics
• Hydrogeology
• Geo-tectonics
• Crystallography
• Natural Resource Management

International Universities for Geology

Geology is still developing into a full-fledged field that is interconnected with several other disciplines of Earth Science. There is a wide range of universities around the world that offer postgraduate degree courses in Geology. Mentioned below are the leading global universities that are known for MSc in Geology:

• Massey University
• Free University of Berlin
• University of Helsinki
• Lund University
• Aarhus University

MSc Geology colleges in India

• Hansraj College, New Delhi
• Presidency College, Chennai
• Digital University, Kerala
• Fergusson College, Pune
• The LNM Institute of Information Technology, Jaipur
• St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
• Trivandrum University College, Thiruvananthapuram
• V.O. Chidambaram College, Thoothukkudi
• Alagappa Government Arts College, Sivaganga
• Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

MSc Geology Eligibility

Note that the admission criteria differs from college to college.

• Candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree in Geology or an equivalent degree in science stream from any recognized university.
• The student must have studied Geology as a compulsory subject in high school and any two out of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, or Biology.
• The candidate must obtain 60% or above percentage along with passing the entrance exam with required cut-off.

Jobs after MSc Geology

MSc Geology graduate can work in various Job Profiles. Some popular Job Profiles are listed below:

A career in Geology can be extremely rewarding if you are confused about whether this course is right for you, don’t worry. If you are searching for the right university to study this course, Leverage Edu experts can be your guide in selecting an ideal university that can offer you exposure to the field of Geology.