Geology (M.S.)
“The School of Geosciences at UL Lafayette emphasizes the importance of not only doing the work but doing a good job. Faculty and staff are invested in each student's future after graduation. I appreciate that as well as the community vibe that has made me feel at home for the past two years.”
Our Master of Science in Geology prepares you to enter the professional field or continue your studies toward a more advanced degree. The following fields are emphasized in coursework and research opportunities:
- Environmental Geology
- Geomagnetism
- Geochemistry
- Geophysics including 3D seismic visualization
- Hydrology
- Paleontology
- Petroleum Geology
- Petrology
- Remote Sensing
- Sedimentology
- Stratigraphy
- Computer Applications
- Structural Geology
Our location in Lafayette, LA, helps make the School of Geosciences the ideal place to earn your graduate degree in geology. Our master’s degree in geology prepares students for exciting, well-paying, and rewarding careers in areas such as petroleum exploration and environmental geology. We offer a flexible curriculum that can be tailored to each student. All of our courses emphasize the interpretation of geologic data and problem-solving, which makes our students overwhelmingly successful!
Our consistent success in the American Association of Petroleum Geologist’s Imperial Barrel Award (IBA) competition demonstrates that we are the top program in the Gulf Coast region and one of the top programs in the nation in the area of petroleum geology. The IBA petroleum exploration student competition started in 2008, and we won the Gulf Coast section in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018 beating other universities from Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. In 2012, 2014 and 2018 we won the international competition, respectively beating 103, 122 and 168 universities from around the world. UL Lafayette Geology is the only team to win the international IBA competition more than once.
Explore our:
Geology at UL Lafayette
Unique Geology In Our Own Backyard
Geology majors get unique opportunities at UL Lafayette, thanks to South Louisiana's impressive geodiversity. Explore, study, and get your hands dirty in Louisiana’s many rivers, swamps, bayous, beaches, and forests.
Combine lab and field work
Spend as much time outside in Louisiana’s natural environment as you do in the lab. Geology majors work closely with faculty, gaining important experience and a deeper understanding of geological and environmental issues locally and globally. Explore our research areas and how you can get involved with faculty research.
Discover research opportunitiesStudent Organizations
Connect with students and professionals in our campus-based chapters for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, and the Association for Women Geoscientists.
Explore student organizationsFunding
Funding opportunities such as assistantships and fellowships can help pay for your degree while letting you earn valuable experience for your career.
