Why study this program?

The Department offers the following graduate degree programs:

• Master of Science (MSc) in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Master of Science (MSc) in Integrated Petroleum Geosciences (in conjunction with the Department of Physics)
• Master of Arts (MA) in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences with specialization in Human Geography
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences with specialization in Human Geography
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences with specialization in Urban and Regional Planning
• Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning 

Active research fields, which are listed on the Department’s website (www.ualberta.ca/eas), include aqueous and sedimentary geochemistry; Arctic environments; atmosphere and ocean modelling; basin analysis; biogeography; carbonate sedimentology; clastic sedimentology; climatology; community engagement; community, health and environment; community planning; diamond geology; economic geology; environmental values, attitudes and behaviors; environmental chemistry; environmental geology; experimental petrology; fluvial and glacial geomorphology; geochemistry; geochronology; geographic information systems; geomicrobiology; geotectonics; glaciology, glacier hydrology and glacier chemistry; global change; hot-springs; human-environment interactions; human dimensions of environmental hazards; hydrogeology; ichnology; igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic petrology; invertebrate and vertebrate paleontology; isotope geology; land-use planning; marine icing; meso-scale meteorology; metalliferous mineral deposits; microclimatology; micrometeorology; micropaleontology; mineralogy; paleolimnology; paleoecology of siliceous microfossils; periglacial geomorphology; petroleum geology; physical oceanography, paleoceanography and numerical model development; planetary geology; Precambrian palaeoenvironments; qualitative research methods; Quaternary palaeoenvironments; regional planning; remote sensing; resilience; sedimentology; stratigraphy; structural geology; transportation planning; urban design; urban planning; tectonics; volcanology; winter city planning and design. 

For thesis based programs the Department will approve only thesis topics which lie within the research expertise of one or more of its Faculty members.

The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences has a planning studio, digital imaging and printing facilities, research laboratories, instructional facilities, and technical support for numerous graduate students. 

Entrance Requirements

The Department’s minimum admission requirements are a relevant undergraduate degree with an average of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate work (or graduate work) at the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution, and a TOEFL score of 90 (Internet-based) or equivalent, where applicable (see English Language Requirement ). 

Note that the Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning has additional requirements see Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning (2 year)  or Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning (Accelerated 1 year) .