Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Geophysics MS, PhD Degree Programs

Michigan Tech’s master’s and PhD programs in geophysics build on your background in mathematics and physics to investigate how the Earth works. Study earthquakes, characterize subsurface reservoirs, or model Earth systems through fieldwork, laboratory research, and advanced computing. Develop the expertise to interpret geophysical data and understand the structures and processes beneath the Earth’s surface.

The geophysics program is highly quantitative, requiring a firm background in mathematics and physics. You will study the earth through physical measurements, employing theory, laboratory and/or field experimentation, and modeling. Specialties that complement studies in geophysics include reflection seismology, which is primarily used for oil and gas exploration; electrical methods, which aid in groundwater evaluation; magnetic studies, including the use of paleomagnetics to understand the early Earth; and glacial and volcano seismology, focusing on the study of earthquakes and icequakes.

Master's Program

PhD Program

International, Interdisciplinary Research Opportunities

The majority of our graduate students are involved in international field-oriented research, but some focus on laboratory or computer studies. The department’s research activities cross disciplinary and national borders, spanning the following areas:

  • Development of complex computational models of earth systems
  • Laboratory experiments analyzing earth material phenomena
  • Analysis of remote-sensing data of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere
  • Properties of the Earth’s deep interior and its ancient past
  • Field measurements of volcanologic, hydrologic, and atmospheric systems
  • Seismic imaging of underground oil and gas reservoirs and their properties

Research funding averages nearly $3 million per year for the department. Field research is conducted domestically in Alaska and Yellowstone, as well as in the beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula and Lake Superior watershed. Our international efforts bring faculty and student researchers to locations across North and South America, as well as to Australia and Southeast Asia.

Service Programs

Students interested in pursuing an MS degree through the VISTA, Americorps, or Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows program can choose either a Thesis Option or Report Option. The Thesis Option is intended for students who plan to conduct original scientific research in the course of their VISTA, Americorps, or Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows program.

For more information about the VISTA, Americorps, or Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows programs in the GMES department program, please contact: Luke Bowman.

World-Class Facilities

Our department features world-class computer and analytical laboratory facilities. Specialized laboratories include the Laboratory for Atmospheric Remote Sensing, the Subsurface Visualization Laboratory, the Seismology and Petrophysics Laboratory, the Earthquake Seismology Laboratory, the Hydrogeology Laboratory, and the Earth Magnetism Laboratory.

External Funding Announcements

Funding Resources

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Using a holistic approach, our graduate admissions team reviews applications on an individual and ongoing basis. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, but you will need to upload them later.