MASTER OF SCIENCE IN GEOPHYSICS PROGRAM

 

The Master of Science in Geophysics is designed for students who wish to focus on excellence in research.

 

Degree Requirements

 

Total credit hours required for the Master of Science in Geophysics program is 30 credit hours.  The distribution of credit hours is as follows:

 

Geophysics Core Courses

  9

Geophysics Elective Courses

  6

Graduate Mathematics Course

  3

Free Elective Courses

  6

Thesis

  6

Total Credit Hours

30

 

The Free Elective courses can be taken from any academic department (including Earth Sciences Department) provided the courses are 500-level or higher and approved by the student’s academic advisor.  Up to two graduate-level Geophysics elective courses can be substituted with 400-level undergraduate Geophysics courses only after advisor and department approvals.  No credit will be given for any 400-level courses taken outside the department.

 
Core Courses

 

The following courses are required for all graduate students in the Geophysics option:

 

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

GEOP 501

Reflection Seismology

3

GEOP 502

Potential Theory Methods

3

GEOP 503

Solid-Earth Geophysics

3

MATH 5xx

Graduate Mathematics Course

3

GEOP 599

Seminar

0

GEOP 610

Thesis

6

 

Elective Courses

 

Geophysics elective courses, their titles, and credit hours are listed in the following table:

 

GEOP 504

Applied Environmental Geophysics

3

GEOP 505

Advanced Computational Geophysics

3

GEOP 510

Seismic Data Analysis

3

GEOP 515

Geophysical Inversion

3

GEOP 520

Geomagnetism & Paleomagnetism

3

GEOP 525

Electrical Methods

3

GEOP 530

Basin Analysis

3

GEOP 535

Seismic & Sequence Stratigraphy

3

GEOP 540

Three-Dimensional Seismic Interpretation

3

GEOP 545

Petroleum Data Integration & Management

3

GEOP 550

Reservoir Characterization

3

GEOP 590

Independent Studies

3

GEOP 592

Special Topics

3

 

Degree Plan

 

Students admitted in the Master of Science in Geophysics program are required to prepare and submit a degree plan in consultation with their academic advisors at the first semester in the program. Students will be barred from registering for any additional courses in the following semester unless the degree plan is approved.  Students admitted conditionally into the program must satisfy the imposed conditions at the earliest available opportunity. 

 

The plan outlined below applies to the Master of Science in Geophysics program.

 

Course            Title                                                               LT      LB       CR

 

First Semester

GEOP  501      Reflection Seismology                                       3         0         3

GEOP  502      Potential Theory Methods                                 3         0     3

GEOP  xxx       Geophysics Elective I                                        3         0         3

GEOP  599      Seminar                                                            1         0         0

                                                                                              10          0           9

Second Semester

GEOP  503      Solid-Earth Geophysics                                     3         0         3

GEOP  xxx       Geophysics Elective II                                      3         0         3

XXX    xxx       Free Elective I                                                 3         0         3

                                                                                                9          0          9

Third Semester

MATH 5xx      Graduate Mathematics Course                          3         0           3

XXX    xxx       Free Elective II                                                 3         0         3

                                                                                                6          0          6

Fourth Semester

GEOP  610      Thesis                                                               0         0         6

                                                                                                 0         0         6

Total Credit Hours – 30

 

 

MASTER OF GEOPHYSICS PROGRAM

 

 

The Master of Geophysics program is designed for the professional geoscientists who wish to focus on excellence in training in geosciences rather than research.

 

Degree Requirements

 

Total credit hours required for the Master of Geophysics is 42. The distribution of credit hours is as follows:

 

Geophysics Core Courses

  9

Geophysics Elective Courses

15

Graduate Mathematics Course

  3

Free Elective Courses

12

Geophysics Master Report

  3

Total Credit Hours

42

 

The following courses are the core courses for graduate students in the Geophysics option.

 

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

GEOP 501

Reflection Seismology

3

GEOP 502

Potential Theory Methods

3

GEOP 503

Solid-Earth Geophysics

3

MATH 5xx

Graduate Mathematics Course

3

GEOP 600

Geophysics Master Report

3

GEOP 599

Seminar

0

 

Elective Courses

 

Geophysics elective courses, their titles, and credit hours are listed in the following table:

 

GEOP 504

Applied Environmental Geophysics

3

GEOP 505

Advanced Computational Geophysics

3

GEOP 510

Seismic Data Analysis

3

GEOP 515

Geophysical Inversion

3

GEOP 520

Geomagnetism & Paleomagnetism

3

GEOP 525

Electrical Methods

3

GEOP 530

Basin Analysis

3

GEOP 535

Seismic & Sequence Stratigraphy

3

GEOP 540

Three-Dimensional Seismic Interpretation

3

GEOP 545

Petroleum Data Integration & Management

3

GEOP 550

Reservoir Characterization

3

GEOP 590

Independent Studies

3

GEOP 592

Special Topics

3

Degree Plan

 

Students admitted in the Master of Geophysics are required to prepare and submit a degree plan in consultation with their academic advisors at the first semester. Students will be barred from registering for any additional courses in the following semester if the degree plan is not approved.  Students admitted conditionally into a program are expected to satisfy all university and departmental requirements at the earliest available opportunity. 

 

The plan outlined below applies for the Master of Geophysics Program.

 

Course            Title                                                                LT       LB       CR

 

First Semester

GEOP 501       Reflection Seismology                                       3          0          3

GEOP 502       Potential Theory Methods                                 3          0          3

GEOP 5xx       Geophysics Elective I                                        3          0          3

XXX    xxx       Free Elective I                                                  3          0          3

                                                                                              12          0         12

Second Semester

GEOP 503       Solid-Earth Geophysics                                    3          0          3

GEOP  xxx       Geophysics Elective II                                      3          0          3

XXX    xxx       Free Elective II                                                 3          0          3

GEOP  599      Seminar                                                            1          0          0

                                                                                              10          0          9

Third Semester

MATH 5xx      Graduate Mathematics Course                          3          0          3

GEOP  xxx       Geophysics Elective III                                     3          0          3

XXX    xxx       Free Elective III                                                3          0          3

XXX    xxx       Free Elective IV                                               3          0          3

                                                                                              12          0         12

Fourth Semester

GEOP  xxx       Geophysics Elective IV                                     3          0          3

XXX    xxx       Geophysics Elective V                                      3          0          3

GEOP  600      Geophysics Master Report                               0          0          3

                                                                                                6          0           9

 

Total Credit Hours – 42

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

 

GEOP 501     Reflection Seismology                                                        (3-0-3)

Elasticity of anisotropic media, general wave equations and their solutions, Zoeppritz equations, direct hydrocarbon indicators, vertical seismic profiling, crosshole tomography, 3-D seismic exploration, correlation of well-log and seismic data, S-wave exploration.

Prerequisite: GEOP 315 or equivalent

 

GEOP 502     Potential Theory Methods                                                                        (3-0-3)

In-depth study of potential field theory as applied to the gravity and magnetic methods of exploration, field equations and their solutions, representation of fields in spherical harmonics, instruments and field procedure in the collection and processing of gravity and magnetic data, interpretation techniques, and separation, continuation, and filtering of field anomalies, the direct and inverse problems of potential fields, computer modeling of 2-D and 3-D dimensional sources.

Prerequisite: GEOP 404 or equivalent

 

GEOP 503     Solid-Earth Geophysics                                                      (3-0-3)

Movement of the Earth, standard Earth models, heat flow in the Earth, the Earth’s magnetic field, plate tectonics, physics of faulting and principles of earthquake seismology.

Prerequisite: GEOP 202 or equivalent

 

GEOP 504      Applied Environmental Geophysics                                                                                                       (3-0-3)

Geophysical methods in environmental site assessment, emphasis on sites relevant to toxic waste disposals, contamination, detection and mapping of cavities, near-surface pipes, and hidden harmful objects, geophysical precursors for monitoring earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, case histories.

Prerequisite: GEOL 201 and GEOP 202  or equivalent

 

GEOP 505     Advanced Computational Geophysics                                                                                       (2-3-3)

Overview of linear algebra and potential field theory, the MATLAB, linear transforms of potential fields, 1-D and 2-D filtering, multi-channel optimal filtering, optimization, the maximum entropy and its applications, discriminant analysis and neural networks.

Prerequisite: GEOP 205   or equivalent

 

GEOP 510     Seismic Data Analysis                                                         (2-3-3)

Amplitude variation with offset, anisotropy, dip moveout processing, seismic migration algorithms, time-lapse studies, multicomponent recording, converted modes, deterministic and statistical deconvolution, wavelet shaping, wavelet extraction, multiple suppression, and automated static correction.  Processing packages such as Seismic Unix, Hampson-Russell, Focus, and ProMax will be used during this course.

Prerequisite: GEOP 320   or equivalent

 

GEOP 515     Geophysical Inversion                                                       (3-0-3)

Overview of information theory & linear algebra, discrete and continuous inverse problems, Backus-Gilbert inversion, Monte Carlo inversion, case histories from exploration seismics, potential fields, geoelectric prospecting and rock physics.

Prerequisite: GEOP 205  or equivalent

 

GEOP 520     Geomagnetism & Paleomagnetism                                                                                                         (3-0-3)

In-depth study of the nature, description, and analysis of the present magnetic field, spherical harmonics in applied geophysics, observatory weak remnants of the field, computation of its coefficients, the IGRF, measurement and analysis of the ancient geomagnetic field, theory of rock magnetism, acquisition of remnants by rocks, theories of TRM and DRM, instruments and techniques of paleointensity and paleodirection measurement from rocks, analysis and interpretation of paleomagnetic measurements, applications of paleomagnetic methods in geology and geophysics, brief discussion of the origin of the geomagnetic field.

Prerequisite: GEOP 202  or equivalent

 

GEOP 525     Electrical Methods                                                                                                                          (3-0-3)

Physical principles of electrical and electromagnetic methods, numerical solutions for 2-D and 3-D problems, instrumentation and layout planning for land and airborne surveys, computer modeling and processing of field data, methods of interpretation, including curve matching, forward modeling, inversion, and recent advances in resistivity logging for oil and gas reservoirs.

Prerequisite: GEOP 450  or equivalent

 

GEOP 530     Basin Analysis                                                                                                                                 (3-0-3)

Isostacy and subsidence, salt tectonics, basin classification, basin geometry, thermal burial history, oil generation and migration, heat flow and gradients, paleotemperature, basin modeling, and case histories.

Prerequisite: GEOL 201, and GEOP 202 or equivalent

 

GEOP 535     Seismic & Sequence Stratigraphy                                                                                                           (2-3-3)

Review of seismic reflection principles, geodynamics, causes of changes in sea level, eustatic change of sea level, cycle chart, sedimentary supply and processes, sequence boundaries, seismic facies analysis, chronostratigraphy verus lithostratigraphy, system tracts, clastics sequence stratigraphy, carbonate sequence stratigraphy, seismic response of different structures, case histories.

Prerequisite:             Consent of the instructor

 

GEOP 540     Three-Dimensional Seismic Interpretation                                                                                           (2-3-3)

Review of 3-D seismic data acquisition and processing, structural interpretation from 3-D slices and sections, stratigraphic interpretation, seismic attributes and wavelet analysis, seismic resolution, reservoir imaging and classification, high resolution data and integration with well-log data, 3-D visualization, and geophysical computer application in seismic interpretation.

Prerequisite: GEOP 415  or equivalent

 

GEOP 545     Petroleum Data Integration & Management                                                                             (2-3-3)

Data structure and fundamental considerations, data quality, error, natural variation, data input, verification, storage and output format, geographic information system and different types of software, spatial data and attributes, data management and integration.

Prerequisite:             Consent of the instructor

 

GEOP 550     Reservoir Characterization                                                                                                                        (3-0-3)

Reservoir description, scaling, core and rock description, log interpretation and calibration to 3-D seismic, geostatistics, kriging, distributions, simulation, structural and sequence stratigraphy and their use in reservoir characterization, reservoir heterogeneities, data integration and quality control.

Prerequisite: GEOP 415 or equivalent

 

GEOP 590     Independent Study                                                                                                                                                                                    (3–0-3)

Advanced work in certain areas of geophysics, adapted to the student's own field of interest. A well-written report and presentation are required. The course should not duplicate thesis work and cannot be repeated for credit. Approval of the Chairman of the Department should be secured each time the course is offered.

Prerequisite:             Graduate Standing

 

GEOP 592     Special Topics                                                                                                                                                                                  (3-0-3)

Advanced course that may be offered on a geophysical topic of interest to a faculty member apart from the topics covered in the elective courses. The Department should secure the approval of the Graduate Council each time the course is offered.

Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

 

GEOP 599     Seminar                                                                                                                                                                                             (1-0-0) 

Graduate students are required to attend the seminars given by faculty members, visiting scholars, and fellow graduate students. Additionally, each student must present at least one seminar on a timely research topic. This course is designed to give the student an overview of research in the Department, and a familiarity with the research methodology, journals, and professional societies in his discipline. Graded on a Pass or Fail basis.

Prerequisite:  Graduate Standing

 

GEOP 600     Geophysics Master Report                                                                                               (0-0-3)

The student carries out a research project on an approved topic in Geophysics.  A written report and an oral presentation are required.  The project, report, and presentation should be finished in one semester.  Pass-fail basis only.  This course is available only for students enrolled in the Master of Geophysics program.

Prerequisite:             Graduate Standing

 

GEOP 610      Thesis