Overview

"Students in the Professional Master’s Program benefit from Rice’s highly recognized academic resources enhanced with professional components that together foster the development of essential science, communication, and management skills. The (Subsurface Geoscience) track creates a rare breed of well-prepared professionals possessing the wide range of abilities necessary to devise innovative and pragmatic approaches to tackle difficult industry problems."

– André Erlich, Chief Information Officer, Schlumberger Ltd.

The Subsurface Geoscience program is geared for students who would like to become proficient in applying geological knowledge and geophysical methods to find and develop reserves of oil and natural gas.

The core requirements for the degree are strong courses in geophysical exploration methods, management and policy courses, communication skills, and an industrial internship. Students select a group of elective courses from a focus area (see below), or from a variety of other courses related to their interest.

• The Geology focus area prepares students to be "explorationists," with strong skills in using seismic and other geophysical methods along with geological principles to find oil and natural gas.
• The Geophysics focus area prepares students to become technical experts in aspects of exploration seismology.

Faculty members involved in the Professional M.S in Subsurface Geoscience Program include:

Alan R. Levander, Earth Science Chairman
Dale S. Sawyer, Track Director and Advisor, Earth Science
Vitor Abreu, Earth Science
John B. Anderson, Earth Science
Andrew R. Barron, Chemistry
Steve H. Danbom, Earth Science
Gerald R. Dickens, Earth Science
Mary Purugganan/Liz Eich, PSM Professional Communication
André Droxler, Earth Science
Brandon Dugan, Earth Science
Fenglin Niu, Earth Science
Dan Carson, Dean of Natural Sciences
Julia Morgan, Earth Science
Rusty Riese, Earth Science
Colin A. Zelt, Earth Science

Last updated 09/12/2011 by K. Frederick