Active research fields, which are listed on the Department's website, 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; geo-microbiology; geotectonic; 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; mesa-scale meteorology; mineral deposits; microclimatology; micrometeorology; micropaleontology; mineralogy; paleo limnology; paleoecology of siliceous microfossils; per glacial geomorphology; petroleum geology; physical oceanography, pale oceanography 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.
Program Requirements
Requirements for the MA and MSC degrees include satisfactory completion of a thesis and at least 9 of course work at the University of Alberta, with not more than 6 from the same instructor. More course work will be necessary if there is a significant change in discipline area from the undergraduate program. Normally not more than 3 of the required course work may be at the 400-level within the Department and only one 3 research or reading (directed studies) course may be counted towards the requirement, except with permission of the Department.
There is no language requirement for the degrees of MA and MSc.
Length of Program
An MA or MSC program should normally be completed in two academic years of work beyond an undergraduate degree.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
January 2025
University of Alberta
North Campus,
116 Street and 85 Avenue,
EDMONTON,
Alberta (AB),
T6G 2R3, Canada
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.
English language requirement:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT): Total score of 90 with a score of at least 21 on each of the individual skill areas (internet-based) or equivalent; IELTS: 6.5, with at least 6.0; PTE Academic: 61 with a minimum band score of 60.
The application deadlines: Mar 15 for September admission, Oct 1 for January admission.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
One of Canada’s top teaching and research universities, the University of Alberta has an international reputation for academic excellence.
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