Geochemistry
Graduate program at Colorado School of Mines
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Select a program type below to learn more. What’s the difference? Read more about program types.
Geochemistry Master’s Thesis
The Graduate Program in Geochemistry is an interdisciplinary program with the mission to educate students whose interests lie at the intersection of the geological and chemical sciences.
The Master’s Thesis requires a minimum of 36 credits to complete. Students must also complete an appropriate thesis, based on original research they have conducted. A thesis proposal and course of study must be approved by the student’s thesis committee before the student begins substantial work on the thesis research. Master of Science students will be expected to give a public seminar on their research
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation (3 letters).
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Geochemistry Professional Master’s Non-Thesis Degrees
Professional Master’s in Analytical Geochemistry
This professional non-thesis program is designed for both full time students and working professionals who want to increase their knowledge and skills, while gaining a thorough up-date of advances across the spectrum of geochemical analysis.
A minimum of 30 credits is required for the Professional Master’s (PM) degree. Students working towards a PM in Analytical Geochemistry are required to take at least 9.0 credits from courses in the Certificate in Analytical Geochemistry core and 3.0 credits from the electives. Up to 6 credits of the additional electives can include an independent study project (CHGC 598) at Mines, federal agencies, or industry, and is highly encouraged.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation (2 letters).
- No letters are required for current Mines students.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Geochemistry Professional Master’s Non-Thesis Degrees
Professional Master’s in Environmental Geochemistry
The Professional Master’s in Environmental Geochemistry program is intended to provide 1) an opportunity for Mines undergraduates to obtain, as part of a fifth year of study, a Master’s in addition to the Bachelor’s degree; and 2) additional education for working professionals in the area of geochemistry as it applies to problems relating to the environment.
This is a non-thesis Master’s degree program administered by the Environmental Biogeochemistry subprogram of the Geochemistry program, and may be completed as part of a Combined degree program by individuals already matriculated as undergraduate students at Mines, or by individuals already holding undergraduate or advanced degrees and who are interested in a graduate program that does not have the traditional research requirement. The program consists primarily of coursework in geochemistry and allied fields with an emphasis on environmental applications. No research is required though the program does allow for independent study, professional development, internship, and cooperative experience
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation (2 letters).
- No letters are required for current Mines students.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Geochemistry Doctorate
The requirements for the Geochemistry Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program will be established individually by a student’s thesis committee, but must meet the minimum requirements presented below. The Geochemistry PhD program will require a minimum of 72 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. A total of 24 course credits beyond the bachelor’s degree are required, with at least 9 credits being completed at Mines.
Geochemistry PhD students must also complete an appropriate thesis-based upon original research they have conducted. A thesis proposal and course of study must be approved by the student’s thesis committee before the student begins substantial work on the thesis research. PhD students are required to give at least one public seminar in addition to their thesis defense presentation.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation (3 letters).
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Geochemistry Certificates
Graduate Certificate of Analytical Geochemistry
This program offers an opportunity for working professionals to complete graduate-level coursework leading to a graduate certificate in a short time. The program focuses on providing instruction in a.) the fundamentals of geochemical analysis, which give students the flexibility to respond to changing opportunities in earth and environmental science, and b.) the mechanics of common techniques (sample collection and preparation, XRF, SEM, and ICP), which prepare students for immediate entry into the jobs market. The Certificate program is comprised of 12.0 credits of coursework.
The Certificate in Analytical Geochemistry can be combined with the Certificate in Exploration Methods to be used towards the Professional Masters in Analytical Geochemistry (Non-thesis), which will allow part-time students to stack their education. When stacking the Certificates, the additional 6 credits required to complete the PM can include an independent study project (CHGC 599) at Mines, federal agencies, or industry, and is highly encouraged. Independent study projects that connect students with local entities will be a priority and will establish a network of future employers for the students and collaborations for Colorado School of Mines.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Department of Geochemistry
There is a wealth of information contained in the liquids, gases and mineral deposits found in the Earth, all with a wide array of industrial and scientific research applications. With employment expected to grow faster than average over the next decade, the demand for qualified, dedicated professionals will follow.
The Geochemistry graduate programs prepare graduates to take the next step in their careers with an interdisciplinary structure and two subprograms. The geochemistry degree track teaches students about the chemical evolution of the Earth’s crust and mantle, geochemistry of energy and mineral resources, chemical mineralogy and more. The environmental biogeochemistry degree track focuses on the coupled chemical and biological processes of the Earth’s biosphere and the changes caused by human activities.
A Top Tier University
Top 30 best colleges for Engineering in America
Top-ranked best return on investment
$99,240 median salary for geoscientists (bls.gov)
Credits and Deadlines
View the academic catalog to see the courses and credit requirements for this program.
Master's Thesis & Doctorate (PhD) Program Deadlines
Select a Term:
Spring 2025 Deadlines | Fall 2025 Deadlines
Spring Deadlines
Fall Deadlines
| Degree Program | Priority | International* | Domestic* | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Energy Systems | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Chemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Mathematics & Statistics | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Physics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Chemical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Chemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Civil & Environmental Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Computer Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Earth Resources Development Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Electrical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Engineering & Technology Management | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Environmental Engineering Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Geochemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Geological Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geology | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geophysical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geophysics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Humanitarian Engineering & Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Hydrology | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Materials Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mechanical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Metallurgical and Materials Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mineral & Energy Economics | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mining Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Nuclear Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Operations Research with Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Petroleum Engineering | March 1 | March 1 | ||
| Physics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Quantitative Biosciences & Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Quantum Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Robotics | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Space Resources | March 1 (International on-campus) | July 1 (Domestic on-campus) | August 1 | |
| Underground Construction & Tunnel Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 |
Residential (on-campus) Master's Non-Thesis & Graduate Certificates Deadlines
| Spring Deadlines | Fall Deadlines | |
|---|---|---|
| International Students* | October 1, 2024 | March 1, 2025 |
| Domestic U.S. Students | December 15, 2024 | August 1, 2025 |
| International students are not eligible to apply for residential certificate programs. We encourage you to check out our online certificate options | ||
Online Master's Non-Thesis & Graduate Certificates Deadlines
| The following deadlines apply to online master's non-thesis and graduate certificate programs for domestic U.S. and International students. | |
| Spring I & II (January 6 start) | January 2, 2025 |
| Spring III*** (March 10 start) | February 17, 2025 |
| Fall I & II (August 19 start) | August 1, 2025 |
| Fall III*** (March 10 start) | October 22, 2025 |
| **The Fall III deadline is only available for the following programs: Additive Manufacturing; Business Analytics; Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage; Chemical Engineering Processes in Energy Transitions; Data Science: Computer Science; Data Science: Earth Resources; Electrical Engineering (Professional Master and Certificate Only); Engineering and Technology Management; GIS & Geoinformatics; Mechanical Engineering; Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering | |
| ***The Spring III deadline is only available for the following programs: Additive Manufacturing; Business Analytics; Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage; Electrical Engineering (Professional Master and Certificate Only); Engineering and Technology Management; GIS & Geoinformatics; Mechanical Engineering; Product Management (Offered for only session III in spring); Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering | |
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Program Director
James Ranville
Part of my research involves the role of colloids and particles in environmental processes. Environmental colloids can be described as particles smaller than one micrometer. They can make up a significant proportion of suspended sediments and are important in that they: effectively bind pollutants; do not readily settle out of surface waters; and are mobile in groundwaters. Consequently, they can facilitate the transport of pollutants. Currently, not much is known about the abundance and properties of environmental colloids. Much of my work has been involved in the development of methods to collect and analyze colloids from rivers, reservoirs, mountain streams, soil solutions and groundwaters.
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Contact Us
(303) 273-3247
grad-admissions@mines.edu
Career Connections
At Mines, your career goals are the focus. You will connect with world-class faculty and industry experts in your field, all while enhancing your knowledge through hands-on learning and research.
Employers & Career Types
Geochemistry Career Types
- Exploration geochemist
- Hydrogeologist
- Geochemistry analyst
- Petroleum geologist
- Mining geologist
Typical Analytical Geochemistry Employers
- Oil and gas companies
- Consultancies
- Mining and quarrying companies
- Environmental consultancies
- Universities and research institutes
Where Mines Alumni Work
- Anschultz Exploration
- Chevron
- NASA
- Newmont Mining
- Scripps Institute of Oceanography
- U.S. Geological Survey
Typical Analytical Geochemistry Work Duties
- Plan scientific studies, visit field locations and collect samples
- Analyze samples, either in the field or in the laboratory
- Contribute to natural resource use and environmental management policies
- Guide oil and gas exploration using aerial photographs and geological data
- Help predict the occurrence of earthquakes
- Develop remediation plans to clean up toxic waste sites
Career Resources
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