boston college
morrissey college of arts and sciences
graduate program
earth &
environmental
sciences
1
a message from the earth &
environmental sciences faculty
W
elcome to the Department of Earth
and Environmental Sciences (formerly
Geology and Geophysics) at Boston
College. Our department explores the way the
earth works and the natural and anthropogenic
processes that shape our evolving planet. We are
a small and friendly department with a faculty that
integrates a strong commitment to quality teaching with an active research program that addresses
interrelationships among the solid earth, the
hydrosphere, the biosphere and the atmosphere.
Faculty are currently active in research areas that
include coastal and estuarine processes, earthquake and exploration seismology, environmental
geology and geophysics, earth surface processes,
fluvial geomorphology and remote sensing,
paleoclimate and climate change, groundwater
hydrology and geochemistry, igneous and metamorphic petrology and structural geology.
The department offers graduate courses and
research programs leading to the M.S. in geology
or geophysics; typically, 20 graduate students are
in residence. Students are encouraged to obtain
broad backgrounds by taking courses in geology, geophysics and environmental geosciences
along with other sciences and mathematics. The
department is characterized by strong working
relationships between faculty, graduate students
and undergraduates. The program stresses a solid
background in the earth sciences as well as the
ability to carry out research. It prepares students
for successful careers as geoscientists in the
environmental and engineering industries, oil and
gas exploration or government service, and for
continued studies toward a Ph.D.
Many of our students carry out field-based
research that might include surveying rivers
in Maine, geological mapping in our backyard
in the Appalachians and farther afield in areas
such as Utah and New Zealand, or going out to
sea on a research vessel in the Gulf of Mexico.
Students are encouraged to publish their research
and present results at professional meetings.
We celebrate student research every year with
a day-long student colloquium, organized and
hosted by the graduate students, with talks and
poster presentations.
Please visit our website to learn more about our
research, facilities and instrumentation. We
welcome visitors and will be happy to arrange
tours of the department and meetings with faculty. For more information, visit bc.edu/eesciences
or contact us at 617-552-3640.
contents
Program Overview
2
Faculty
3
Courses
6
Outcomes
7
Academic Resources
8
Student Life &
Campus Resources
10
Admission & Financial
Information
12
1
program overview
programs of study
M.S.
M.S.T.
Plan of study
Designed for prospective teachers, the M.S.T. program
is administered through the Lynch Graduate School
of Education at Boston College in cooperation with the
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
It requires admission to both schools. For more information, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions
at the Lynch School of Education at bc.edu/lsoe.
No fixed curriculum is prescribed for the M.S. Instead,
a course and research program that is consistent with
the student’s background and professional objectives is
developed by the student and his or her faculty advisory
committee. The graduate program assumes a basic
undergraduate foundation in the geosciences. Students
lacking such a background may be required to complete
certain subjects at the undergraduate level before or
during their graduate program. Master’s candidates in
either geology or geophysics must complete or have
completed a minimum of two semesters (or equivalent)
of courses in calculus, physics and chemistry.
RequiRements
Students are required to successfully complete a
minimum of 30 credit hours in the natural sciences,
mathematics and engineering, approved by the faculty
advisory committee. In addition, students must pass
a comprehensive oral examination by the end of their
fourth semester. Finally, students must complete a research thesis in order to graduate with an M.S. in
geology or geophysics.
Research in Earth & Environmental
Sciences
Research in the Department of Earth and Environmental
Sciences includes a wide range of investigations into the
way the earth works and the processes that shape our
evolving planet. Opportunities are available for students
to work with our faculty in the following research concentrations:
 Coastal and estuarine processes
 Earthquake and exploration seismology
 Environmental geology and geophysics
 Earth surface processes
 Paleoclimate
M.S./M.B.A. Dual Degree
In conjunction with the Carroll Graduate School of
Management at Boston College, the Department of
Earth and Environmental Sciences offers interested
students the opportunity to participate in the combined
M.S./M.B.A. dual-degree program. This program is
excellent preparation for careers in industrial or financial
geoscience management, including areas such as the
environmental and petroleum industries, natural hazard
assessment and natural resource evaluation and investment. For more informtion, contact Professor John Ebel
at ebel@bc.edu.
2
 Groundwater hydrology
 Igneous and metamorphic petrology
 Geochemistry and isotope geochemistry
 Dynamics and processes of sedimentary systems
 Plate tectonics
 Structural Geology
Additional information about our research programs can
be found at bc.edu/eesciences.
faculty profiles
ethan baxter
Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (2000)
ethan.baxter@bc.edu
RESEARCh INTERESTS
 Isotope geochemistry
 Geochronology
 Tectonics
 Petrology
 Earth history
 Dragovic, B.; Baxter, E.F.; Caddick, M.J. (2015). Pulsed Garnet
Growth and Dehydration at Blueschist Facies Conditions, Sifnos,
Greece. Earth & Planetary Science Letters, 413, 111-22.
 Baxter, E.F.; Scherer E.E. (2013). Garnet: Timekeeper of Tectonometamorphic Evolution. Elements, 9, 433-38.
 Baxter, E.F.; Caddick, M.J. (2013). Garnet Growth as a Proxy for
Progressive Subduction Zone Dehydration. Geology, 41, 643-46.
gabrielle david
Visiting Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Colorado State University (2011)
gabrielle.david@bc.edu
RESEARCh INTERESTS
 River restoration
 Environmental geology
Selected PublicationS
 David, G.C.L.; Legleiter, C.J.; Wohl, E.; Yochum, S.E. (2013).
Understanding Spatial Variability in Flow Resistance Using 3d
Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter Data. Geomorphology, 183, 28-44.
 Yochum, S.E.; Bledsoe, B.P.; David, G.C.L.; Wohl, E. (2012).
Velocity Prediction in high Gradient Mountain Streams. Journal of
Hydrology, 424-425, 84-98.
 David, G.C.L.; Wohl, E.; Yochum, S.E.; Bledsoe, B.P. (2011).
Comparative Analysis of Bed Resistance Partitioning in high Gradient Streams. Water Resources Research, 47, W07507.
john e. ebel
Professor and Department Chairperson
Senior Research Scientist, Weston Observatory of Boston College
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology (1981)
ebel@bc.edu
RESEARCh INTERESTS
 Earthquake seismology
 Exploration geophysics
tara pisani gareau
Visiting Assistant Professor
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
 Fluvial geomorphology
 hydrology
 Ebel, J.E. (2011). A New Analysis of the Magnitude of the
February 1663 Earthquake at Charlevoix, Quebec. Bulletin of the
Seismological Society of America, 101, 1024-38.
 Ebel, J.E. (2009). An Analysis of Aftershock and Foreshock
Activity in Stable Continental Regions: Implications for
Aftershock Forecasting and the hazard of Strong Earthquakes.
Seismological Research Letters, 80, 1062-68.
 Theoretical seismology
 Seismic hazards
Selected PublicationS
 Ebel, J.E.; Dupuy, M.; Bakun, W.h. (2013). Assessing the Location and Magnitude of the 20 October 1870 Charlevoix, Quebec,
Earthquake. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 103,
588-94.
Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz (2008)
tara.pisanigareau@bc.edu
RESEARCh INTERESTS
 Agroecology
 Sustainable food systems
 Conservation biological control
 Pollination services
Selected PublicationS
 Schipanski, M.; Smith, R. G.; Pisani Gareau, T.; Jabbour, R.;
Lewis, D.; Barbercheck, M.; Mortensen, D.; Kaye, J. (2014). The
Structure of Multivariate Relationships Influencing Crop Yields
During the Transition to Organic Management. Agriculture,
Ecosystems, and Environment, 189, 119–26.
 Pisani Gareau, T.; Letourneau, D.K.; Shennan, C. (2013).
Relative Densities of Natural Enemy and Pest Insects within
California hedgerows. Environmental Entomology, 42(4), 688702.
 Jabbour, R.; Pisani Gareau, T.; Smith, R.; Barbercheck, M.
Cover Crop Legacy Effects on Ground-dwelling Arthropods in
Distinct Tillage Regimes During the Organic Transition Period.
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. (forthcoming).
j. christopher hepburn
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Harvard University (1972)
hepburn@bc.edu
RESEARCh INTERESTS
 Regional geology and tectonics
 Metamorphic and igneous petrology
 Geochemistry
Selected PublicationS
 Sorota, K.; hepburn, J. C.; Kuiper, Y.; Tubrett, M. (2011).
Detrital Zircon Study of the Merrimack Terrane, MA and Nh.
Sorota, Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs,
44(2), 70.
 hepburn, J.C.; Loan, M.; Kay, A.; Kuiper, Y. (2011). The
Nashoba Terrane of SE New England: Recent Findings on its
Origin and Evolution. Abstracts, Geological Association of Canada
– Mineralogical Associatin of Canada, GAC, 34, 88-89.
 Loan, M.; hepburn, J.C.; Kuiper, Y.; Tubrett, M. (2011).
Age Constraints on the Deposition and Provenance of Metasedimentary Units of the Nashoba Terrane. Geological Society of
America, Abstracts with Programs, 43(1), 160.
3
faculty profiles
rudolph hon
gail c. kineke
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1976)
Ph.D., University of Washington (1993)
hon@bc.edu
gail.kineke@bc.edu
RESEARCh INTERESTS
 Aqueous geochemistry
 Watershed studies
 Environmental geology
RESEARCh INTERESTS
 Mineralogy
 Geochemistry of soils
Selected PublicationS
Selected PublicationS
 hepburn, J.C.; Dunning, G.R.; hon, R. (1997) Geochronology and Regional Tectonic Implications of Silurian Deformation
in the Nashoba Terrane, Southeastern New England. In Current
Perspectives in the Appalachian-Caledonian Orogen. Geological Association of Canada, eds. J.P. hibbard, J.P.; C.R. van Staal; P.A.
Cawood. Special Paper 41, 349-366.
 hon, R.; Paige, J.S.; Loftenius, C.J. (1993) Petrogenesis of
Two Diverse Mid-Paleozoic Complexes of Eastern Massachusetts: A-type Cape Ann Granite and I-type Sharpners Pond
Quartz Diorite. In Field Trip Guidebook for the Northeastern United States, 1993, eds. J.T. Cheney and J.C. hepburn. Boston, GSA:
Department of Geology & Geography, University of
Massachusetts, Amherst, 2, Q1-Q28.
 Traykovski, P., J. Trowbridge, G. Kineke (2015). Mechanisms
of Surface Wave Energy Dissipation Over a high-Concentration
Sediment Suspension, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans,
120, 1638-81.
 hsu, T.J.; Traykovski, P.A.; Kineke, G.C. (2007). On Modeling
Boundary Layer and Gravity-driven Fluid Mud Transport.
Journal of Geophysical Research, 112, C04011.
 Kineke, G.C.; higgins, E.E.; hart, K.; Velasco, D. (2006).
Fine-Sediment Transport Associated with Cold Front Passages
on the Shallow Shelf, Gulf of Mexico. Continental Shelf Research,
26, 2073-91.
alan l. kafka
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (2009)
seth c. kruckenberg
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor and Director of Weston Observatory
seth.kruckenberg@bc.edu
Ph.D., Stony Brook University (1980)
RESEARCh INTERESTS
kafka@bc.edu
 Structural geology and tectonics
 Textural and magnetic fabric analyses
 Geochronology
RESEARCh INTERESTS
 Seismology
 Earthquake hazards
 Science education and public policy
Selected PublicationS
 Kafka, A.L.; Ebel, J.E. (2011). Proximity to Past Earthquakes as
a Least Astonishing hypothesis for Forecasting Locations of Future Earthquakes. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America,
101(4), 1618-29.
 Kafka, A.L. (2007). Does Seismicity Delineate Zones Where
Future Large Earthquakes will Occur in Intraplate Environments. In Continental Intraplate Earthquakes: Science, Hazard,
and Policy Issues, Geological Society of America Special Papers, eds.
S. Stein and S. Mazzotti, 425, 35–48.
 Kafka, A.L.; Ebel, J.E. (2007). Exaggerated Claims about
Earthquake Predictions. EOS Transactions of the American
Geophysical Union, 88(1).
4
 Coastal and estuarine processes
 Marine sediment transport
Selected PublicationS
 Tikoff, B.; Blenkinsop, T.; Kruckenberg, S.C.; Morgan, S.;
Newman, J.; Wojtal, S. (2013). A Perspective on the Emergence
of Modern Structural Geology: Celebrating the Feedbacks Between historically Based and Process-based Approaches. In The
Web of Geological Sciences: Advances, Impacts, and Interactions:
Geological Society of America Special Paper 500, ed. M.E. Bickford.
 Kruckenberg, S.C.; Tikoff, B.; Toy, V.G.; Newman, J.; Young,
L. (2013). Strain Localization Associated with Channelized Melt
Migration in Upper Mantle Lithosphere: Insights from the Twin
Sisters Ultramafic Complex, Washington, USA. Journal of Structural Geology Special Issue: Deformation Localization in Rocks.
 Kruckenberg, S.C.; Vanderhaeghe, O.; Ferré, E.C.; Teyssier,
C.; Whitney, D.L. (2011). Flow of Partially Molten Crust and the
Internal Dynamics of a Migmatite Dome, Naxos, Greece. Tectonics, 30, TC3001, 24.
jeremy d. shakun
noah p. snyder
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Oregon State University (2010)
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2001)
jeremy.shakun@bc.edu
noah.snyder@bc.edu
RESEARCh INTERESTS
RESEARCh INTERESTS
 Paleoclimate
 Cryosphere
 Geochemistry
 Geomorphology
 Remote sensing
 River restoration
Selected PublicationS
 Marcott, S.A.; Shakun, J.D.; Clark, P.U.; Mix, A.C. (2013). A
Reconstruction of Global and Regional Temperature for the Last
11,300 Years. Science, 339, 1198-1201.
 he, F.; Shakun, J.D.; Clark, P.U.; Carlson, A.E.; Liu, Z.;
Otto-Bliesner, B.L.; Kutzbach, J.E. (2013). Northern hemisphere
Forcing of Southern hemisphere Climate During the Last
Deglaciation. Nature, 494, 81-85.
 Shakun, J.D.; Clark, P.U.; he, F.; Marcott, S.A.; Mix, A.C.;
Liu, Z.; Otto-Bliesner, B.L.; Schmittner, A.; Bard, E. (2012).
Global Warming Preceded by Increasing Carbon Dioxide Concentrations During the Last Deglaciation. Nature, 484, 49-54.
Selected PublicationS
 Armstrong, W.h.; Collins, M.J.; Snyder, N.P. (2014).
hydroclimatic flood trends in the northeastern United States
and linkages with large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns.
Hydrological Sciences Journal, 59, 1636-55.
 Santaniello, D.J.; Snyder, N.P.; Gontz, A.M. (2013). Using
Ground-Penetrating Radar to Determine the Quantity of Sediment Stored behind the Merrimack Village Dam, Souhegan
River, New hampshire. In The Challenges of Dam Removal and
River Restoration, GSA Reviews in Engineering Geology, XXZ, ed.
J.V. DeGraff and J.E. Evans, 45-57.
 Snyder, N.P.; Nesheim, A.O.; Wilkins, B.C.; Edmonds, D.A.
(2013). Predicting Grain Size in Gravel-bedded Rivers Using
Digital Elevation Models: Application to Three Maine Watersheds. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 125(1/2), 148-63.
james w. skehan, s.j.
Professor Emeritus and Director Emeritus, Weston Observatory
Ph.D., Harvard University (1953)
skehan@bc.edu
paul strother
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Ph.D., Harvard University (1980)
 Regional geology and tectonics of New England and
the margins of the North Atlantic
 Assembly and dispersal of supercontinents
strother@bc.edu
Selected PublicationS
 Skehan, James W. (2001). Bedrock Tunnels of Massachusetts:
Windows on Geological Evolution of the Region. In Symposium
on Construction and Geology of the Massachusetts Water Resources
Authority Tunnels, Eastern Massachusetts II, The Geological
Society of America Abstracts with Programs, A115.
 Skehan, James W. (2001). Roadside Geology of
Massachusetts. The Geological Society of America, Abstracts with
Programs, 33( 1), A76.
 Skehan, J.W. (1995). Evidence from Avalon for Rifting and
Drifting During Breakup of Pangaea. The Geological Society of
America (GSA) Northeastern Section Meeting Theme Session:
Magmatism Associated with Mesozoic Rifting in Eastern North
America, Abstracts with Programs, 27(1), 81.
Research Professor
RESEARCh INTERESTS
 Paleobotany and palynology
 Precambrian paleobiology
 Origin of land plants
Selected PublicationS
 Strother, P.K.; Traverse, A.; Vecoli, M. (2015). Cryptospores
from the hanadir Shale Member of the Qasim Formation, Ordovician (Darriwilian) of Saudi Arabia: Taxonomy and
Systematics. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 212, 97-110.
 Wacey, D.; Saunders, M.; Roberts, M.; Menon, S.; Green,
L.; Kong, C.; Culwick, T.; Strother, P.K.; Brasier, M.D. (2014).
Enhanced Cellular Preservation by Clay Minerals in 1 BillionYear-Old Lakes. Scientific Reports, 4, 5841.
 Strother, P.K.; Battison, L.; Brasier, M.; Wellman, C. (2011).
Earth’s Earliest Non-marine Eukaryotes. Nature, 473, 505-9.
5
faculty profiles
courses
alfredo urzua
T
Adjunct Professor
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1981)
urzua@bc.edu
RESEARCh INTERESTS
 Soil mechanics
 Earthquake engineering
 Reliability engineering
 Goundwater flow
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
 Urzua, A.; Christian, J.T. (2014). Displacements from the 2014
Inquique M8.2 Earthquake and M7.7 Aftershock Added to a
Sliding Displacement Model. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE, published online October 27,
10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001238.
 Urzua, A.; Christian, J.T.; Silva, R.; Bonani, A. (2014). Rational
Selection of Critical Acceleration Factors for Sliding Stability.
Engineering Geology, 183, 241-46.
 Urzua, A.; Christian, J.T. (2013). Sliding Displacements due to
Subduction-Zone Earthquakes. Engineering Geology, 166, 237-44.
corinne i. wong
Assistant Professor
he combined and varied interests of the faculty, as indicated in the faculty profiles, ensure
that the department offers a wide range of graduate
courses. While the number and content of the graduate electives varies from year to year, the following
courses are illustrative of the range of offerings.
Fall
environmental Hydrology
Collins
agroecology: the science of sustainable
agriculture
Pisani Gareau
River Restoration and management
david
Paleoclimate i: Proxies
Wong
Watershed science
Hon
Coastal Processes
Kineke
tectonics
Kruckenberg
Petrology i
Hon
introduction to seismology
ebel
environmental Geophysics
department
earth systems seminar
ebel/Baxter
Ph.D., University of Texas (2013)
wongcw@bc.edu
Spring
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Paleobiology
strother
 Paleoclimate
 Environmental isotope geochemistry
 Aqueous geochemistry
sustainable agriculture
Pisani Gareau
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
 Wong, C.I.; Kromann, J.S.; hunt, B.B.; Smith, B.A;, Banner,
J.L. (2014). Investigation of Flow Between Trinity and Edwards
Aquifers (Central Texas) Using Physical and Geochemical Monitoring in Multiport Wells. Groundwater, 52, 624-39.
 Wong, C.I.; Sharp, J.M.; hauwert, N.; Landrum, J.; White,
K.M. (2012). Impact of Urban Development on hydrology and
Geochemistry. Elements, 8, 429-34.
 Wong, C.I.; Banner, J.L.; Musgrove, M. (2011). Seasonal Dripwater Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca Variations Driven by Cave Ventilation:
Implications for and Modeling of Speleothem Paleoclimate Records. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 75, 3514-29.
Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Wong
Paleoclimate ii: Past Climate dynamics
shakun
applications of Gis (Geographical
information systems)
Hon
estuarine studies
Kineke
exploration seismology
ebel
Petrology ii
Hon
6
Geophysical data Processing
ebel
Geomorphology and landscape Change
snyder
outcomes
Recent Theses
2014
Aakash Ahamed, “Geomorphic and
land use Controls on sediment yield in
eastern usa”
Benjamin Daniels, “effects of Climate
nonstationarity on low-flow models for
southern new england”
Justin Hertzog, “the upper mantle
seismic structure Beneath northeastern
north america”
Austin Hopkins, “a Comparison
of dem-Based methods for fluvial
terrace mapping and sediment
Volume Calculation: application to the
sheepscot River Watershed, maine”
Jake Martin, “Geophysical and
Geological analysis of fault activity and
seismic History of the obion River area,
new madrid seismic Zone (nmsZ),
Western tennessee, usa”
Austin Nijhuis, “fluvio-deltaic Response
to Relative sea-level fall: a Case study
of the Goose River delta, labrador,
Canada”
Daniel Dabrowski, “implications of
silurian Granite Genesis to the tectonic
History of the nashoba terrane,
eastern massachusetts”
Jacqueline Cinella, “a Cellular
seismology investigation of the
Caribbean Plate Region”
Maricate Conlon, “a Hindcast
Comparing the Response of the
souhegan River to dam Removal with
the simulations of the dam Removal
express assessment model-1”
Placement
2013
Kristin Sorota, “age and origin of
the merrimack terrane, southeastern
new england: a detrital Zircon u-Pb
Geochronological study”
Yu Xie, “spatial distribution and
Pathways of arsenic in shepley’s Hill
landfill, ayer, massachussetts”
O
ur M.S. program prepares
students for successful careers
as geoscientists in the environmental
and engineering industries, oil
and gas exploration or government
service, or for continued studies
toward a Ph.D.
Brendan Hildum, “arsenic speciation
and Groundwater Chemistry at a
landfill site: a Case study of
shepley’s Hill landfill”
Jacob Anderson, “Geochemical tracers
of surface Water and Ground Water
Contamination from Road salt”
Justin Starr, “a Geophysical and field
survey in Central new Hampshire to
search for the source Region of the
magnitude 6.5 earthquake of 1638”
Rebecca Caldwell, “the effect of
Grain size on River delta Process and
morphology”
Hosanna Lillydahl-Schroeder, “new
Petrological and in-situ electron
microprobe monazite age Constraints
on the timing of the foxe orogeny,
melville Peninsula, nunavut, Canada”
Steven Fisher, “effects of magnitude,
depth, and time on Cellular seismology
forecasts”
Richard Silver, “unsaturated flow
analysis of Heap leach soils”
Stephanie Strouse, “the effect of
millponds on sedimentation in a PostGlacial mid-Coast maine River Valley”
7
morrissey college of arts & sciences
T
he oldest and largest of the University’s eight
schools and colleges, the Morrissey College
of Arts and Sciences offers graduate programs
in the humanities, social sciences and natural
sciences, leading to the degrees of Doctor of
Philosophy, Master of Arts and Master of Science.
In addition, numerous dual-degree options are
offered in cooperation with the Carroll School of
Management, the Boston College Law School,
the Lynch School of Education and the Graduate
School of Social Work.
With approximately 1,000 students and 400 fulltime faculty, the Graduate School is small enough
to know you as a person, but large enough to
serve you and prepare you for a rewarding life
and satisfying career.
Academic Resources
ReseaRCH instRumentation and faCilities
The department’s research facilities are housed in Devlin
hall, with additional research facilities at Weston Observatory. Our research laboratories are outfitted with the most
modern scientific equipment.
Electron and Optical Microscopy Lab
Tescan Vega 3 variable pressure (VP) scanning electron
microscope equipped with a LaB6 source and a variety
of analytical detectors including: secondary electron (SE),
backscattered electron (BSE), cathodoluminescence, and
VP-SE. SEM is also equipped with an Oxford Instruments
X-MaxN 50 mm2 SDD x-ray detector and a NordlysMax2
electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) detector for
rapid characterization of mineral compositions and
crystallographic orientations. Optical microscopes
include Zeiss Axioskop40 transmitted/polarized light
microscope, Leica Z6 APO macroscope and a Leica MZ16
stereomicroscope for mineral picking. Support facilities
also include grain and thin-section polishing equipment.
For additional information on analytical capabilities
and supporting instrumentation, please visit the SEM
Lab website.
8
Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Lab
The mass spectrometer Thermo Delta V plus IRMS
is equipped with universal triple collectors and three
additional Faraday cups for multiple sulfur isotope
analyses by the SO-SO2 method in continuous flow.
The Delta V is linked to the two elemental analyzer
peripherals with a Conflo IV, two NC 2100 and ECS
4010 elemental analyzers to generate SO2 gas for
multiple S isotope analysis and CO2 and N2 gases for
C and N isotope analyses, respectively.
Sample Preparation in the IRMS Lab
 Mini drill system to obtain powders for stable isotope
analyses by IRMS
 Polishing machine
 high-resolution scanner
 Polarizing petrographic microscope
Hydrogeochemistry Lab
 hydrogeochemistry lab serves studies of natural water
systems
 Dual channel Dionex IC system (ICS-1000
and ICS-2100)—anion and cation analysis
 Shimadzu TOC-V total carbon analyzer
 Metrohm 798 MPT Titrino automated titrator
 Millipore Labscale Tangential Flow Filtration station
 PS Analytical Millennium Excalibur with hPLC
column—total arsenic and arsenic speciation
 Elix and Milli-Q Millipore DI water system
 Drying oven and Lindberg furnace
 Sequential filtration equipment and vacuum pumps
 Field instrumentation: conductivity meters (hach
and YSI), LDO meters (YSI), combination DO, ph,
conductivity meters (YSI), multiprobes (hydrolab and
YSI), henry Micro Push Point samplers, water grab
samplers, field water sampling pumps (Geotech) and
QED bladder pump, generator (honda).
Coastal Processes Lab
The Coastal Processes Lab is equipped for sediment
transport field studies with an assortment of electromagnetic and acoustic current meters (EMCMS, ADCPs,
ADVs), CTDs (conductivity, temperature, depth sensors),
a dual-frequency echo sounder, optical backscaterrance
sensors, a pump system for in situ water sampling and
vacuum filtration manifold for determination of suspended-sediment concentrations. Sediment particle size
analyses are carried out with a Micoromeritics Sedigraph
III5120 for fines (silt and clay) and standard sieving at
quarter-phi intervals for sands.
Geomorphology Lab
 Computer-based facility for analysis of changing
landscapes
 Leica TPS1200Total Station with integrated
GPS
 SonTek/YSI Argonaut-SW Acoustic Doppler
Flow System
 Marsh McBirney EM Current Meters Model 2000 (2)
portable flow meters
 Laser Technology Laser Range Finder
 Other field instrumentation: handheld Trimble GPS
GeoXT and Trimble GPS GeoXM, Trimble Juno SB
handheld GPS unit, Garmin 420s color GPSMAP
Chartplotter, YSI conductivity meter Professional Plus
Rock Processing and Preparation Lab
 2 Bico/Braun Chipmunck rock crushers
 Bico/Braun disc-mill grinder
 hydraulic vices
 Shatterboxes with sintered alumina and tungsten
Departmental Computer Lab
 Installed software: ArcGIS 10.1, Matlab, Mathematica;
on campus: SPSS, SAS, Stata, Visual Modflow
 Input data facilities: scanners, OCR
 Output facilities: color laser printers, 44-inch-wide-
poster plotter—Epson Stylus Pro 9800, other B/W
laser printers
Weston oBseRVatoRy
Weston Observatory is a geophysical research and science education center of the Department of Earth and
Environmental Sciences. It is located in Weston, Mass.,
about 10 miles from BC’s Chestnut hill campus. The
observatory, which has been recording earthquakes since
the 1930s, conducts basic research on earthquakes and
related processes, provides public information after
significant earthquakes occur, contributes to earthquake awareness to help reduce the tragic effects of
earthquakes, and educates future generations of geophysicists, geologists, environmental geoscientists and
scientifically literate citizens.
Today’s advances in geophysical instrumentation,
coupled with advances in Internet communication and
social media, make it possible to explore earthquakes
and the earth’s interior in unprecedented ways. Inspired
by its early roots in the 1930s, which formed the foundation of a modern high-tech networked observatory
of the 21st century, Weston Observatory shares in that
spirit of exploration. The facilities at the observatory offer
students opportunities to work on research projects in
geophysics and related research areas. For more information, visit bc.edu/westonobservatory.
carbide heads
 Assorted rock saws
Boston aRea ConsoRtium
 Ro-Tap grain size analysis shaking apparatus
The Boston Area Consortium allows graduate students
to cross-register for courses at Boston University,
Brandeis University and Tufts University.
(sand and gravel)
Mineral Separation Lab
 Outotec Wilfley table
 heavy liquid separation room
 Mineral and rock mounting and polishing
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student life & campus resources
B
oston College is located on the edge of one
of the world’s most vibrant cities. Just six
miles from downtown Boston—an exciting and
dynamic place to live and learn—Boston College
is an easy car or “T” ride away from a booming
center for trade, finance, research and education.
home to some of New England’s most
prestigious cultural landmarks, including the
Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart
Gardner Museum, Boston Symphony hall
and the Freedom Trail, Boston provides a rich
environment for those passionate about art,
music and history. For sports fans, Boston
hosts a number of the country’s greatest sports
teams: the Celtics, Patriots, Bruins and, of
course, Fenway Park’s beloved Red Sox. Found
within a short drive from Boston are some of
New England’s best recreational sites, from
the excellent skiing in New hampshire to the
pristine beaches of Cape Cod.
Boston also offers a wide range of family-friendly
attractions, including the Children’s Museum,
New England Aquarium, Franklin Park Zoo
and the Museum of Science. There are roughly
50 universities located in the Boston area, and
the large student population adds to the city’s
intellectually rich and diverse community.
Events, lectures and reading groups hosted
by world-renowned scholars abound on area
campuses, providing abundant opportunities to
meet and network with other graduate students
and faculty throughout the Boston area.
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The University
Boston College is a Jesuit university with more than
14,000 students, 758 full-time faculty and more than
165,000 active alumni. Since its founding in 1863, the
University has known extraordinary growth and change.
From its beginnings as a small Jesuit college intended to
provide higher education for Boston’s largely immigrant
Catholic population, Boston College has grown into a
national institution of higher learning that is consistently
ranked among the top universities in the nation: Boston
College is ranked 31st among national universities by
U.S. News & World Report.
Today, Boston College attracts scholars from all 50 states
and over 80 countries, and confers more than 4,000
degrees annually in more than 50 fields through its eight
schools and colleges. Its faculty members are committed
to both teaching and research and have set new marks
for research grants in each of the last 10 years. The University is committed to academic excellence. As part of
its most recent strategic plan, Boston College is in the
process of adding 100 new faculty positions, expanding faculty and graduate research, increasing student
financial aid and widening opportunities in key undergraduate and graduate programs.
The University is comprised of the following colleges
and schools: Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Carroll School of Management, Connell School of Nursing,
Lynch School of Education, Woods College of Advancing
Studies, Boston College Law School, Graduate School of
Social Work and School of Theology and Ministry.
General Resources
HousinG
While on-campus housing is not available for graduate students, most choose to live in nearby apartments.
The Office of Residential Life maintains an extensive
database with available rental listings, roommates and
helpful local real estate agents. The best time to look for
fall semester housing is June through the end of August. For spring semester housing, the best time to look
is late November through the beginning of the second
semester. Additionally, some graduate students may live
on campus as resident assistants. Interested students
should contact the Office of Residential Life.
JoHn CouRtney muRRay, s.J., GRaduate
student CenteR
One of only a handful of graduate student centers
around the country, the Murray Graduate Student Center
is dedicated to the support and enrichment of graduate
student life at Boston College. Its primary purpose is to
build a sense of community among the entire graduate
student population and cultivate a sense of belonging to
the University as a whole. Its amenities include study
rooms, a computer lab, two smart televisions, kitchen,
deck and patio space, complimentary coffee and tea, and
more. Throughout the year, the center hosts programs
organized by the Office of Graduate Student Life and
graduate student groups. The Murray Graduate Student
Center also maintains an active job board (available
electronically), listing academic and non-academic opportunities for employment both on and off campus.
mCmullen museum of aRt
Serving as a dynamic educational resource for the national and international community, the McMullen
Museum of Art showcases interdisciplinary exhibitions
that ask innovative questions and break new ground in
the display and scholarship of the works on view. The
McMullen regularly offers exhibition-related programs,
including musical and theatrical performances, films,
gallery talks, symposia, lectures, readings and receptions
that draw students, faculty, alumni and friends together
for stimulating dialogue. Located on the main campus,
the McMullen Museum is free to all visitors.
flynn ReCReation ComPlex
The 144,000-square-foot Flynn Recreation Complex
houses a running track; tennis, basketball, volleyball,
squash and racquetball courts; an aquatics center with
pool and dive well; saunas and more. Its 10,000-squarefoot Fitness Center offers over 100 pieces of cardio
equipment, a full complement of strength training
equipment and free weights, an air-conditioned spin
studio and three air-conditioned group fitness studios.
During the academic year, BC Rec holds more than 80
group fitness classes per week in a variety of disciplines,
including Zumba, spin, yoga, strength training, Pilates
and more.
Boston ColleGe CaReeR CenteR
The Boston College Career Center works with graduate
students at each step of their career development. Services include self-assessment, career counseling, various
career development workshops, resume and cover letter
critiques, and practice interviews. In addition to extensive workshop offerings, Career Center staff members
are available throughout the year for one-on-one advising
about any aspect of the career path. The Career Resource
Library offers a wealth of resources, including books, periodicals and online databases
ConnoRs family leaRninG CenteR
Working closely with the Graduate School, the Connors
Family Learning Center sponsors seminars, workshops
and discussions for graduate teaching assistants and
teaching fellows on strategies for improving teaching effectiveness and student learning. Each fall, the Learning
Center and the Graduate School hold a one-and-a-half
day “Fall Teaching Orientation” workshop designed to
help students prepare for teaching. The center also hosts
ongoing seminars on college teaching, higher learning
and academic life; assists graduate students in developing teaching portfolios; and provides class visits and
teaching consultations, upon request. Through these
and other activities, the Connors Family Learning Center
plays an important role in enhancing the quality of academic life at Boston College.
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admission & financial information
T
he application deadline for fall admission is
January 10. Please visit bc.edu/gsas for detailed
information on how to apply.
application requirements include:
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
Application Form:
submitted online, via the Gsas
website.

Application Fee:
$75, non-refundable.

Abstract of Courses
Form:
a concise overview of background
and related courses completed in
an intended field or proposed area
of study.

Official Transcripts:
demonstrating coursework
completed/degree conferral from
all post-secondary institutions
attended.

GRE General Test:
official score report required for
all applicants.

GRE Subject Test:
official score report recommended
for all applicants.

Three Letters of
Recommendation:
from professors or supervisors.
it is highly advisable that at least
one letter be from an academic
source.

Statement of Purpose: a brief (1-2 page) discussion of
an applicant’s preparation,
motivation and goals for their
proposed course of study.

Writing Sample:
a sample of an applicant’s best
work (usually a course paper
or equivalent) related to their
proposed field of study
highly recommended.

Proof of English
Proficiency:
(International only)
official toefl/ielts reports
accepted.
Financial Assistance
dePaRtment fundinG
The department is able to offer some financial assistance
to qualified students. Many students function as teaching
assistants within the department and receive a stipend in
exchange for their services. In addition, a number of students function as research assistants, which are funded
through faculty grants. Finally, the department awards
tuition scholarships to qualified students.
fedeRal finanCial aid
Graduate students can apply for federal financial aid
using the FAFSA. The loans that may be available to
graduate students are the Federal Direct Unsubsidized
Stafford Loan and Perkins Loan, based on eligibility. If
additional funds are needed, student may apply for a
Grad Plus Loan. For more information, see the Graduate
Financial Aid website at bc.edu/gradaid or contact the
Graduate Financial Aid Office at 617-552-3300 or 800294-0294.
offiCe of sPonsoRed PRoGRams
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) assists both
faculty and graduate students in finding sources of external funding for their projects and provides advice in the
development of proposals. OSP maintains a reference
library of publications from both the public and private
sectors listing funding sources for sponsored projects. In
the recent past, graduate students have received research
support from prominent agencies, corporations and
organizations such as the Fulbright Commission, the
Guggenheim Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the American Political Science Association, the
American Chemical Society and the American Association of University Women.
header
boston college
morrissey college of arts and sciences
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
Devlin Hall 213
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-552-3641
E-Mail: eesgradstudies@bc.edu
bc.edu/eesciences
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