Satisfaction with Geoscience Master's Degree Programs

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Date updated: 2015-03-27
Data Brief 2015-005
Written and compiled by Heather R. Houlton and Jamie Ricci for AGI, March 2015

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The Geoscience Career Master's Preparation Survey listed 22 different aspects about Geology and Geography Master's degree programs and asked how satisfied faculty and students are with these items. Overall, Geology and Geography students indicate they are "Satisfied" or "Very Satisfied" with faculty. This includes the amount of contact they have with professors (79% Geology and 74% Geography), as well as students being satisfied with the overall quality of instruction (66% and 72%, respectively). However, faculty in Geology and Geography are much more satisfied by core curriculum courses than students (62% of Geology faculty versus 38% of Geology students are "Satisfied" or "Very Satisfied," and 70% of Geography faculty versus 44% of students indicate the same satisfaction).

Geology faculty (69%) are "Satisfied" or "Very Satisfied" with the amount of preparation students receive for pursuing careers post-graduation. However, only 45% of Geology students feel the same toward their career preparation. In Geography, 36% of students feel "Satisfied" or "Very Satisfied" with their career preparation, whereas 54% of faculty indicate they are "Satisfied" or "Very Satisfied" with the amount of preparation students receive.

Satisfaction with Geology and Geography Programs

This is the fourth in a series of seven Currents disseminating results from the AGI and AAG Geoscience Career Master's Preparation Survey. For more information about this research, its outcomes and resources available to departments, please visit: https://www.americangeosciences.org/workforce/workforce-readiness.

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