Professional Geosciences Master鈥檚 Program Reaches Milestone
May 2015 Marks 100th Program Graduate
Alumni, faculty and friends of the 葫芦影业鈥檚 Professional Geosciences Master鈥檚 Program gathered at Armadillo Palace to celebrate the program reaching 100 graduates. The Milestone Celebration highlighted the accomplishments of the program and gave alumni from various cohorts the opportunity to reconnect.
鈥淭he success of these graduates and this remarkable milestone are standing on the
shoulders of the efforts and success of all previous graduates and alumni,鈥� said Don
Van Nieuwenhuise, director of the Professional Geosciences Master鈥檚 Program, while
addressing alumni at the event.
Since 2004, 11 student cohorts have earned their master鈥檚 degrees through the program offered by the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.
The Professional Master鈥檚 Program, offering degrees with specializations in petroleum geology and petroleum geophysics, is uniquely designed for current professionals in the oil and gas industry. It is recognized for its integrative approach toward petroleum geoscience education and for its collaboration with industry experts. New cohorts typically start at the completion of the preceding cohort. Each cohort lasts four semesters, including a summer semester.
鈥淢any of our students enter the program after a few years in industry,鈥� Van Nieuwenhuise said. 鈥淲e also have partnerships with domestic and international companies that give their employees the opportunity to earn their master鈥檚 degree through this program.鈥�
鈥漈he M.S. program at UH really enhanced my understanding of geosciences by providing an excellent curriculum, a group of expert and well-known professors, and motivated students who answered the same call to learn that brought me there,鈥� said Robert Blanchard, a graduate of the ninth cohort and a geophysicist at Marathon Oil. 鈥淚 appreciated my experience in the program and enjoy working with my cohort alumni who are already in industry.鈥�
Graduates from 10 different cohorts attended the celebration. As the program continues to grow, the hope is that alumni stay engaged with UH and with fellow colleagues in the program.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got a strong community of alumni from this program, and we hope everyone continues their conversations beyond the time they spent in school,鈥� Van Nieuwenhuise said.