Publisher's Synopsis
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the American Geosciences Institute collaborated with the Association of American Geographers to investigate non-Ph.D. preparatory Master's programs in the geosciences. The project titled, "Geoscience Career Master's Preparation Survey" assessed the specific competencies taught within these programs, and compared them to student learning and what non-academic professionals indicate as the most important for their careers. This report presents data regarding students' decisions to enroll, career influences, and career goals along with faculty satisfaction with the degree programs, types of positions secured and desired by students, and positions held by non-academic professionals. The report also illuminates the amount of preparation students receive in these programs regarding different technical and non-technical competencies, and presents data on how important each of these items are to non-academic professionals' careers.