The Department welcomes applicants with undergraduate degrees in fields other than earth science, and applicants with backgrounds in other science disciplines, particularly engineering and biological or life sciences, are encouraged to apply.
Students lacking one or more prerequisite courses can make up deficiencies after admission.
Prerequisites normally include at least four semester courses in earth science and one year each of college-level courses in biology or physics, chemistry, and calculus. All applicants for graduate level admission are required to submit their scores on the Graduate Record Examination. Completed application for admission should reach the Graduate School Office no later than January 15 for admission in the fall semester and no later than October 15 for admission in the spring semester. For additional information about the Graduate School and for all necessary application forms click on the following links. The Department of Earth Sciences offers programs leading to the MA and PhD degrees in Earth Sciences and prepares students for university teaching, applied research, employment with state and federal agencies, and positions of responsibility in private consulting organizations.