Graduate Programs in Earth and Environmental Sciences
Graduate study in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers students opportunities for field, laboratory and computational geological and geophysical research spanning the earth’s deep interior, lithosphere and surface on a host of timescales. Several of our faculty lead collaborative domestic and international research programs that afford our graduate students opportunities to work in diverse parts of the world with teams of internationally recognized scholars. State-of-the-art analytical and computational facilities provide opportunities for cutting-edge research in the fields of Earth Sciences. Please note that the GRE is not required for admission to our department, submitting scores is purely optional.
Interdisciplinary research opportunities leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees include:
- Biogeochemistry
- Computational Geophysics
- Environmental Geology
- Geomorphology
- Global Environmental Change
- Hydrogeology & Hydrology
- Isotope Geochemistry
- Paleobiology
- Paleolimnology
- Petrology
- Sedimentology
- Tectonics
- Thermochronology
Ph.D. and M.S. students are supported by full-tuition scholarships and stipends through teaching assistantships, research assistantships and/or fellowships. Typically, M.S. students receive a minimum of four semesters of support, and Ph.D. students receive a minimum of eight.
The overall goal of the graduate program is to provide a pathway to advanced degrees in the Earth Sciences through research, education and other relevant experiences. All students receiving advanced degrees from the department acquire experience with the following:
- Skill in the collection and analysis of data
- Preparing research results with the ultimate goal of publications and reports
- Experience writing proposals to fund research or teaching objectives
- Building a broad network of relevant professional contacts outside the department
- Teaching experience in labs, lectures and seminars
In order to help students meet these objectives, each student has a faculty advisor and an advisory committee that meets periodically to evaluate student progress and provide feedback.
M.S. in Earth Sciences
The M.S. degree is ideal for students interested in careers in industry, consulting, government, or other sectors where an advanced degree is desirable, but a Ph.D. is not required. The M.S. degree is a research-based degree and all M.S. students write and defend a research thesis.
Ph.D. in Earth Sciences
The Ph.D. in Earth Sciences is ideal for students interested in careers in academia, research, and other sectors where the terminal degree is required. The Ph.D. requires significant independent research, and all doctoral students write and defend a dissertation.