Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants should meet the following program requirements:

• Baccalaureate Field Earth science, environmental science, other natural or physical sciences, or engineering (also applies to those applicants having an MS degree). Students from other areas are also encouraged to apply if their backgrounds indicate a reasonable chance for success in the program.
• Prerequisites Students entering with an MS degree in the sciences can receive up to 32 hours of credit toward the PhD. Highly qualified students lacking in one or more of the prerequisites may be considered for admission under “limited standing” with specific additional prescribed courses. Prerequisites for all applicants are listed below:
  • Baccalaureate degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences, related science or engineering field, or other (in special cases)
  • Chemistry (1 year)
  • Physics (1 year); alternatively, Physics (1 semester) and Biology (1 semester)
  • Calculus (1 year)
• Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study.
• Tests Required None.
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
  • TOEFL iBT 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21, OR,
  • IELTS Academic 6.5, with 6.0 in each of the four subscores, OR,
  • PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
• Letters of Recommendation Three required; preferably from professors familiar with the applicant’s academic work. 
• Personal Statement Required. Instead of an open-ended personal statement, applicants are asked to answer a set of guided prompts.
• Deadlines Application deadlines for this program are listed on the Graduate College website.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 104 past the baccalaureate are required (44 thesis hours, 8 seminar hours, and 52 course hours).
• Coursework Out of the 52 course hours, at least 24 hours are to be selected from the list of core courses, and at least 20 hours are to be selected as elective courses in EAES or from the relevant offerings of other departments and colleges. Each course must be taken for a letter grade, not on a credit/no credit basis. At least 24 hours must be taken at the 500-level, excluding EAES 599 and EAES 595. Entering students are required to have completed courses in physics, chemistry, and calculus. A maximum of 32 hours of course work may be transferred in from a previous master’s.
• Examinations
  • Departmental Qualifying Examination: Required.
  • Preliminary Examination: Required.
• Dissertation Required. Students must earn at least 44 semester hours in EAES 599.