Application Process

The Department of Geology & Geophysics admits students to our graduate program in both fall and spring semesters of each academic year. However, the department only offers financial support through a Graduate Assistantship in Teaching (GAT) with fall admission. Therefore, spring applicants should be supported either by their research advisor through Graduate Assistantship in Research (GAR) or external sponsors.

As such, there are two separate application rounds each academic year. The upcoming academic year is August 2026 through May 2027. Applications for Fall 2026 are not being accepted anymore.

The application deadline for Spring 2027 admission is August 15, 2026. Apply for Spring 2027 admission (opens on May 20, 2026).

The application deadline for Fall 2027 admission is December 1, 2026. Applications should be submitted and complete by this date to be considered for all types of financial support from the University and Department. Apply for Fall 2027 admission (opens on August 1, 2026).

We can only admit applicants if they have a research advisor (and ideally a research project) identified. Therefore, an applicant should contact one or more faculty members in the Department of Geology & Geophysics well before submitting an application. By speaking with individual faculty, an applicant can discuss their research interests as well as the faculty member's interests, determine if the faculty member is planning to admit students in coming semesters, and if the faculty member has financial support for an incoming graduate student. This information will help the applicant decide to proceed or not with submitting an application. 

All graduate faculty members in the Department of Geology & Geophysics will review graduate applications submitted by the deadline. If they are interested in taking on an applicant, they will nominate them to be considered for admission into their research group by submitting an advocacy form to the Chair of the Graduate Admissions Committee. An email conversation, phone call, or video conference with a faculty member does not necessarily guarantee that the applicant will be nominated for admission. The advocacy forms along with the full application packages of these nominated graduate applicants will be thoroughly reviewed and discussed by the Department’s Graduate Admissions Committee based on academic achievements, research potential, letters of evaluation, statement of purpose, non-research experiences, and fit into the faculty member’s research group. Admission and funding decisions are recommended by the Graduate Admissions Committee to the Department Head.

The department commonly makes the first admission decisions by mid- to end of September (for spring admission) and mid- to end of January (for fall admission). The admission process will continue until all funded graduate assistantship positions available for incoming students are filled. Offers of financial support from the department are made at the same time as the offers of admission. Currently, most of our offers of admission are made for fall semesters because the availability of financial support is much greater for new students starting in the fall.

For M.S. applicants, admission offers may include full or partial financial support. This financial support can be in the form of a department Graduate Assistantship in Teaching (GAT), a Graduate Assistantship in Research (GAR) provided by a particular faculty member in the department, a Named Fellowship or Scholarship provided by the Department, College or University, financial aid awarded directly to the applicant from external sources (e.g., Sponsorships or Scholarships/Fellowships), or some combination of department and external support to the student. Learn more about funding options for grad students.

Our department only makes offers of admission to Ph.D. applicants with a commitment of full financial support. This financial support can be in the form of a department Graduate Assistantship in Teaching (GAT), a Graduate Assistantship in Research (GAR) provided by a particular faculty member in the department, a Named Fellowship or Scholarship provided by the Department, College or University, financial aid awarded directly to the applicant from external sources (e.g., Sponsorships or Scholarships/Fellowships), or some combination of department and external support to the student. Learn more about funding options for grad students. 

Apply for Spring 2027 admission (opens on May 20, 2026)

Apply for Fall 2027 admission (opens on August 1, 2026)