![]() Geological Sciences - Introduction to the Department (2:18) |
![]() Grad Students, Staff, and Faculty of Our Graduate Program (10:01) |
![]() Department Facilities and Research with Graduate Students (9:02) |
![]() You are also invited to take a graduate student virtual tour of the CU Boulder campus. |
The above three videos discuss and are specifically related to the Geological Sciences Department and Graduate Program at the University of Colorado Boulder. These Department videos show the Benson Earth Sciences building, specific to Geological Sciences classes and some labs. The virtual Graduate tour video to the left, is a tour of the larger CU Boulder campus, in general. We hope you enjoy and benefit from the videos and visual content we have to offer! |
With one of the most successful graduate programs in the nation, the Department of Geological Sciences has enjoyed a reputation of excellence for more than 100 years. Our doctoral program is ranked among the top 10 percent of U.S. geology programs by the National Research Council. University of Colorado Boulder is ranked #1 best global university for geosciences by the U.S. News and World Report in 2019 and #2 in 2020.
Graduate students have an opportunity to work with approximately 36 tenure and tenure-track faculty who support a wide range of interdisciplinary research programs in biochemistry, economic resources, geodynamics, geophysics, glaciology, global climate change, hydrogeology, paleontology, and surficial processes.
The graduate degrees offered include Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Below you will find a brief overview of the admissions process, information on the faculty and the research areas they represent, and a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section.
Applying to the Graduate Program:
The online application for Fall 2024 admission will be open, at the latest, by August 31, 2023.
Application Deadlines
International Applicants – December 1 at 9:59 pm Mountain Standard Time (11:59 pm East Coast / 10:59 pm Central / 9:59 pm MTN / 8:59 pm Pacific)
Domestic Applicants – December 15 at 9:59 pm Mountain Standard Time (11:59 pm East Coast / 10:59 pm Central / 9:59 pm MTN / 8:59 pm Pacific)
Note: IQ Biology Applicants should apply by IQ Biology's application deadline.
Because competition for admission is keen, we strongly recommend that you complete your application weeks before the stated application deadline to ensure that all application materials arrive by the deadline.
Admissions Requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university.
- Have an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00. Most of our competitive candidates have GPA's of 3.50 minimum.
- Complete the online application.
- Name 3-5 Geological Sciences Faculty members (found on this Faculty page) that you are interested in conducting research (an MS Thesis or PhD Dissertation) with and potentially serving as your Faculty Advisor.
- Note: the GRE General Test scores are NO LONGER REQUIRED. If you have taken the GRE exam within the last 5 years and desire to submit your scores, the institution code is 4841, but your scores will not be viewed.
- Provide three letters of recommendation. (Note: Recommenders will receive information on submitting letters once you input their information into your online application (even before fully submitting).)
- Complete Science Study Summary, and upload it with the online application.
- Provide a personal statement in essay form according to the application directions. This essay is a combination of academic and career goals, and addressing personal past challenges. In addition, naming specific Geological Sciences Department faculty members is required in this essay. Log in to the online application for full information. Recommended formatting and length is 2 pages single-spaced with 1-inch page margins and 11 point font.
- Provide a diversity statement in essay form according to the application directions. This essay asks applicants to describe how their educational, professional, and/or personal experiences prepare them to contribute to support diversity, equity, and inclusion during their graduate career. Log in to the online application for full information. Recommended formatting and length is 1 page single-spaced with 1-inch page margins and 11 point font.
- Electronically upload one unofficial transcript from each post-secondary institution attended to online application.
- International applicants must submit financial statements showing proof of support and TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores from exam taken within the last 2 years. Minimum TOEFL scores: 537 (paper based)/75 (internet based). Institution code: 4841. Minimum IELTS scores: 6.0 (internet based). Institution code: 4841.Minimum Duolingo score: 120 on overall score (not per subcategory). The language requirement may be waived for applicants whose native language is English or for applicants who have completed at least one year of full-time academic study at a U.S. institution (or at an institution in a country where English is the native language) within 2 years of the desired admission term. See here for more details from the Graduate School and International Admissions office.
- Pay the nonrefundable application fee - $60 for U.S. applicants; $80 for international applicants.
For additional information, please refer to the FAQ section below..
Frequently Asked Questions:
Eligibility:
Parts of the Application:
Application Fee Waiver Program(s):
Visiting Campus:
Graduate-Program specifics:
Funding:
Request For Information
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Geological Sciences offers Master of Science (MS) and doctoral (Ph.D.) degree programs.
Students interested in graduate work in the geological sciences should carefully read the detailed information regarding admission, degree requirements and registration, available on the departmental website. A brief summary follows.
Typically, entering students have completed at least 24 semester hours of basic courses in geological sciences and two semesters each of chemistry, physics, and calculus. These are intended as recommendations, rather than strictly enforced requirements for admission.
This is a research-oriented department affiliated with a number of research institutes and research centers, including the Cooperative Institute for Environmental Research (CIRES), the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), the Center for Astrobiology, the Energy and Minerals Applied Research Center (EMARC), and the University Museum. Related areas of study are geography, astrophysical and planetary sciences, atmospheric and oceanic sciences, chemistry, physics, geophysics, microbiology, ecology and evolutionary biology. Degree programs for incoming graduate students are individually designed according to research efforts of the faculty. Because competition for admission is keen, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Each incoming graduate student acquires a primary advisor and an advisory committee that provides guidance throughout the student’s time in the degree program. Most incoming graduate students have already determined who their faculty advisor will be prior to admittance. The faculty advisor assists in planning a degree program and choosing an appropriate advisory committee during the first semester in the graduate program.
Master's Degree
The minimum requirement for the master’s degree is 30 credit hours. A candidate for the master’s degree in geological sciences may complete a Plan I (thesis) option, or a Plan II (course work) option. Note that students are not typically admitted into an MS Plan II degree. At least 24 credit hours must be completed at the 5000 level or above. For students completing the Plan I degree, the 30 required credit hours may include a minimum of 4 but not more than 6 hours of thesis credit. The Plan II program requires at least 3 credit hours of GEOL 6960 (Plan II Master’s Research) under the supervision of the advisory committee. At least 12 credit hours of course work (Plan I) and 16 credit hours of course work (Plan II) must be at the 5000 level. A maximum of 6 credit hours may be completed at the 3000 or 4000 level at the discretion of the department. Independent study course work cannot exceed 25 percent of the course work required for the master’s degree.
Doctoral Degree
Candidates for the doctoral degree must complete at least 30 credit hours of course work at or above the 5000 level, of which at least 20 must be taken at CU-Boulder. In addition to course work, doctoral candidates must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of dissertation work (GEOL 8990), with not more than 10 of these in any one semester and not more than 10 completed in semesters leading up to the semester during which the comprehensive examination is passed.
Interdisciplinary Certificate Programs
Graduate students in the Department of Geological Sciences may participate in interdisciplinary certificate programs in the areas of geophysics, hydrologic sciences, and remote sensing. Participation must coincide with the pursuit of a master’s degree or a doctoral degree. For more information about these programs, consult the Graduate School section of the University of Colorado Catalog.
Questions?
Please contact Kara, our Graduate Program Administrator, at:
Email: Graduate Program Administrator
Please email with additional questions, or to set up an appointment (via phone or Zoom).
Thank you!