The Department of Geosciences offers outstanding opportunities for graduate studies in the fields of geography and geology. Admission to the department’s programs is very competitive. Applicants must be admitted to Oregon State University by the Graduate School as well as being accepted by the Department of Geosciences.

Admission to the Geography or Geology Graduate Programs at Oregon State University requires:

• Minimum Graduate Admission Requirements
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• A scholastic record indicating capability for doing satisfactory graduate study (at least a 3.00 GPA in the last two years)
• Appropriate academic background

Graduate Application Process and Deadlines

Application Requirements (details below):

1. OSU Application (online or paper application)

2. Statement of Objectives

3a. Official Transcripts

3b. Unofficial Transcripts

4. GRE scores (required)

5a. TOEFL scores (required for international students only)

5b. OSU Certificate of Finances and supporting documentation which demonstrate sufficient financial resources for the desired academic program (international students only)

6. Three (3) References

Send items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a and 5b directly to the Graduate School

Graduate School
Oregon State University
300 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR 97331-2121

Send items 3b and 6 directly to the Geosciences Graduate Program

Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Department of Geosciences
Oregon State University
104 Wilkinson Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331-5506

Details about the application requirements:

1.      OSU Admission Applications: Submit your application directly to the Graduate School. Items sent to the Graduate School are processed and forwarded on to Geosciences. This can take a minimum of two weeks. We recommend that items sent to the Graduate School be sent well in advance of the February 1 deadline so that we receive your complete application in a timely manner.

Graduate – US Citizen/US Permanent Resident
Graduate - International

2.      Statement of Objectives: The online application has a section for your statement of objectives. The statement should be a brief personal history regarding why you are interested in pursuing graduate studies in the geography or geology graduate program. The main focus of your statement should be what specifically you would like to research. In order to be successful, graduate students must have a well defined idea of what type of research, and in what field, they would like to undertake for their thesis project. Specific interests, for example “geomorphology” or “volcanology” can make finding a major professor and research project much easier than broad, unfocused topics.

3a.    Official Transcripts: Official transcripts from every college and university attended must be submitted to the Graduate School in a sealed envelope. Request transcripts early so that they are received and forwarded to our office in a timely manner.

3b.    Unofficial Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts from every college and university attended must be submitted to the Department of Geosciences and may be in an unsealed envelope. Receiving the unofficial transcripts allows us to start processing your application instead of waiting for official transcripts to arrive.

4.      GRE Scores: Have your official general GRE exam scores sent to the Graduate School electronically, if possible. The school code is 4586 and the department codes are geography = 2203 and geology = 0504. Your GRE scores should be from a test date within the last 5 years. You should plan to take your GREs well in advance of the application deadline as it may take weeks for scores to reach the Graduate School.

5a.    TOEFL Scores: TOEFL scores are required for all international students. Please have your official TOEFL scores sent directly to the Graduate School electronically, if possible. You should arrange to take the TOEFL well in advance of the deadline as it may take weeks for scores to reach the Graduate School. Additional information on the TOEFL requirements can be found on the Future International Student Admission page under Admission Requirements.

5b.    OSU Certificate of Finances: All international applicants must complete and return the OSU Certificate of Finances form along with documents showing proof of sufficient financial resources before an I-20 (for F-1 visas) can be issued. See Finances and Funding on the Future International Student Admission page for more information.

6.      References: Using the appropriate form below, submit three references in sealed envelopes with signature across the seal in one package directly to the Department of Geosciences. Letters should come from academic or professional contacts that have had enough experience working with the applicant to evaluate the individual’s ability to be successful in a graduate program.

Geology Graduate Student Reference Form (Word) (PDF)
Geography Graduate Student Reference Form (Word) (PDF)

7.      Questions? Contact Stacey Schulte, Graduate Admissions Coordinator, at stacey.schulte@oregonstate.edu or 541-737-1221.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the acceptance process work?

The Graduate School reviews all applicants to determine if they meet the minimum standards for admission to graduate study at OSU. The minimum standards include a four-year baccalaureate degree and a grade point average of at least 3.00 on the last 90 credits (two years) of coursework.

Department of Geosciences faculty assesses the relative merits of qualified applicants before selecting a subset of applicants for acceptance. Graduate admission is fundamentally different from undergraduate admission because individual faculty members must agree to be research mentors (major professors) for accepted students. The availability of research mentors is the primary limiting factor in determining the number of students that will be admitted.

Strong academic records are a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for acceptance. Assuming the academic “track record” is acceptable, faculty reviewers examine applications to select those with the best fit for the department’s programs and available mentors. Applicants are encouraged to review the department website to understand departmental programs, the roster of faculty and research directions before applying.

How do I find out about faculty/student research activities and interests?

On the Department of Geosciences faculty web page, you will find links to faculty member pages that give a snapshot of their vita, some recent publications and contact information. Start researching this information early and be persistent. Find faculty that share your interests, study their most recent publications and explore their future research goals by contacting them via email or telephone.

Do I have to have a degree in geography or geology to apply?

No. The Department of Geosciences admits exceptionally talented applicants with a variety of academic backgrounds. In most cases, background deficiencies can be eliminated after admission to our programs by completing specified coursework, but without the completion of a BS level geography or geology degree. In some cases, applicants may be able to eliminate deficiencies before arrival at OSU. Applicants to the geology program must have completed a geology field camp before arrival or do so within a year of admission. Applicants to the geography program must have completed courses in statistics, natural resources/conservation, cartography and physical geography before arrival or complete the equivalent undergraduate courses soon after arrival at Oregon State University.

Should I request a teaching or research assistantship on my application?

Applicants should indicate an interest in both a teaching assistantship and a research assistantship if they are willing to accept either type of position. By limiting themselves to only one type of position, they are reducing the chances of receiving financial assistance. Note that the Department of Geosciences has high expectations and guidelines that are expected to be followed by our teaching assistants.

If I am admitted without an offer of financial assistance, is it likely that I will receive financial aid after I begin my studies?

We make financial commitments to students are funds become available from research grants, state appropriations, contracts and gifts. It is possible that an offer of financial aid will be forthcoming sometime after arrival at OSU. However, we cannot guarantee that you will receive funding. Once you arrive at Oregon State and demonstrate that you have the attributes we seek (academic excellence, strong work ethic, intellectual curiosity and the ability to communicate orally and in written English), you will be considered for graduate teaching or graduate research support if funds are available. If you are admitted, but not awarded an assistantship, you should be prepared to be a self-supporting student.

Will the department pay for me to visit OSU? How do I arrange of visit?

We do invite some students to visit OSU and sometimes help them pay for the visit after we have decided on admissions. This happens in early spring. Applicants are always welcome to visit campus at any time on their own initiative. We ask the visiting applicant to contact the faculty members with whom they are likely to work and to arrange a schedule that allows the most contact with those faculty. Once a date is set, contact Stacey Schulte, our Graduate Admissions Coordinator (stacey.schulte@oregonstate.edu or 541-737-1221) and she schedule times for you to meet with faculty and current graduate students in the department.