Graduate Application Process and Deadlines
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); and
- Appropriate academic background.
ALL application materials are due no later than February 1.
Applications are not evaluated until all items have been received.
Applications are accepted for Fall admission only.
Read and follow these instructions carefully to be considered for admission.
See Frequently Asked Questions below for additional information.
Application Requirements
_____ OSU Admission Application (online or paper application)
Graduate – US Citizen/US Permanent Resident • Graduate - International
- Submit your application directly to the Graduate School. We recommend that application materials are sent to the Graduate School well in advance of the February 1 deadline so that we have time to process and review your application in a timely manner.
_____ Statement of Objectives
- The online application has a section for your statement of objectives. The statement should be a brief personal history explaining 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, e.g., geomorphology or volcanology, can make finding a major professor and research project much easier than broad, unfocused topics.
_____ Official Transcripts
- Official transcripts from every college and university attended must be submitted in a sealed envelope. Request transcripts early so that they are received in a timely manner.
_____ GRE scores (required)
- 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. Although no arbitrary cut-off score is established for admission decisions, high scores are a favorable criterion in review process. A combined score of 1000 is recommended as a minimum.
_____ TOEFL scores (required for international students only)
-
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.
_____ OSU Certificate of Finances (international students only)
- 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) or DS-2019 (for J-1 visas) can be issued. See Finances and Funding on the Future International Student Admission page for more information.
_____ Three (3) References
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Using the appropriate form below, submit three references letters. 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.
Geography Graduate Student Reference Form (Word) (PDF)
Geology Graduate Student Reference Form (Word) (PDF)
_____ Mail Application
Mail all application materials to...
Graduate School
Oregon State University
300 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR 97331-2121
|
Questions? Contact
Stacey Schulte, Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Email: stacey.schulte@oregonstate.edu
Telephone: 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 course work.
Department of Geosciences faculty assess 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.
If you are an international student, please note that our department does
not make offers of conditional acceptance. Offers of acceptance to
both domestic and international students are not made until mid-Spring. If you
are an international student, you must either take or re-take the TOEFL and
reach the minimum score. This may necessitate that you resubmit your
application the following year during the next admission cycle.
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 can schedule times for you to meet with faculty and current graduate students in the department.
