Information for Prospective Graduate Students

Application deadline for Fall Semester admittance is January 5 of the same year.

Lake Superior from space

We welcome applications from students interested in pursuing graduate degrees at the M.S. and Ph.D. levels. The Department of Geological Sciences at UMD has active research programs in basin analysis, economic geology, glacial geology, hydrology, isotope geochemistry, geophysics, limnology, paleoclimatology, petrology, planetary geology, sedimentology, structural geology, and tectonics. UMD is admirably situated for a wide variety of geologic interests. We have active programs around the globe and on the terrestrial planets. In addition, Duluth has an outstanding natural environment in which to live, with great cultural and recreational opportunities.

Grad student Michael Rieser conducting field work in the Mojave Desert

UMD Geological Sciences offers programs leading to the M.S or Ph.D. within the Graduate School of the University of Minnesota . Faculty and students have a close working relationship. Programs are tailored to the area of the student's specialization, in consultation with a faculty advisor. We strive for research that balances field, laboratory, and theoretical studies. Although most candidates for advanced degrees will have completed a bachelor’s degree in geology, geophysics, or related fields, students in other fields of natural science are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have at least one year each of calculus, chemistry, and physics. Field camp and/or undergraduate research experience is recommended.

Shovel Point from Palisade Head, North Shore

The Ph.D. program is a cooperative program with the University of Minnesota, Department of Geology and Geophysics in the Twin Cities. Students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. degree with an advisor on the Duluth campus should contact the specific faculty member(s) that you are interested in working with, as well as the UMD Geological Sciences, Director of Graduate Studies. (Students must formally apply through our sister department in the Twin Cities, where the Ph.D. program is based, and, in their application they must indicate their desire to be based on the Duluth campus.) For more information regarding the Ph.D. program, visit the UM Department of Geology and Geophysics web site at: http://www.geo.umn.edu/dept/programs/Graduate.html

The Master's program is based on the Duluth campus. Faculty and students have a close working relationship. Programs are tailored to the area of the student's specialization, in consultation with a faculty advisor. We strive for research that balances field, laboratory, and theoretical studies. Our Master's graduates are well prepared for either professional geological work, in industry or in government, or for further graduate study.

Many of our graduate students have financial support in the form of teaching or research assistantships. Students with TA or RA support receive a stipend comparable to those at many universities, a full tuition scholarship, and a health insurance program. Priority for financial support is given to those applications received by January 5. Once in residence, some support for thesis research and travel to meetings to present the results of one’s research is available. M.S. applicants should expect to complete their degree in two years. Students that are interested in applying for an M.S. degree should browse the department web page and faculty research pages to make sure that UMD is a good fit for their specific research interests. There is also support available with the Graduate Fellows In K-12 Education program for those interested in developing skills in teaching science to non-technical audiences.

Application and Admission

• Application Procedures
• Application Forms
• Frequently Asked Questions

Application Procedures - Ph.D.

A student must formally apply and be accepted through our sister department in the Twin Cities (where the Ph.D. program is based). In your application you must indicate your desire to work with an advisor on the Duluth campus. Therefore, before submitting an application, please contact the UMD faculty member(s) you are interested in working with, and discuss possible research directions and projects with them. Students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. degree on Duluth campus should also contact the UMD Geological Sciences Director of Graduate Studies. For specific information and application procedures and forms regarding the Ph.D. program, please visit the Department of Geology and Geophysics’ website at: http://www.geo.umn.edu/dept/programs/Graduate.html

Application Procedures - M.S.

Application deadline for Fall Semester admittance is January 5 of the same calendar year.

Application for admission will be considered at any time, but most applications for fall semester admissions are received during the preceding September through December. Applicants wishing to be considered for financial aid must have all application materials for both admission and financial aid submitted by the January 5 deadline.

NOTE : Students must submit an application to both the UMD Graduate School and the Department of Geological Sciences.

Step One:

Earning an M.S. degree in the Earth Sciences involves, in part, conducting original research. Choosing the right graduate program for you means considering research fields and learning styles. Check to see if your possible fields of interest mesh with those of our faculty. Examine the department web pages, faculty research pages and other informational materials to read about current faculty research interests and directions, and determine which faculty members you might be interested in working with.

Step Two:

Once you have determined your interests, we encourage you to contact the specific faculty members that you might be interested in working with prior to submitting an application. Send them an email: introduce yourself and ask questions about possible graduate research opportunities. Such contact will help you when you write you personal statement (see below) as part of the formal application process.

Step Three:

Gather and send the information listed below by January 5 to:

Attn: Director of Graduate Studies
UMD Department of Geological Sciences – 229 Heller Hall
1114 Kirby Drive
Duluth, MN 55812

• Personal Statement (include your goals for graduate study and post-graduate plans, the areas of research you are interested in pursuing and what geological problems you would like to address, career objectives, research interests, teaching and research experience, and publications). In your statement be as specific as possible about the field(s) in geosciences that you are interested in pursuing. It is advantageous to indicate the names of the potential faculty advisors in your statement. This insures that the appropriate faculty members examine your application.
• Three letters of recommendation (using our recommendation form) addressed to the Director of Graduate Studies, UMD Department of Geological Sciences. These letters should be from faculty who are familiar with your undergraduate work. The letters can be sent in signed and sealed envelopes with your application package, or your referees can send the letters individually to us. Either way, your letters need to be sent to the Director of Graduate Studies, UMD Department of Geological Sciences, and not to the UMD Graduate School.
• “Application for Graduate Assistantship or Graduate School Fellowship” form. (Although you must download this form from the UMD Graduate School website, you must submit the completed form to our Department).
• Unofficial copies of all transcripts and a list of courses you are taking or intend to take prior to receiving your bachelor’s degree.
• GRE scores (unofficial copy).
• TOEFL scores for international students (photocopy O.K.).

Step Four:

Download and submit your UMD Graduate School application and supporting materials (as listed below) preferably by January 5 to the address below. Note that the Graduate School will not process your application without enclosing the appropriate application fees.

UMD Graduate School – 431 DAdB
1049 University Drive
Duluth, MN 55812  

• Application for Admission
• Official transcripts
• Official GRE scores
• Official TOEFL scores (for international students)
• Payment for application fees

Application Forms

On-line forms

You may need to download the free Adobe Reader to view and print pdf files.

• M.S. Forms
  • Graduate School Personal Reference Form (pdf, ~50kb)
  • UMD Graduate School Homepage (request to have UMD Grad School forms mailed to you)
• Ph.D. Forms - Students must apply to the Twin Cities Campus
• U of M Department of Geology and Geophysics
• U of M Graduate School

Request printed application materials

If you are unable to download application forms or materials from our website, we can send them to you. Send an email or written request to:

Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Geological Sciences - 229 HH
University of Minnesota Duluth
1114 Kirby Drive
Duluth, MN 55812-2496

Email:
M.S. program geol@d.umn.edu
Ph.D. program geology@umn.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to send duplicate materials to both the Graduate School and your Department?

Application for admission and application for financial support differ in that admission is granted through the Graduate School and financial support is determined by the department faculty. Decisions for financial support must be made in the department by the end of January. Therefore, a complete set of application materials is needed in the department by January 5 in order to make a fair assessment of each applicant. Materials that you send to the Graduate School are not guaranteed to reach the department in the time needed to review the applicant pool.

What if I miss the January 5 deadline?

If you know that you will not be able to meet the deadline, it is best to contact the Department’s Director of Graduate Studies and explain your situation. An incomplete file generally places an applicant at a disadvantage and an applicant might not receive financial support. Students that do not request financial support have more flexibility in application deadlines.

If I am applying for Spring Semester of the next year, do I have to adhere to the January 5 deadline?

Because funds for financial support are limited, and because decisions for financial support are decided for an entire academic year, it is in your best interest to adhere to the January 5 deadline if you wish to be considered for financial support.

What if I don’t know exactly what area of geoscience I want to study?

You do not need to know exactly what you want to do for research in graduate school, but you should know that your general field(s) of interest match what we do here in Duluth . It is recommended that you communicate with potential faculty advisors in advance to discuss research interests and possibilities. Examine the department web page and faculty interests. Send possible faculty advisors an email telling them about yourself, and ask questions about possible graduate research opportunities in their particular field. When you write your personal statement as part of your formal application, highlight, as specifically as possible, your fields of interest. We recommend that you also indicate the names of potential faculty advisors in your letter so that you can be sure that the appropriate faculty members examine your application.

What if I want to work with a faculty member in Duluth for a Ph.D. degree?

Students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. degree with an advisor on the Duluth campus should contact the specific possible faculty mentor or advisor at UMD, and discuss research opportunities. Students should also contact the UMD Department of Geological Sciences, Director of Graduate Studies. A student must formally apply through the Department of Geology and Geophysics (our sister department on the Twin Cities campus), where the Ph.D. program is based. On your formal application be sure to state your desire to be based on the Duluth campus, and specifically note the UMD faculty that you would like to work with.

Contacts

Dr. Penny Morton
Director of Graduate Studies
Email: pmorton@d.umn.edu
Phone: (218) 726-7962

Department Geological Sciences
Email: geol@d.umn.edu
Phone: (218) 726-8385
Web: http://www.d.umn.edu/geology

UMD Graduate School
Email: grad@d.umn.edu
Phone: (218) 726-7523
Web: http://www.d.umn.edu/grad

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