Guide to the Graduate Program in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Version of 2 July 2020 approved by Graduate Faculty
Graduate Program Director (GPD): Kenneth Miller
Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC)
Ken Miller (GPD)
Ben Black
Lujendra Ojha
Shaunna Morrison
Ying Fan Reinfelder
James Wright (ex officio)
The recent name change of our Graduate Program from Geological Sciences to Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) reflects a renewed and expanded planetary component, in addition to our traditional strengths in fundamental Earth and planetary sciences. Our graduate program is designed to provide a challenging yet fostering educational atmosphere that encourages independent and critical thinking, the development of communicative and teaching skills, and the performance of creative and original research. Our goal is to teach students to formulate testable hypotheses, collect data to test them, and publish their results. It is the intent of the Program to educate and train competent and technically adept geoscientists for careers in research, teaching, and service in higher education, government, industry, and non-governmental organizations. We strongly encourage interdisciplinary research with other physical, biological, chemical, anthropological, mathematical, and engineering sciences to provide the student with the broadest possible means to explore the limits of knowledge about the Earth and planetary sciences.
Program Description
Students admitted to the EPS Graduate Program join an active department that offers challenging instruction in an unusually diverse research environment. The Program grants both Ph.D. and M.S. degrees to full- and part-time students. Nearly all full-time Ph.D. students are supported by fellowships, teaching assistantships (TAs), and/or research grants (GAs). Extramural grants provide students with additional support for study and research during the school year and summer; grants, department funds, and Rutgers School of Graduate Studies (SGS) resources help support participation at regional, national, and international conferences.
The Graduate Program provides a wide array of potential areas of study. We offer a broad range of research projects with a diverse and world-renowned faculty. Graduate student research projects can take full advantage of the region's diverse geology as well as be part of numerous ongoing research projects worldwide. Shared faculty, research, and facilities with Rutgers' Departments of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Anthropology, and Environmental Sciences, the Rutgers Energy Institute, and the Rutgers Institute of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences offer additional means of study and research possibilities, along with ties to the Departments of Geography, Chemistry, Physics, Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources. Facilities at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Princeton University, and the American Museum of Natural History are a few of the many nearby northeast US research resources. In addition to course work at Rutgers, students can take advantage of listings at nearby Princeton and LDEO/Columbia universities.
The Graduate Program is overseen by the Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC) chaired by the Graduate Program Director (GPD) under the bylaws of the Graduate Program in EPS, reporting to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). Graduate students are encouraged to discuss questions with the GPD, other members of the GAC, and staff support (currently Katanya Meyers is staff person assisting with the graduate program). We are here to help.
Frequently Asked Questions – Graduate Admissions
The priority deadline for admission with departmental support is January 15. If a student does not require financial support, we may consider applications for summer or fall admission as late as August.
We require transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work along with three letters of recommendation and a Personal Statement. For PhD students, we require a close match of student and advisor interests. A campus visit is encouraged, but international applicants may be interviewed via Zoom.
Yes. For PhD applicants, identifying and communicating with a potential advisor is essential for a successful application.
Generally, we do not offer full financial support for Masters students, except in rare or exceptional cases. We offer masters programs for working professionals in Environmental Geosciences. Masters students without support are eligible for hourly work in the department.
This is a professional document (1–2 pages) outlining your research interests, goals, and preferred faculty advisors. It should clearly state what you wish to study, why, and with whom. Background information and the development of your academic interests are welcome, but the focus should remain on your research direction.
If your university transcript is in a language other than English, please have your international college transcripts evaluated by a NACES-approved translation service such as World Education Services (WES) so that Rutgers may begin your credit evaluation.
Yes, unofficial transcripts are acceptable for initial review. However, official transcripts will be required for final admission.
Prospective students should first contact a potential advisor. If the advisor supports the request, they may write to the Graduate Program Director (GPD) recommending a waiver. The GPD can then approve and cover the fee using departmental funds.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For full consideration with support, submit by January 15 for fall admission. We recommend contacting potential advisors during the fall semester.
We do not require the GRE.
International applicants who earned degrees in non-English-speaking countries must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores. A minimum TOEFL score of 80 is expected. Applicants who studied in the U.S. may be exempt.
We offer competitive 5-year support packages for top PhD applicants, including Teaching Assistantships (TA), Fellowships, and externally funded Graduate Assistantships (GA), subject to availability. We strongly encourage applicants to reach out to potential faculty advisors to discuss funding options. Advisors may also assist in securing external fellowships such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP): https://www.nsfgrfp.org
Please visit our website https://eps.rutgers.edu/academics/graduate/graduate-program for detailed information. Our teaching assistantships and most fellowships are provided by Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences. You will be applying to the Rutgers School of Graduate Studies through the Rutgers Graduate and Professional Admissions portal.
Please visit Our graduate program's catalog
EPS Graduate Student Organization Constitution
Learning goals and assessment criteria for the Ph.D. program are posted here.
Learning goals and assessment criteria for the Masters program are posted here.
Bylaws of the Graduate Program in Earth and Planetary Sciences are posted here.
