Grad Program - SU Earth Sciences

Graduate Program of Study in the Dept. of Earth Sciences at Syracuse University

To Apply: Application forms can be downloaded from the Graduate Office

Contact:

Any faculty member with whom you might wish to work

Chair of the department: Jeff Karson

Director of Graduate Studies: Laura Lautz

Graduate Studies Coordinator: Jolene Fitch

Graduate study in the Department of Earth Sciences offers opportunities for research in crustal studies and paleoclimate/environmental studies in many regions of the world. These are the two main foci of research within the Department. The Department offers both MS and PhD degrees that include course requirements as well as research requirements. Typically, the department has between 20 and 25 graduate students, split between the MS and PhD levels.

The overall goal of the Graduate Program is to provide a pathway to advanced degrees in the Earth Sciences through research, education and other relevant experiences. All students receiving advanced degrees from the Department should acquire the following:
• Deep skills in the collection and analysis of data relevant to their specific research area
• Proficiency in reporting research results in written, oral and electronic formats
• Experience in writing grant proposals to fund research or teaching objectives
• A broad network of contacts in their field of research outside the Department
• Teaching experience in labs, lectures and seminars

In order to help students meet these objectives, each student has both a faculty advisor and an advisory committee that meets periodically to evaluate student progress and provide feedback. See Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University: Graduate Program Guidelines for more information.

While relatively small in size, the Department of Earth Sciences has a broad array of analytical equipment . Housed within the Department is the Geology Library, a tremendous resource for faculty, graduate and undergraduate students. Students thus have ready access to books and journals as well as a full array of online electronic journals. Field trips are an integral part of most classes. There is amble opportunity for graduate students to present their work and see what other students are researching via a weekly "Informal graduate seminar" and also at a 2 day regional spring symposium with surrounding universities that is organized and run by the graduate students in the Department.

PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS:

We encourage you to contact a faculty member (a potential advisor) within the Department as students are not usually admitted unless an advisor has been identified. We also encourage prospective students to visit the Department, meet their fellow graduate students, see the research facilities in the department and what Syracuse University has to offer you. The Department is often able to offer partial support for prospective students to travel to Syracuse. The University offers financial support for students in the form of teaching assistantships, and graduate fellowships from the College of Arts and Sciences are also available for exceptional applicants. Graduate students are typically supported during summer months by funds from research grants to their advisors.

To apply: Application forms can be downloaded from the Graduate Office.

TIMETABLE:
Applications for graduate school are accepted anytime, but usually students contact prospective advisors in the fall and submit an application in the late fall or early the next year. For full consideration for fall admission, we encourage applications to be completed by the Graduate School deadline for Earth Sciences/Geology of January 15, but applications received by the graduate school after this deadline are still considered as completed applications are forwarded by the Graduate School to the Department for review and evaluation in January-February.

LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
The Department of Earth Sciences always has a booth at the annual GSA meeting that prospective graduate students can obtain more information or arrange to talk to a prospective advisor. Many faculty also go to the Fall AGU meeting in San Francisco each year and could meet prospective graduate students there. Prospective graduate students should plan to visit the department from January through March, but letters of offer will be sent out beginning mid-late February. The Department (as do all graduate programs) requires a response by April 15th but students are strongly encouraged to accept or decline the offer at the earliest possible date.

QUICK LINKS:

Grad School Application

Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University: Graduate Program Guidelines

Attachments/Forms associated with ...Graduate Program Guidelines

Attachment A (Sample Orientation Schedule)

Attachment B (Check Sheet For Initial Advisory Review)

Attachment C (Formation of Permanent Graduate Committee)

Attachment D (Program of Study Form)

Attachment E (Annual Report)

Attachment F (Sample of Research Proposal Cover Page)

Attachment F1 (Defense Annoucement)

Attachment F2 (Email Notifications)