Programs

Doctoral Degree

• Earth and Environmental Sciences PhD (BS Entry)
• Earth and Environmental Sciences PhD (MS Entry)

Master's Degrees

• Master of Science in Earth and Environmental Science (Energy Geoscience Professional)
• Master of Science in Earth and Environmental Science (Environmental Professional)
• Master of Science in Earth and Environmental Science (Environmental Science)
• Master of Science in Earth and Environmental Science (Geoscience Professional)

Earth and Environmental Sciences Master's Program Admissions

For unconditional admission a student must meet the following requirements:

For the Environmental Science Options: A B.S. degree in biology, chemistry, geoscience, mathematics, or engineering with the following courses or their equivalent: 1 semester of introductory physics for science majors; 2 semesters of introductory chemistry for science majors; and Calculus I and II. Students with a Bachelor’s Degree in other sciences will also be considered, subject to satisfactory completion of deficiency courses.

For the Geoscience Options: A B.S. degree in an Earth Science discipline with the following courses or their equivalent: Mineralogy, Petrology, Structure, Stratigraphy/sedimentology, Field Geology and Geophysics or Paleontology. In addition, one semester of Biology, Calculus I and II, and a year of Chemistry and Physics is required.

For all Options:

1. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, as calculated by the Graduate School.
2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are used in conjunction with GPA's. For example a person with a GPA below 3.0 will need a GRE score better than average. Masters students who have succeeded in the Earth and Environmental Science s Program typically score higher than the 60th Percentile on the verbal and quantitative portion of the GRE.
3. An applicant whose native language is not English must submit a score of at least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, a score of at least 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 40 on the TSE, a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS, or a minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 79 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 22 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 20 for the reading section, and 16 for the listening section. However, an applicant whose native language is not English with a bachelor’s or a master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university is not required to submit a TOEFL, TOEFL iBT,TSE or IELTS score for admission purposes. 
4. Favorable letters of recommendation from people familiar with the applicant’s academic work.

Master's Degree Requirements

Earth and Environmental Sciences Master’s Degree

There are additional requirements for all Master’s programs listed in this CATALOG under University Requirements and Policies.

Environmental Science Thesis Option

¹

Students with less than 20 undergraduate hours in biology, chemistry, or geology will need to take a third environmental systems course as a deficiency. Students entering with a BS degree in one of these areas must take their two courses in the other areas.

Environmental Science Non-Thesis Option

¹

Students with less than 20 undergraduate hours in biology, chemistry, or geology will need to take a third environmental systems course as a deficiency. Students entering with a BS degree in one of these areas must take their two courses in the other areas.

²

Must include at least 6 hours in department(s) outside that in which the first 9 hours of electives are taken.

The Geoscience Thesis Option

The Geoscience Non-Thesis Option

Environmental Science Professional Option

¹

Students with less than 20 undergraduate hours in biology, chemistry, or geology will need to take a third environmental systems course as a deficiency. Students entering with a BS degree in one of these areas must take their two courses in the other areas.

Energy Geoscience Professional Option

Dual Degree Program

Dual master’s degrees can be arranged with any suitable program. By participating in a dual degree program, students may apply 6-18 total semester credit hours jointly to meet the requirements of both degrees, thus reducing the total number of hours which would be required to earn both degrees separately. The number of hours which may be jointly applied ranges from six to 18, subject to the approval of Graduate Advisors from both programs. Degree plans, thesis or professional report proposals and programs of work must be approved by Graduate Advisors from both programs. The successful candidate will be awarded both degrees rather than one joint degree.

To participate in the dual degree program, students must make separate application to each program and must submit a separate program of work for each degree. Those interested in the dual degree program should consult the appropriate Graduate Advisors for further information on course requirements. See also the statement on Dual Degree Programs in the general information section of this catalog.

Arrangements to offer a dual degree have already been made between Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Program in City and Regional Planning (M.C.R.P. degree), School of Urban and Public Affairs.

Admission Requirements

1. Students with a master’s degree in environmental science, biology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics or engineering will be considered for admission to the PhD program.  Students with a Masters’s Degree in other sciences will also be considered, subject to satisfactory completion of courses to make up deficiencies.
2. Have a strong quantitative background including courses in differential and integral calculus (i.e., Calculus I and II). Students that have not taken these courses will be expected to complete them during their first year of residence.
3. A minimum graduate coursework GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, as calculated by the by the Graduate Admissions if seeking admission as a PhD student. 
4. The personal statement describing the applicant’s laboratory, field, or applied interests, career plans, identifying potential supervising faculty members, and discussion of how the UTA graduate program can serve to further these interests and plans will be examined for evidence of the appropriateness of the candidate to the UTA program. The statement shall address evidence of research skills, communication skills, team work, and fit to program.
5. Candidates without an advisor will be denied admission to this program. The advisor must have agreed to supervise the candidate. 
6. Favorable letters of recommendation from people familiar with the applicant’s academic work and/or professional work. Letters shall address research skills, communication skills, team work, fit to program, and comparison to peers. 
7. Interview Performance: interviewer-rated responses to questions about research skills, team work, fit to program, oral communication skills, and comparison to peers.
8. Successful completion master’s degree in another department is viewed positively even when the degree was received in an area outside of Earth and Environmental Sciences In this latter case, some conditions in terms of make-up coursework may be specified.
9. A statement detailing the applicant’s specific research interests and identifying the faculty member who is requested as supervisor of the dissertation research must be submitted to departmental graduate advisor.
10. For admission, all international student applicants must meet English proficiency test requirements described in the Graduate Admission section of the University Catalog. International students seeking an assistantship position in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science must demonstrate a higher level of English proficiency than that required for admission by meeting the  English proficiency requirements specified in the Graduate Assistantship Policy in the University Catalog.

In summary, the department views its mission in the PhD program as to train students to be enthusiastic about conducting research in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Accordingly, we seek students who show aptitude in as well as motivation for research. Students interested in the terminal M.S.program in Earth and Environmental Science will have their records examined by the statements on how the EES MS program can serve to further the student’s interest.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Earth and Environmental Sciences Doctoral Degree

Students who enter with a master’s degree in a science or engineering field, or with 30 semester hours of graduate coursework, take a diagnostic examination in the first year of residence to evaluate this previous work. Students take their comprehensive exam in the third year of residence. Dissertation hours and doctoral degree completion course are taken after passing the comprehensive exam. The student’s supervising committee must approve all courses taken to meet degree requirements.

Students may choose among any of the five participating units for their primary and secondary areas of emphasis. Course selection within these areas of emphasis is guided by the student’s supervising committee and must result in a cohesive program that supports the dissertation research.