Geoscience, Ph.D.

Students in Saint Louis University's Ph.D. in geoscience programs apply physics and chemistry to study Earth processes from the surface to the core. These studies prepare SLU graduates for diverse careers in government, industry, consulting and academia.

Program Highlights

• Concentrations are offered in geophysics and environmental geosciences.
• The University's geoscience facilities include a network of seismograph stations surrounding the New Madrid fault zone.
• Excellent computing facilities including:
  • An environmental geochemistry lab with instrumentation to analyze the chemistries of waters, soils and sediments
  • A remote-sensing lab
  • A digital-image analysis lab

Curriculum Overview

SLU's Doctor of Philosophy in Geosciences requires a minimum of 48 credits of coursework and exactly 12 credits of dissertation research. Up to 24 credits of coursework leading to a master’s degree may count toward the credit requirement.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Active research areas in geophysics include earthquake seismology and tectonics.

Active environmental geoscience research at SLU includes land-use effects on water quality, contaminant transport hydrogeochemistry, surface water-groundwater interactions, river/reservoir sustainability, wetland biogeochemistry, fluvial geomorphology, and coastal geomorphology and processes.

Careers

SLU's geoscience Ph.D. program prepares students for careers in academic research, teaching, government or industrial research environments.

Admission Requirements

Successful applicants possess sufficient GPA and English proficiency scores (for international students) and research interests compatible with ongoing research in the department.

Geophysics Concentration

Prerequisites include structural geology, college physics, mechanics and mathematics through differential equations.

Environmental Geosciences Concentration

Prerequisites include an undergraduate degree in a STEM discipline with at least one semester each of calculus, physics, biology, chemistry, and geoscience; a second semester of calculus or one semester of statistics.

Application Requirements

• Application form 
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcript(s)
• Professional goal statement
• Résumé

GRE scores are optional.

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
  • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
  • Practical laboratory work
  • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
  • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
  • Any honors or degrees received.
• WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
• In order to be issued an I-20 for your F-1 visa application, students must submit financial documents. Proof of financial support that must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Application and Assistantship Application Deadlines

Students typically begin the program in the fall semester. Students who want to be considered for an assistantship must submit their applications by Jan. 2. Late applications and applications for the spring semester will be considered if positions are available.

Review Process

Faculty committee members examine qualified applicants’ materials and make recommendations.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships, Assistantships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, apply by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award. 

Explore Scholarships and Financial Aid Options

1. Graduates will be able to assess relevant literature or scholarly contributions in the earth and atmospheric sciences.
2. Graduates will be able to apply the major practices, theories or research methodologies in the earth and atmospheric sciences.
3. Graduates will be able to apply knowledge from the earth and atmospheric sciences to address problems in broader contexts.
4. Graduates will be able to articulate arguments or explanations to both a disciplinary or professional audience and to a general audience in oral forms.
5. Graduates will be able to articulate arguments or explanations to both a disciplinary or professional audience and to a general audience in written forms.
6. Graduates will be able to evidence scholarly or professional integrity in earth and atmospheric sciences.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Geophysics Concentration

Environmental Geosciences Concentration

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Geophysics Concentration 

Environmental Geosciences Concentration 

For additional information about our program, please contact eegsgrad@slu.edu.

For more information about any School of Science and Engineering graduate program, email ssegrad-admissions@slu.edu.