Graduate Admissions
Application Process and Timeline
Prospective students apply for graduate study in the Department of Marine Sciences via the Graduate School’s online application.
Applicants are expected to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering field, or a bachelor’s degree and a background including at least one year of college-level physics, biology, and chemistry as well as math through calculus, with a minimum 3.0 GPA in the combined science courses.
Admission is competitive, and successful applicants typically have strong recommendation letters, research experience, and GPAs higher than the minimum, usually greater than 3.5 in the last four academic semesters. Students are accepted to the program based on merit and available funding.
Applications for fall semester are preferred as this is the primary admissions period when applicants can be considered for Graduate School fellowships and departmental assistantships.
Required Materials
In addition to all Graduate School required documents, the Department also requires a personal statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and a CV.
Personal Statement of Purpose
Your personal statement of purpose should be two pages single spaced. This is an opportunity for you to explain:
- Why you are pursuing an advanced degree.
- How you’ve prepared for graduate-level education.
- How our program will support achieving your career goals.
- The objective is to provide as complete a picture of you as an individual as possible, highlighting information that goes beyond your transcripts or CV.
The admissions committee and potential faculty advisor(s) will review your essay to evaluate your academic writing skills, preparedness to conduct graduate-level research, and overall potential for success in our program. In your statement, be sure to:
- Identify your research interests and describe how they align with those of potential faculty advisor(s),
- Describe relevant professional training or research experience(s) and how they have prepared or motivated you to pursue a graduate degree. Examples include undergraduate research projects, academic awards/honors/scholarships, internships, publications, or conference presentations.
- Explain how completing our graduate program will help you achieve your career goals.
- Explain what you bring to the Department and how you may add to diversity.
Three Letters of Recommendation
We recommend at least one letter from someone who has seen you work in a field or laboratory research atmosphere (e.g., an advisor for an undergraduate research project). Individuals providing a letter of reference should provide candid evaluations of your scientific aptitude, training, motivation, teaching talent, and ability to express yourself orally and in technical writing.
Before You Apply
Learn About the Department
We encourage you to explore our website to learn more about the Department. You can also browse our current graduate student directory.
We collaborate with the AGU Bridge Program to enhance the diversity of students pursuing graduate degrees in marine sciences. As a member of the program since 2021, we have hosted several students across a range of oceanographic subject areas. Prospective students apply through the AGU portal, Applications, which are reviewed by all Bridge Program partners, are typically due in mid-March, with interviews in mid-April, and admissions offers in early May. The Department sponsors a fellowship fund to help support Bridge students in the first year of their graduate work.
Contact Prospective Faculty Advisors
We recommend reaching out to faculty members whose research closely aligns with your interests.
- Communicate with faculty by email or phone. Let them know you are interested in their research and ask if they have room available for a new student.
- Give them a short history of your education, research interests, and career goals. You may also wish to attach transcripts or a resume/CV in an email.
- Schedule a visit to campus. Talk to faculty and students about the graduate program and tour our facilities. In cases where visits are impractical, video calls can be arranged. Since we typically do not accept applicants who have not identified a potential advisor or a particular research interest, this phase is important in the application process.