College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Graduate Program
***We are unable to waiver any application fees at this time***
The Department of Earth & Environmental Science (EES) offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. A M.S. student typically writes a thesis with the depth and breadth comparable to one published research paper. Typical Ph.D. projects are broader, more independent, and result in dissertations with the approximate research content of three published papers.
All EES graduate students are responsible for meeting requirements and deadlines. They should acquaint themselves with the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College, particularly sections IX, X, and XII (see Graduate College in the Catalog), and with the University calendar (for deadlines and so forth). All entering graduate students are required to enroll in EES:7270 Orientation, Scholarly Integrity, RCR in Earth & Environmental Sciences during the Fall semester of their first year in the graduate program.
The department provides detailed information about current graduate degree requirements and timelines for making satisfactory progress toward a degree in the document “The University of Iowa Guidelines for Graduate Study in Earth & Environmental Science”. This document can be found at the bottom of this page by clicking on “Graduate Student Guidelines”.
Throughout their graduate study, all M.S. and Ph.D. students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.00 on all course work required for their degree and on all graduate-level EES course work. Students whose GPA drops below 3.00 are placed on academic probation.
EES graduate students are encouraged to present their research at local, regional, national, or international meetings. The department provides partial funding for travel to such meetings.
Additional Information
Admission Requirements
Financial Support
Graduate Student Guidelines (revised 08/2016)
Checklist of Requirements for Graduate Studies in Geoscience (revised 08/2021)