Admissions

Graduate Application - Applications due January 1, 2012

There are two separate applications for the USC Earth Sciences Graduate Program:

The first application is through USC's Graduate Admissions.

You can find the application and information at this website: http://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/

The second application is through the Earth Sciences Department.

You can fill out this application at http://earth.usc.edu/apply1

This application will ask you for:

Basic contact information
A PDF format of your statement of interest
A PDF format of your unofficial transcript
A PDF format of your CV
A list of the top three USC faculty with whom you would be interested in working
AYID number

Graduate Admission Requirements

Prerequisites - An applicant for admission must have the equivalent of the courses in earth sciences, chemistry, mathematics, and physics required for the B.S. degree in geological sciences. Applicants with an undergraduate degree in other sciences or engineering who lack required earth sciences courses will also be given consideration.

For questions about pre-requisites and other qualifications, please contact the Graduate Faculty Advisor, Prof. Steve Lund , at slund.usc.edu

Academic Record - An applicant must have a strong undergraduate background and a superior academic record as documented by GPAs in undergraduate and graduate work.

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores in the Verbal and Quantitative General Test are required for admission. Scores must be no more than five years old. The Graduate School requires a Verbal and Quantitative combined score that is a minimum of 1000; however, the Department of Earth Sciences typically admits students with a combined score of 1200 or higher. Subject tests are not required.

Reference letters - three letters of recommendation (minimum) from undergraduate and/or graduate advisors and professors must be provided.