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Gloss Mountains

Doctorate in Geology 

The Ph.D. program in the Boone Pickens School of Geology (BPSoG) provides you with opportunities for research in the areas of petroleum geosciences, water, environment and climate, earth structure and dynamics, and computational geosciences. The mission of the Ph.D. program is to prepare you for a career in academia, the industry or government.

Curriculum

  • Sixty credit hours total (29-40 hours for dissertation)
  • Maintain minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Two credit hours of Geology Colloquium (GEOL 5300) required
  • Pass preliminary examination
  • Completion of plan of study, including formation of research committee
  • Have at least one manuscript accepted by ranked, peer-reviewed journal and two more manuscripts ready to be submitted for publication
  • Complete and successfully defend dissertation
 
 

Research and Faculty

The BPSoG is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that enable you to conduct cutting-edge research in the geosciences. Our graduate faculty are nationally and internationally recognized scholars in their fields of research and have strong track records of successfully mentoring graduate students to complete their degrees.

 

Through generous support of donors, the BPSoG has 20 fellowships and scholarships offered annually to graduate students. The BPSoG graduate program also enjoys strong support from alumni and surrounding industries in terms of professional mentoring and enhanced employment opportunities. In addition, the BPSoG has a student enrichment fund, which is used to help students attend national and international professional meetings.

 

Meet our Departmental Faculty

 

Admissions Requirements

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate and M.S. degrees in geology or related field
  • Completion of geology core courses and required math and science undergraduate courses with a final grade of “C” or better
  • Some course requirement exemptions may be made on an individual basis
  • Three letters of recommendation from professors and/or job supervisors (personal endorsement letters from friends, family or peers are not acceptable)
  • Statement of purpose (no more than one page)

Test Scores:

  • GRE recommended not required (preferred minimum scores: 150 verbal, 150 quantitative, and 3.5 writing)
  • International applicants who aren't native English speakers must submit one of the following:
    • TOEFL-iBT minimum scores of 21/30 in each of the four English skills or a cumulative score of 84/120
    • IELTS minimum scores of 6.5/9.0 in each of the four English skills or an average score of 6.5/9.0

Application Deadlines:

  • February 1 (fall admission)
  • October 1 (spring admission)

Nobel Research Center building exterior

Cost & Assistance

Oklahoma State University's estimation of a graduate student's annual costs is $18,820 for Oklahoma residents, $29,150 for out-of-state students, and $34,588 for international students. The BPSoG supports about 40 graduate students with annual salaries (nine months—summer semester not covered) of about $20,000 each for Ph.D. students and $18,000 each for M.S. students. In addition, graduate students supported by the school receive tuition waivers.

 

Assistantships and Scholarships

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