GRADUATE PROGRAM
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
Thank you for your interest in Geology and Geophysics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I would like to tell you a little about the opportunities for studying the geological sciences at UAF.
The highest mountain range in North America dominates the landscape south of our campus in Fairbanks. These mountains often remind us that Alaska is one of the most geologically active regions of the Earth--and a great place to study geology and geophysics. Scientists in our department are studying the formation of these mountains, the mechanics of earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers and the age and distribution of different rock types across Alaska and other regions. We use these studies to reconstruct Alaska's ancient geological history and to identify geological hazards and resources.
As a graduate student in our department, you'll become a part of our friendly, close knit teaching and research team. We have a strong program with about 80 MS and Ph.D. graduate students in the geology and geophysics degree programs. Everyone in the department shares a great enthusiasm for geology and for Alaska. We offer a variety of courses that will prepare you for a career in environmental science, mineral or oil exploration or the study and mitigation of geologic hazards. In small upper division classes, you'll get to know our professors well and interact with our graduate students. As you progress toward your degree, you'll find many opportunities to participate in ongoing research projects. Most of our graduates find employment in private industry, government or educational institutions.
Our department is in the Reichardt Building on the UAF campus. We have excellent, state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, computer facilities and study areas to support your education. The departments of Physics and Chemistry are also located in the building. Our students take courses from these departments in support of their scientific education. We also have offices, classrooms and labs the Geophysical Institute. Close collaboration between the research faculty, teaching faculty and graduate students is, perhaps, our program's greatest strength.
The University of Alaska is an exciting place to study geology and geophysics. I hope you decide to join us next fall.
Sincerely,
Dr. Bernard Coakley
Department of Geology and Geophysics
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
Geology
Students working on a graduate degree in Geology can specialize in one of six areas of concentration:
General Geology
Economic Geology
Petroleum Geology
Quaternary Geology
Remote Sensing
Volcanology
Geophysics
Students working on a graduate degree in Geophysics can specialize in one of three areas of concentration:
Solid-Earth Geophysics
Snow, Ice and Permafrost Geophysics
Remote Sensing Geophysics
Graduate School Admission
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
Admission to our graduate program is restricted on the basis of:
1. Meeting Admission requirements for the appropriate degree program
2. A 3.0 minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA (grade point average).
3. Faculty interest and funding ability.
4. Completion and submission of all required application materials (see below).
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
First Apply to UAF
A formal application for admission to graduate school, along with the application fee You may apply online, http://uaonline.alaska.edu/ or download an application, http://www.uaf.edu/admissions/pdf/grad_app.pdf.
Second Make Contact With the Department of Geology & Geophysics
Send an e-mail to: geology@uaf.edu and let the Department know that you have applied to the Graduate School for the upcoming semester. Please list your name, contact e-mail address, and what program you have applied for. This will aid the Department in assisting you through the application process. Remember, those applications that are completed first will ususally be the first to be looked at by the application review committee.
Third Complete And Return the Following Documents
- Preliminary Summary Form: Download
- An essay describing your interests and goals for study in geology/geophysics at UAF (see Preliminary Summary form). We recognize that your career goals may not be well defined at this point, but do your best. This will help us understand your expectations of a graduate program as well as to evaluate our ability to support your interests.
- Resume
- Official transcripts of previous academic work from each college you attended. Note that "official" means that the transcripts will be sent from the university itself or given to you to be sent in a sealed envelope.
- Three letters of recommendation from appropriate references, along with the UAF evaluation form: Download
- Official GRE (Graduate Record Exam) scores. UAF will receive your scores approximately 6 weeks after you take the test, so please take this into consideration when meeting our deadlines.
All of these documents need to be sent to: Office of Admissions, University of Alaska Fairbanks , P. O. Box 757480, Fairbanks , Alaska 99775-7480.
Fourth Is Only For International Students
- Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores are required if your native language is not English. Minimum TOEFL score: 213 for computer exam, or 550 for paper and 80 for the new exam.
- Financial Statement for International Applicants: http://www.uaf.edu/oip/forms/Int_financial.pdf
All of these documents need to be sent to: Office of Admissions, University of Alaska Fairbanks , P. O. Box 757480, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7480.
►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►►
Your file will not be sent on to the review committee without each and every document listed above in it, no exceptions. Faculty review of applications begins January 15 each year for students entering the following September. Applications received by January 15 will be considered for departmental financial support. Offers of financial aid via TA's (teaching assistantships) and RA's (research assistantships) are made on a competitive basis to qualified applicants, but only after your file is complete. Offers of financial aid via RA's are generally based upon a faculty member’s ability to support a student through research funds.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Ellen Craig or e-mail her at: eacraig@alaska.edu. Our staff are ready and willing to help you make this process run smoothly.