About PhD Program,
Our PhD Program emphasizes original research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Research topics supported by the department reflect our faculty’s diverse research interests. Our faculty are engaged in research sponsored by agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the World Bank, and the United Nations. All applicants are encouraged to contact faculty members directly to discuss potential research opportunities and available positions.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
The PhD in Earth & Environment provides students with extensive and cross-disciplinary research opportunities within the earth and environmental sciences, geography, remote sensing, sustainability, and energy, environment analysis, and policy. Students may specialize, for example, in—and at the interface of—climate dynamics; carbon & nutrient cycling; surface processes; hydrology; active tectonics and crustal evolution; sustainable food, water, and energy; land use/land cover change; environmental analysis and policy; paleoclimate and earth history; and coastal, marine, and ecosystem response to climate change. Upon completion of the PhD, students should be prepared for postgraduate training and to assume teaching and/or research positions in academia, industry, government, or nonprofit agencies.
- 64 credits of coursework at the 500-level or above
- Qualifying exam
- Dissertation and final oral examination
- Professional development requirement
- Such as conference presentation, poster session, etc., as determined in consultation with the student’s advisor
- Satisfactory Academic Progress for PhD Degree
PhD Funding Coverage,
PhD programs on Boston University’s Charles River Campus benefit from a model of full funding. This system guarantees all PhD students in good standing five years of stipend support and health insurance. This approach reflects BU’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of researchers across the humanities, social sciences, sciences, and engineering. The twelve-month stipend for 2022-2023 is $38,253. Students receive health insurance through Aetna Student Health, and full tuition and student services fees are also covered.
Students may be funded from a variety of sources, and most students receive funding from a combination of:
- Teaching fellowship: students oversee the lab or discussion components of an undergraduate course
- Research fellowship: students work on a project funded by a faculty-secured grant
- Non-service fellowship: students receive funding to focus primarily on their degree coursework in the first year with no departmental research or teaching responsibilities
U.S. students may also secure external funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, NOAA, NASA, and non-profit foundations. International students may also secure funding from home countries.
The Graduate School provides full details about these sources.
Application Requirement,
- Application
- Personal Statement
- Three (3) letters of recommendation, preferably commenting on academic ability from former professors or instructors
- Transcripts (all institutions of higher education you have attended)
- English-language proficiency test scores international students
- Duolingo, TOEFL, and IELTS scores are accepted as outlined by the Graduate School. (Please review more details about English proficiency at the link.)
- Scores are not required of international students who graduated from a college or university in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Ireland, or New Zealand.
- GRE scores will not be considered.
For more information on admissions procedures for international students, please visit the GRS website for International Students.
Application Deadline,
Dec 19, 2024
Application Fee,
- $95 application fee
