Earth and Marine Sciences

Programs Degrees Major Codes Admissions
Term Deadline
Doctoral PhD EMES Fall* June 11, 2024
Master’s MS EMES Fall* June 11, 2024
Fall Graduate School Fellowships December 12, 2023 (Recommended)
Director of Graduate Admissions Johanna Rosman (jrosman@unc.edu)
Graduate Coordinator Violet Anderson (violet@unc.edu)
Address Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences
CB# 3315, Mitchell Hall
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Website emes.unc.edu
Phone 919-962-1252
Test Requirements
GRE not required
Letters of Recommendation 3
International Applicants Only TOEFL or IELTS score (no more than two years old)
Other Requirements In addition to the University’s required application materials, applicants should review the information below for additional expectations or application requirements.

Your application must be completed by December 12, 2023 to receive full consideration for departmental or university financial support.

Plans for Graduate Study: Please select a degree. If you are certain that you want to earn an M.S. as your terminal degree at UNC-Chapel Hill, select Master of Science. If you plan to ultimately earn a Ph.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill, either by first completing the M.S. program here, by earning an M.S. Bypass, or by entering directly into the Ph.D. program, select Doctor of Philosophy. If you are unsure of your final degree at UNC-Chapel Hill, select Doctor of Philosophy.

Area of Interest or Specialization: From the list below, select the area(s) that you most identify with and are interested in pursuing as a graduate student.

  • Biological Oceanography
  • Microbial Ecology & Molecular Biology
  • Marine Ecology
  • Chemical Oceanography
  • Biogeochemical Processes
  • Physical Oceanography
  • Environmental Fluid Dynamics
  • Hydrology
  • Marine & Coastal Geology
  • Geochemistry
  • Geochronology
  • Seismology, Volcanology
  • Structural Geology
  • Tectonic Geomorphology
  • Paleoclimatology & Paleoecology

 

Faculty Interest: List the UNC Chapel Hill faculty member(s) whose research you find particularly relevant to your academic and research interests, and who you would like to serve as your primary advisor. It is recommended to list at least one faculty member. This does not limit you, should you later learn of other research projects or faculty. Information about faculty members and their research can be found at https://emes.unc.edu/tenured-tenured-track-faculty/ and https://emes.unc.edu/research-faculty/.

 

Statement of Purpose: Provide a written statement (max. 1000 words) that addresses the following specific questions:

  1. Describe your preparation for graduate school, including any relevant extracurricular activities or experiences and any hurdles you have overcome.
  2. Why do you want to pursue graduate study in Earth and Marine Sciences at UNC? What experiences have been central to your decision?
  3. Describe your career goals and how graduate school at UNC will help you achieve these.
  4. What are your specific research interests and why do you find these compelling?
  5. Indicate which faculty member(s) most closely align with your research interests and, if applicable, describe any potential research topics or projects you have discussed with them.