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Graduate Program Admissions

Who should apply

Students with bachelor’s degrees can apply directly to the M.A., M.S. or Ph.D. programs. Students with M.S. degrees can also apply to the Ph.D. program, but an M.S. is not required for entry to the Ph.D. program.

Students with backgrounds in math and the sciences, particularly those with strong quantitative backgrounds, are encouraged to apply. We help students apply the tools of math and science to solve complex environmental issues.


Qualifications for Admission

  • All Programs

    • Completion of a B.A. or B.S. with a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 3.0 (a B)
    • International students without English as their native language will probably be required to submit acceptable scores on the TOEFL/IELTS; please see official Graduate School policy.
    • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required; however, we will accept and consider scores for applicants who feel it strengthens their application.

    M.A. in Marine Conservation Policy

    • At least 4 semesters of college courses in math or science, including at least one course in biology.

    M.S. and Ph.D. in Marine, Atmospheric, and Sustainability Sciences

    • A B.A. or B.S. degree in a discipline related to the intended field of study, or coursework equivalent to such a degree.
    • At least 8 semesters total of some combination of introductory coursework in mathematics, biology, chemistry, geology, physics, sustainability, and/or related disciplines, with more advanced coursework in at least one of these disciplines.

Admission Application Deadlines

M.A. in Marine Conservation Policy

To ensure full consideration for scholarships and fellowships, applications should be received by January 15th. The final deadline for international applicants is March 1st and the final deadline for domestic students is April 10th.

M.S. and Ph.D. in Marine, Atmospheric, and Sustainability Sciences

To ensure full consideration for scholarships and fellowships, applications should be received by December 15th for the Fall semester. Applications received before January 5th will still be reviewed but full consideration for financial assistance is not guaranteed. Applicants will be notified via e-mail when all required documents have been received. Financial support is generally only available for students beginning study in the fall semester. 


 

To Apply

  1. Fill out the online application to the Stony Brook University Graduate School.
  2. Prepare your personal statement.Tell us why you want to earn a graduate degree (MS or PhD) in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. How would your time in our program help to get you from your previous experiences to where you hope to be in 10 years? If relevant, describe how any prior research experience has prepared you for graduate school. Additionally, tell us about other life experiences that have prepared you for graduate work by building transferable skills (e.g., project management, coding, budgeting, work ethic, ability to work in a team, ability to work independently, etc.). Describe your research interests as specifically as you can, including which SoMAS faculty you would like to work with to pursue those interests. Although contact with potential advisors is not required before applying, it is very strongly encouraged. Our program embraces and supports diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); please describe if and how your experiences and goals are connected to DEI. Finally, tell us anything else you would like the Admissions Committee to know in evaluating your application. Aim to be concise; an effective personal statement is often less than two pages. Please note that you will be prompted to upload your personal statement from the 'checklist' page that will appear after you have submitted your application (and paid the application fee) in Slate.
  3. Identify 3 people to provide letters of reference, and make sure they submit them when prompted by Slate.
  4. If you wish to submit GRE scores, have ETS send Stony Brook University your official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (Stony Brook’s code for score reporting is 2548).
  5. For International students who must submit TOEFL/IELTS scores: submit score to Stony Brook (code 2548). Please refer to the Graduate School's Admissions FAQ for more information.
  6. Provide transcripts from previous undergraduate and graduate coursework (unofficial is acceptable) as required by the Graduate School; note that if accepted, you will also need to provide official transcripts. Please refer to the Graduate School's Admissions FAQ for more information. 

For more information, contact:

Dr. Jackie Collier, Graduate Program Director
SoMAS_GPD@Stonybrook.edu for questions concerning program content, or

Ms. Christina Fink, Graduate Programs Assistant
631-632-8680 Christina.Fink@stonybrook.edu for questions regarding application status or process


SoMAS Graduate Admissions Frequently Asked Questions