EASYS-MS - Earth Systems (MS)

Coterminal Master of Science in Earth Systems

Admission

Applications in 2022-23 are due:

• November 8, 2022 to apply for Winter 2023 matriculation.

• February 21, 2023 to apply for Spring 2023 matriculation.

• May 16, 2023 to apply for Autumn 2023-24 matriculation.
  

• Coterminal application

• A statement of purpose

• A resume

• A current Stanford unofficial transcript

• Two letters of recommendation, one must be from your Master's advisor who is on Academic Council. Please Review: Coterm Advisor Guidelines

• Master's Program Proposal (M.S.) A list of courses that fulfill degree requirements signed by your advisor.

Applications must be submitted no later than the quarter prior to the expected completion of the undergraduate degree. The specific application deadline for each quarter is listed above, or can be obtained from the Earth Systems Program office. An application fee is assessed by the Registrar's Office for coterminal applications once students are matriculated into the program.

• Students applying to the coterminal master's program must have completed a minimum of 120 units toward graduation with a minimum overall Stanford GPA of 3.4.

• All applicants must devise a program of study that shows a level of specialization appropriate to the master's level, as determined in consultation with the M.A. director and the Director of Earth Systems.

• Students applying from an undergraduate major other than Earth Systems should also review their course list with Deana Fabbro-Johnston or Richard Nevle.

• Coterminal master’s students have the option of receiving their undergraduate degree after completing that degree's requirements or receiving their undergraduate and M.S. degrees concurrently at the completion of the master's program.

• Students must submit a new application to change from the M.S. to the M.A., or from the M.A. to the M.S. in Earth Systems. If accepted, the student must submit a Graduate Authorization Petition through Axess; a $125 fee applies to a successful Graduate Authorization Petition.

• Applicants will be notified of the admission decision in writing, typically 3-4 weeks after the application deadline.

• A $125 application fee will be assessed by the Registrar’s office for those accepted and matriculated into the program. To apply, students should submit an online application.

University Coterminal Requirements

Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in this bulletin. University requirements for the coterminal master’s degree are described in the Coterminal Master's Degrees section. University requirements for the master’s degree are described in the Graduate Degrees section of this bulletin.

After accepting admission to this coterminal master’s degree program, students may request transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy requirements for the master’s degree. Transfer of courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case by case basis.

In this master’s program, courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken prior to the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

The University requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student’s first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The University also requires that the Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student’s first graduate quarter.

See program staff

Purpose of Advising

The primary purpose of the faculty advisor in the Earth Systems coterminal M.S. and M.A. programs is to help guide the academic development of their advisees. Faculty advisors help advisees design comprehensive, rigorous, interdisciplinary curricula that enable each student to acquire mastery of their chosen field(s). A small number of coterm students may also choose to conduct research and write a master’s thesis under the guidance of their advisor. Earth Systems staff members can provide additional guidance on the selection of courses, navigating policies and degree requirements, and preparation for future employment and exploration of professional pathways.

Expectations

All candidates for coterminal master’s programs in Earth Systems (M.S. and M.A.) are required to secure an academic advisor prior to applying to the coterm program. Coterm advisors must be members of the Academic Council. Each student is expected to meet with their advisor at least once per quarter to discuss degree progress and new course selections. Students must obtain their advisor’s signed approval on their course plan each quarter as courses taken may differ from the original course plan submitted with the coterm application. The final curriculum must stay true to the scope and rigor of the originally approved curriculum even if some of the individual courses change.

Because Earth Systems is an interdisciplinary program, and does not have its own faculty, the program relies upon faculty in related departments to advise its students. This is particularly important for coterm students who are embarking on advanced studies and need the expertise of their advisors for curriculum planning and academic development. The program greatly appreciates this advising support, and the Earth Systems staff is available for any questions and to help in whatever way we can.

Please Review: Coterm Advisor Guidelines

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the Graduate Advising section of this bulletin.

The coterminal master's degree in Earth Systems provides the student with enhanced analytical tools to evaluate the disciplines most closely associated with the student's focus area. Specialization is gained through course work and independent research work supervised by the master's faculty advisor.