Students must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university to be accepted as a graduate student. For full graduate standing, at least 30 credits of undergraduate work in geology and/or related fields must have been completed.

To be considered for admission, students must meet the following minimum departmental requirements:

1. Grade-point average (GPA): Four-year undergraduate GPA of 2.75, or a 3.0 GPA for the final two years of undergraduate study;

2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Combined score of 1,050 or higher in verbal and quantitative sections (V + Q = or >1,050);