Overview

Within the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences PhD program from Mississippi State University all applicants must identify a mentor (dissertation supervisor) prior to acceptance into the program. Some mentors may require a qualifying examination prior to acceptance.

Applicants from other science disciplines will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Key Facts:

The Doctoral program requires a minimum of 36 hours (at least 16 course hours and 20 dissertation hours) beyond the Master’s degree, as well as the completion of a dissertation. Every student's program of study will be determined by their Doctoral committee, and it is anticipated that most will require more than 16 course hours. Written and oral comprehensive examinations are administered at the end of required course work. A dissertation proposal defense is also required.

The Department of Geosciences also has a residency rule for all Ph.D. students that requires all coursework, comprehensive examinations, the dissertation proposal be completed on the Starkville campus. Please note that the Graduate School requires 24 course hours post-Bachelors degree, so external students applying with a completed M.S. may need to transfer coursework from their M.S. into the Doctoral program to ensure they are compliant with this rule.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Research, Readings, and Techniques in Geosciences
Philosophy and Ethics in Geosciences
Dissertation Research /Dissertation in Geography
Earth Science
Hydrology

Key information

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-06-04 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-05-15 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2026-08-20 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-05-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-08-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-01-15 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-10-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-12-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-06-04 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-01 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

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IELTS

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Credits

36 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Starkville, United States

Disciplines

Earth Sciences Climate Studies & Meteorology View 63 other PhDs in Earth Sciences in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

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IELTS

4.5

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Other requirements

General requirements

To earn the doctoral degree, a candidate must demonstrate mastery of a particular field of knowledge, of the techniques of research, and of the correlation of their specialty with the larger areas of knowledge, especially those directly related to their field of interest.

Refer to Graduate Degrees and Majors Offered for a complete list of Doctoral programs.

Check Requirements Quick Reference for admission requirements for specific programs.

Consult Admissions Information and the specific doctoral program description in the correct College and Degree Programs section.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

27487 USD / year

≈ 27487 USD / year
Out-of-State

27487 USD / year

≈ 27487 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

10052 USD / year

≈ 10052 USD / year

Additional Details

Out-Of-State: Increase budget by $17,435 annually

Living costs

Starkville

United States

800 - 1300 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Key Facts:

Programme Structure

Key information

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Living costs

Starkville

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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