Environmental Science Admission

The transdisciplinary nature to the ES degree makes it extremely important to have focused goals. Writing a clear goal statement will help focus the direction of your education. Before being admitted, select a graduate advisor and take the GRE.

Contents of the Complete Application

The complete application consists of an official Graduate College Application for Admission, a $40 nonrefundable application fee for domestic students and $75 nonrefundable application fee or international, original transcripts from all colleges previously attended and a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

Send this information to the OSU Graduate College, 202 Whitehurst, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078 .

To contact the Graduate College, call 405-744-6368 or e-mail grad-i@okstate.edu. Additional information about the Graduate College and Oklahoma State University can be accessed through the Internet at http://gradcollege.okstate.edu.

The following information must be sent to the Environmental Science Office:
    • Goal statement
    • Resume
    • Three letters of recommendation (no form available)
    • Agreement to Advise Statement (no form available)
    • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.

Send this information to Coordinator, Environmental Science Graduate Program, 002 LSE, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078-3011.

International Applicants must also send:

    • TOEFL test results. (A score of 575 paper or around 233 computer is required).
    • A financial affidavit as described on the International Application Form

International applicants may submit all materials to the Graduate College at the above address.

For questions relating to the appropriate application of federal regulations that affect this constituency, facilitating the education and personal development of international students and scholars and assisting with culture exchange and enrichment at Oklahoma State University and the Stillwater community, students can contact the International Students and Scholars office at: su-iss@okstate.edu or:   076 Student Union, OSU, Stillwater OK 74078-7013; or by phone (405-744-5459); or by FAX (405-744-8120).  You can visit their website at:  http://osunet.okstate.edu/iss/

Goal Statement

Many applicants have questions about writing the goal statement. The ES Admission and Retention Committee needs the following information:

    • The specific area and direction of career goals- including what you want to learn while at OSU.
    • The kind of organization you hope to work for or what type of job/position you hope to gain upon graduation.
    • The kind of research and coursework you feel would support your career goals.

It is also useful to describe the areas of competency desired upon graduation. The goal statement is used to evaluate the quality of one’s composition, expression, and organization. The goal statement should be direct, as it explains one’s decision to choose their course of study, research topic, and OSU.

The ES Admissions and Retention Committee is most interested in students who recognize that graduate education requires responsibility, motivation, curiosity, independent thinking, commitment, initiative, and creativity. These characteristics are essential for completion of a degree program in a timely manner. If unfamiliar with the types of careers and occupations associated with environmental concerns, there are a number of publications, books, and Internet resources available.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation can come from former professors or employers who know the quality of the work and potential that the student possesses to succeed in graduate school and beyond. Members of the Admission and Retention Committee and potential advisors are most interested in a third party’s estimation of the student’s abilities, dedication, and focus to succeed in graduate school. Statements concerning attributes are often stronger if backed up with examples.

Chair/Advisor & Agreement to Advise Statement

Before admission to the program, it is the student’s responsibility to find a professor with whom he or she will study. Choose the committee Chair carefully since he or she will act as a mentor during graduate study. As a cautionary note, be aware that an assistantship can sometimes be drawn from research that does not match academic and career goals.

This committee Chair may also be your adviser so a good relationship needs to be established before admission to the ES Graduate Program at OSU. The ESGP Coordinator can assist in this process; however, the ultimate responsibility to establish and secure the advising relationship is the student's.

Sometimes finding an appropriate advisor is difficult. Some obstacles include availability of lab space, professors’ time and funding (if requiring an assistantship to attend graduate school). Occasionally a student has interests in a topic that is not addressed at the institution. Since Oklahoma tries not to overlap degree programs between the two major state-supported universities, some areas of study are addressed at one university and not the other. Beginning with a good match increases potential for success. To aid in the search for an advisor, review the following items:

    • Look through the list of professors and their research interests at: http://environ.okstate.edu/ES/faculty/default.asp
    • Focus on the research description that matches the interest area. Then check the associated names as potential graduate advisors.
    • Use this list to contact those professors through e-mail, telephone, FAX, or postal mail.
    • If possible, students should use the local library to conduct a more in-depth review of the type of research these individuals do, so that they have a basis upon which to discuss a possible affiliation.
    • Make contact with the professors directly.

Visiting the OSU campus may improve your chances of getting a suitable advisor. Other means of communication such as letters, the telephone, FAX machines, and e-mail may also be used in this search. Once an advisor is selected, he or she will write or send a short memo to the Program Coordinator stating their agreement to advise.

Once a committee Chair is selected, he or she will need to send a short memo to the Program Coordinator stating the agreement to advise.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Scores

The Admissions and Retention Committee requires GRE scores as a part of the application materials. This should be taken before applying. Other types of tests may be accepted such as GMAT and LSAT. Check with your prospective advisor. There are no minimum scores listed at this time.

General Science, Math and Biology Prerequisite

Students should have basic chemistry, math, and biology before admission. Grades below a B in a basic course can result in taking the course over or another course of like substance.   A student can show proficiency in the above prerequisites through their undergraduate degree, taking CLEP exams, or experience. Alternatively, a program can be specified to remedy deficiencies.

General Ecology Requirement