MS Earth and Environmental Sciences at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Programme overview

The MS programme in Earth and Environmental Sciences is a two-year research master's with guaranteed financial support from the department. Students may also earn an embedded MS while pursuing the PhD, double-counting courses and writing a master's thesis in addition to the dissertation. The department is ranked ninth in the US for Earth science graduate programmes by U.S. News & World Report.

Faculty: College of Literature, Science, and the Arts | Department: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences | Duration: 2 years | Intake: Fall; deadline December 19, 2026 (Fall 2027 entry) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Ann Arbor, MI, United States

What you will study

Graduate coursework, a master's thesis and an optional research seminar, using experimental, field and computational methods drawn from biology, chemistry and physics to study Earth processes from the atomic to the planetary scale.

Career pathways

Research, teaching, scientific communication and public outreach roles using a transferable quantitative and research toolset.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (MS and PhD): apply through the Rackham Graduate School (ApplyWeb); complete application including all three letters of recommendation and TOEFL scores due December 19, 2026 for Fall admission. Application fee $75 for US citizens and permanent residents, $90 for non-US citizens. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact faculty before applying. Selected domestic candidates are interviewed.

Requirements published at faculty level.

Intake: Fall; deadline December 19, 2026 (Fall 2027 entry)

Duration: 2 years

Apply through the official page: https://rackham.umich.edu/admissions/applying/

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