PhD Geological Engineering at University of North Dakota

Programme overview

Go deep into the field and lead tomorrow's discoveries. We know that the best researchers are specialists. Getting there, though, means incorporating diverse perspectives from related fields. No matter which track you focus on, graduates from our Ph.D. program in Geological Engineering are trained to contribute technologies for this century and beyond while never losing sight of the ethical, political and economic ramifications of their work.

What you will study

Students seeking the Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of North Dakota must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the Graduate School as well as particular requirements set forth by the Harold Hamm School of Geology and Geological Engineering Doctoral Program. The following requirements are in addition to the UND Graduate School general requirements for the Ph.D.:

Career pathways

Graduates of UND's Geological Engineering program play critical roles in many industries, including mining, energy exploration, education and more. Geological engineers are in demand for jobs such as these: Environmental engineering, Geological engineering, Petroleum geologist, Hydrogeology, Remote sensing/GIS, Mining, Mapping and surveying, Teaching.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

A baccalaureate degree in an Engineering discipline with a GPA of 3.3 or higher or a Master of Science degree in an engineering discipline with a GPA of 3.0. Satisfy the Graduate School’s English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the Graduate Catalog. In addition to meeting the general provisions in the UND graduate catalog and the minimum requirements in items 1-2 above, candidates are assessed using a holistic process that considers Student’s Record of Publications, GRE test scores (for students who are applying with a B.S. Engineering degree from a non-ABET accredited program), transcripts of previous college work, relevant research and work experience, letters of recommendation, research interests, and English language skills. Students must specify a track on their admission form to facilitate this evaluation. A student holding a non-Engineering degree or who does not meet the minimum requirements in items 1-2 above may apply to one of the Master of Science degree programs in the College of Engineering and Mines. Students successfully completing a UND M.S.

Domestic applicants: USD 14,700 a year (2026-27). North Dakota resident rate. On-campus tuition for 2026/2027 as shown in the programme's tuition table (fall and spring semesters, rate band 'Engineering (including Computer Science & Geology)'); excludes mandatory student fees, housing and books. The same Source

International applicants: USD 29,401 a year (2026-27). International student rate. On-campus tuition for 2026/2027 as shown in the programme's tuition table (fall and spring semesters, rate band 'Engineering (including Computer Science & Geology)'); excludes mandatory student fees, housing and books. Source

Terms run Fall (August-December), Spring (January-May) and Summer (May-August).

Graduate applications go through the UND admissions application with a $35 non-refundable fee (no waivers); each graduate program sets its own deadline, listed in the Program Finder.

International graduate applicants: Fall May 1, Spring Sept. 1, Summer Feb. 1, unless the program sets a specific deadline. Application fee $35.

Apply through the official page: https://und.edu/admissions/graduate/apply.html

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