Graduate Program Admissions

Who should apply

Students with bachelor’s degrees can apply directly to the M.A., M.S. or Ph.D. programs. Students with M.S. degrees can also apply to the Ph.D. program, but an M.S. is not required for entry to the Ph.D. program.

Students with backgrounds in math and the sciences, particularly those with strong quantitative backgrounds, are encouraged to apply. We help students apply the tools of math and science to solve complex environmental issues.

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Qualifications for Admission

• All Programs

  • Completion of a B.A. or B.S. with a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 3.0 (a B)
  • International students without English as their native language will probably be required to submit acceptable scores on the TOEFL/IELTS; please see official Graduate School policy.
  • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required; however, we will accept and consider scores for applicants who feel it strengthens their application.

  M.A. in Marine Conservation Policy

  • At least 4 semesters of college courses in math or science, including at least one course in biology.

  M.S. and Ph.D. in Marine, Atmospheric, and Sustainability Sciences

  • A B.A. or B.S. degree in a discipline related to the intended field of study, or coursework equivalent to such a degree.
  • At least 8 semesters total of some combination of introductory coursework in mathematics, biology, chemistry, geology, physics, sustainability, and/or related disciplines, with more advanced coursework in at least one of these disciplines.

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Admission Application Deadlines

M.A. in Marine Conservation Policy

To ensure full consideration for scholarships and fellowships for Fall 2025 admission, applications should be received by January 15th 2025. The final deadline for application is March 15th 2025.

M.S. and Ph.D. in Marine, Atmospheric, and Sustainability Sciences

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To Apply

1. Fill out the online application to the Stony Brook University Graduate School.
2. Prepare your personal statement.Tell us why you want to earn a graduate degree (MS or PhD) in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. How would your time in our program help to get you from your previous experiences to where you hope to be in 10 years? If relevant, describe how any prior research experience has prepared you for graduate school. Additionally, tell us about other life experiences that have prepared you for graduate work by building transferable skills (e.g., project management, coding, budgeting, work ethic, ability to work in a team, ability to work independently, etc.). Describe your research interests as specifically as you can, including which SoMAS faculty you would like to work with to pursue those interests. Although contact with potential advisors is not required before applying, it is very strongly encouraged. Our program embraces and supports diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); please describe if and how your experiences and goals are connected to DEI. Finally, tell us anything else you would like the Admissions Committee to know in evaluating your application. Aim to be concise; an effective personal statement is often less than two pages. Please note that you will be prompted to upload your personal statement from the 'checklist' page that will appear after you have submitted your application (and paid the application fee) in Slate.
3. Identify 3 people to provide letters of reference, and make sure they submit them when prompted by Slate.
4. If you wish to submit GRE scores, have ETS send Stony Brook University your official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (Stony Brook’s code for score reporting is 2548).
5. For International students who must submit TOEFL/IELTS scores: submit score to Stony Brook (code 2548). Please refer to the Graduate School's Admissions FAQ for more information.
6. Provide transcripts from previous undergraduate and graduate coursework (unofficial is acceptable) as required by the Graduate School; note that if accepted, you will also need to provide official transcripts. Please refer to the Graduate School's Admissions FAQ for more information. 

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For more information, contact:

Dr. Jackie Collier, Graduate Program Director
SoMAS_GPD@Stonybrook.edu for questions concerning program content, or

Ms. Christina Fink, Graduate Programs Assistant
631-632-8680 Christina.Fink@stonybrook.edu for questions regarding application status or process

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SoMAS Graduate Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

• What are your admission prerequisites?

  All of our degrees require a minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework.

  • The M.S. and Ph.D. in the Marine, Atmospheric, and Sustainability Sciences requires at least 8 semesters total of some combination of introductory coursework in mathematics, biology, chemistry, geology, physics, sustainability, and/or related disciplines, with more advanced coursework in at least one of these disciplines.
  • The M.A. in Marine Conservation and Policy requires one semester of college-level biology, three additional semesters of college-level science and/or math, and advanced coursework in your major.
• What type(s) of advanced coursework are you looking for?

  It depends on the field you wish to pursue – we want to see that you have a strong foundation in your area of interest.

  • For those interested in Atmospheric Sciences (M.S. and Ph.D.), well-prepared students may have taken classes in areas such as mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, partial differential equations, linear algebra, vector calculus, probability and statistics, for example.
  • For those interested in Sustainability (M.S. and Ph.D.) or Marine Conservation and Policy (M.A.), advanced coursework spans a large number of disciplines because of the breadth of the degree. Appropriate advanced coursework could include (but is certainly not limited to) communications, economics, education, geography, health science, journalism, political science, sociology, socio-environmental systems, any of the basic sciences, and much more.
  • For those interested in Marine Sciences (M.S. and Ph.D.), well-prepared students may have taken classes in areas such as, for example:
  • If you plan to pursue biological oceanography – genetics, molecular biology, invertebrate or vertebrate zoology, organic chemistry (with lab), ecology, cell biology, physiology, evolutionary biology.
  • If you plan to pursue chemical oceanography – organic chemistry (with lab), physical chemistry, biochemistry, chemical thermodynamics, nuclear chemistry, environmental chemistry, advanced inorganic chemistry.
  • If you plan to pursue studies in marine fisheries – statistics, quantitative modeling, biology, ecology, environmental science, management, social science.
  • If you plan to pursue geological oceanography – mineralogy, sedimentology, stratigraphy, petrology, paleontology, structural geology, marine geology, field geology, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrogeology.
  • If you plan to pursue physical oceanography – thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, partial differential equations, linear algebra, mechanics, scientific computing, complex variables, signal processing
• Should I contact potential faculty advisors prior to applying?

  Contacting potential advisors is always a good idea, but not required. Reaching out to faculty shows your interest and initiative. You can also learn whether or not someone you would like to work with is looking for new graduate students.

• Are there graduate students I can contact to learn more about the graduate student experience at SoMAS?

  You can email the SoMAS Graduate Student Club at somasgradclub@gmail.com to connect with active graduate students in our program.

• When are your application deadlines?

  M.A. in Marine Conservation Policy

  To ensure full consideration for scholarships and fellowships, applications should be received by January 15th. The final deadline for international applicants is March 1st and the final deadline for domestic students is April 10th.

  M.S. and Ph.D. in Marine, Atmospheric, and Sustainability Sciences

  To ensure full consideration for scholarships and fellowships, applications should be received by December 15th for the Fall semester. Applications received before January 5th will still be reviewed but full consideration for financial assistance is not guaranteed.

• Do you accept applicants for Spring admissions?

  We strongly discourage spring admissions because of first-year course sequences. Please contact the SoMAS Graduate Program Director if you have questions about Spring admissions.

• Will you consider my application if I miss the application deadline?

  Unfortunately, we cannot consider applications received after January 5th.

• What if my file is not complete by the application deadline (e.g., missing letters of recommendation, missing GRE scores, missing transcripts)?

  We will not make an admissions decision until your application is complete. Please be aware that there are a limited number of admission offers and the more delayed your application, the less likely it is that you will receive an offer of admission.

• Do I have to submit official transcripts just to apply?

  No; unofficial transcripts are sufficient for us to make admission decisions, though you will have to provide an official transcript before you matriculate. Please refer to the Graduate School's Admissions FAQ for more information. 

• Do I have to take the GRE?

  The GRE is not required; however, we will accept and consider scores for applicants who feel it strengthens their application.

• Is there a minimum GRE score that you are looking for?

  No. The GRE itself is not required, although GRE scores in the 75th percentile or better may strengthen your application. We look at your application as a whole, and strengths in some areas can offset weaknesses in other areas of your application.

• I received a previous degree from an English-speaking institution. Do I have to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam?

  Probably not; please refer to the Graduate School's Admissions FAQ for more information. 

• What kind(s) of financial assistance is available for your graduate programs?

  It depends on the degree program. We generally support M.S. and Ph.D. students on either teaching- and/or research-assistantships (TA/RA). TAs and RAs usually come with a full graduate tuition scholarship, although the tuition scholarship does not cover university fees or health insurance. The M.A. program is a pay-as-you-go program, although there is limited financial assistance for field courses.