Admission Requirements
Minimum undergraduate preparation of students pursuing advanced degrees in geology at Texas A&M are the following:

1) Basic science and math: one year each of chemistry, calculus, and physics (preferably the physics that has calculus as a prerequisite).

2) Geology: physical geology, historical geology, crystallography-mineralogy, petrography, petrology, sedimentation-stratigraphy, structural geology, paleontology, field geology, and one semester of either geochemistry or geophysics. (Students may be admitted to the graduate program with deficiencies; however, credits earned to make up deficiencies are not to be used toward a graduate degree).

Admission standards
Our Graduate Admissions committee reviews the entire record of each applicant. The items considered include GRE scores, all courses on transcripts, GPR in the last 60 hours of coursework, letters of recommendation, and professional and/or academic experience. No single item (e.g., GRE scores) will automatically disqualify an applicant from acceptance; the overall strength of the record is used to accept or deny an individual. In addition, we consider the availability of space and resources in an applicant's area of interest. Therefore it is critical that each applicant provide a Statement of Purpose that carefully defines his or her area(s) of interest in geology or geophysics. A TOEFL score of 550 (paper test) or 213 (computer test) is required for International students from countries in which English is not the official language.

Undergraduate Deficiencies and Broadening Courses
Correction of deficiencies and science broadening both are essential to your education. However, requirements differ from student to student, depending on the area of interest, and change with time and path that a student may take. Therefore, a student's thesis advisor and advisory committee are in the best position to evaluate the need for deficiency correction and perspective broadening. That process should be accomplished in consultation with the graduate advisor, who might well suggest remedies to obvious gaps early in the student's tenure. For students entering with no specific advisor or program identified, the graduate section committee will identify obvious gaps and recommend remedies.

Admission of International Students
International students who have been English Language Certified by the Texas A&M University English Language Institute (www.tamu.edu/eli) must still be evaluated by the department to determine whether their communication skills are adequate for a TA. The departmental evaluation will be carried out in an informal atmosphere and consists of a brief presentation to the appropriate faculty members and students.