Prospective Students | Admissions
Dr. Charles Epifanio (in the red hat) and students prepare equipment for deployment
Join Us!
The College of Marine and Earth Studies (CMES) offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. Here you will find the links and information you need to apply to our programs at the University of Delaware.
Undergraduates can apply to CMES majors in Geological Science. Students who are not majoring in geological sciences, but are interested in pursuing a career in marine science are encouraged to complete a bachelor's degree in one of the other natural sciences (physics, chemistry, or biology). Students may also choose to major in mathematics, computer science, or engineering. Students interested in pursuing careers relating to marine policy should pursue degrees in one of the social sciences.
To assist students as they clarify their specific marine interests, we offer elective courses in marine specialties, a summer internship program, a CMESter-in-residence program, and marine related research experiences.
Entrance Requirements
Undergraduate students:
We seek academically ambitious and creative applicants from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and geographic regions.
The University expects all applicants to have completed strong college preparatory course work at an accredited secondary school or certified home school program. Students should have strong backgrounds in math and science with a passion for exploring and understanding earth and ocean systems.
For more information about admissions requirements, see the Undergraduate Admissions page.
Graduate students:
Applications to the graduate programs in Marine Studies (Marine Biosciences, Oceanography, Marine Policy and Physical Ocean Science and Engineering)and in the Department of Geological Sciences are evaluated on the basis of the applicant's GRE scores, undergraduate record, and three letters of recommendation. The Department of Geological Sciences will consider qualified applicants without a previous degree in geology, although preliminary work may be required. A list of CMES faculty and their research interests is available to assist prospective students in matching their interests to those of our faculty. Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty working in areas that interest them.
All graduate applicants should submit the following:
- A completed graduate school application form plus application fee
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general (aptitude) test scores
- GRE Biology Advanced Test for MBB applicants
- Official transcripts of all college work
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from persons qualified to judge the student's potential for graduate work
- A supplemental page indicating your specific interests in order to help us assign an appropriate adviser
- Additional entrance requirements for some programs are given below.
International students must also submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A minimum TOEFL score of 600 is required for foreign applicants for whom English is not the first language.
The University of Delaware states that applicants should have a combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of at least 1050. The college generally has admitted applicants with combined verbal and quantitative GRE scores exceeding 1200 (with good advanced test scores) and an overall grade point average exceeding 3.0 (4.0=A).
Additional Entrance Requirements
- Marine Biosciences Program: Applicants interested in the MBB program are encouraged to take the Subject (Advanced) test portion of the GRE test.
- Marine Policy Program: For admission to the Ph.D. program, all entering candidates will have taken and passed, with a grade of B or better, graduate courses that are equivalent to the required courses in the M.M.P. program other than the introductory course and the seminar series. Students may be asked to provide supporting documentation such as catalog descriptions, syllabi, tests, or papers.
Applications
Applications for admissions to the University of Delaware are available online. Please use the links below to take you to the appropriate web site.
