Undergraduate Geosciences Resources

Departmental Scholarships

The Geosciences Department offers several scholarships available only to SUU Geosciences majors. You can apply for those scholarships directly through the SUU Financial Aid web site or you can fill out the Geosciences Scholarships Application. If you fill out the standard SUU scholarship application, please also fill out the Supplemental Geosciences Scholarship Application file, too.

The scholarship application deadline is March 1 of every spring.

View Geosciences Scholarships

Undergraduate Research

The SUU Geosciences program emphasizes the importance of undergraduate research. Research requires in-depth content knowledge and valuable skill development that is transferable to the workforce. Many classes provide research experience through collaborative projects. In addition to coursework, geoscience students are required to complete a capstone research project. The format of these projects can vary, but many result in a research manuscript. Here we highlight hard work and results of various research projects.

Research opportunities are also available through the National Science Foundation. For more questions about undergraduate research opportunities please contact any of the geoscience faculty.

Graduate School Application Process

Students interested in applying to graduate school should begin researching programs the year before they intend to graduate from SUU.

  • Find programs that fit your scientific interest and also consider the location, as that affects local amenities, cost of living, and other social factors that can play a big role in your success during graduate school.
  • Reach out to faculty members in your programs of interest. Ask about their research and if they have funded projects for graduate students. Include a few details about who you are and what you hope to accomplish in graduate school and in your professional career. You can also ask what they are looking for in a graduate student.
  • Check to see if the programs of interest require the GRE. Fewer and fewer programs require that standardized test, but many still do.
  • Check to see if the institution charges an application fee. These can add up if you apply to many programs, but there may be waivers depending on institutional policies.
  • Keep a list of application deadlines for the programs that you are interested in.
  • Speak with SUU faculty about recommendation letters and deadlines. Let recommendation writers know about why you are interested in specific programs and what your goals are, as this will help them write your letter. Letters are typically submitted to an online portal, and writers prefer if students chose the option for letters to remain confidential.