Graduate Programs & Resources
Graduate Program
Our department offers PhD and MS degrees in Geophysics as well as a PhD minor. The degree requirements combine coursework and independent research, with considerable flexibility that allows students to tailor the courses to their specific research interests. Our degrees prepare students for careers in academia, industry, and government.
Current Graduate Student Resources
Forms and other resources for current graduate students are available here.
Overview of Stanford Geophysics Courses
Geophysics course offerings can be found in the Bulletin and on our departmental page. 100-level numbers designate primarily undergraduate courses and 200-level numbers designate primarily graduate courses. Many of our courses are offered as mixed upper-level undergraduate and graduate. These are cross-listed with 100-level numbers for undergraduates and 200-level numbers for graduates, with slightly different requirements (e.g., additional or more challenging problems) that are explained in the specific course descriptions. Courses primarily targeting freshman or sophomores have numbers less than 100. The 385 courses are seminars (group meetings and topical seminars), not lecture or lab courses. GEOPHYS 400 is used for research.
The department has very few "core" courses, with a few exceptions that we try to offer each year. Many courses, especially the more advanced courses, are offered every other year. Faculty typically teach two quarter-long lecture or lab courses each year, in addition to the 385 seminars. Usually, one of these is a specialized graduate-level course specific to the faculty member’s field of research. The other course is usually either undergraduate-only or mixed undergraduate and graduate.
Stanford Geophysics Graduate Degree Requirements
To accommodate the breadth of research in our department and unique interests of each student, the graduate degrees have a flexible curriculum. Requirements are primarily categorical in nature, with multiple courses in each category allowed to fulfill the requirement. The MS degree requirements, with the exception of a final report and presentation, are a subset of the PhD requirements. This allows PhD students to receive an MS degree as an intermediate step toward their PhD, and for MS students to extend their studies to a PhD (subject to approval by the advisor and admissions committee).
For the MS and PhD degrees, the primary requirements are independent research (through GEOPHYS 400) and courses in the “How We Study” and “What We Study” categories. How We Study courses span the different approaches that geophysicists use, which are divided into four areas: 1) Computational Methods Involving Data-Intensive Computing or Numerical Modeling, 2) Laboratory-Scale Studies of Physical Properties and Processes, 3) Observations of Earth and Planets Using Imaging and Other Forms of Remote Measurement, and 4) Physics-Based Modeling of Earth Processes and Materials. There are multiple courses in each of the areas that can be used to fulfill this requirement, which are listed in the Bulletin. What We Study ranges broadly across many areas: atmosphere, climate, cryosphere, energy, freshwater, geomaterials, hazards, oceans, other planets, and tectonics/geodynamics/Earth’s interior. There is no list of What We Study courses; instead, these are selected by the student and advisor to match the student’s specific research focus.
Finally, graduate students in Stanford Geophysics enjoy regular, close interactions with faculty. Students have an advisory committee composed of the student’s advisor and at least one (for MS students) or two (for PhD students) additional faculty. The student meets annually with the advisory committee to receive personalized feedback and guidance to help them successfully complete their degree.
Degree Program Requirements
All degree requirements can be found in the Bulletin for the PhD, MS, and PhD minor degrees.
How to Apply
Please see our Admissions page.
Contact Us
For more information on our graduate degree programs, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Eric Dunham.