{"id":115918,"date":"2018-01-22T21:08:37","date_gmt":"2018-01-22T21:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/?page_id=115918"},"modified":"2025-12-03T14:11:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T19:11:20","slug":"admission","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/admission\/","title":{"rendered":"Admission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-menu-wrapper\"><nav id=\"\" class=\"cl-menu  \" data-name=\"Academics\" data-show-title=\"0\"><ul id=\"menu-academics\" class=\"cl-menu-list cl-menu-list-no-js\"><li id=\"menu-item-190628\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-190628\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/\">Academics<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-190583\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-190583\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/admission\/\">Admissions<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-190579\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-190579\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/masters\/\">Masters<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-190578\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-190578\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/doctorate\/\">Doctorate<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-190582\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-190582\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/professional-degrees\/\">Professional<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-190587\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-190587\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/certificates\/\">Certificate<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-190591\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-190591\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/for-students\/\">Resources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav><\/section>\n\n\n<p class=\"type-intro\">Ready to come aboard?<\/p>\n<h3>Please contact Meredith Clark at <a href=\"mailto:mclark@uri.edu\">mclark@uri.edu<\/a> with any questions.<\/h3>\n<p><em>Scroll down for more information, including deadlines, application processes, criteria for successful applications, and potential funding opportunities.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>We encourage you to check out our program requirements and get in touch with <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/people\">faculty<\/a> whose research aligns with your own interests. We look forward to reviewing your application.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cl-tiles single\">\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Application Target Dates<\/h2>\n<p>While we consider applications on an ongoing basis, we strongly encourage students to submit applications by:<\/p>\n<p>For in-person programs, the application target dates are:<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Fall Semester<\/th>\n<th>Spring Semester<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1 January<\/td>\n<td>15 November<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>For online programs, please select the Online Programs tab on the <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/graduate-school\/apply\/\">Apply<\/a> website<\/p>\n<h2>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<h2>Overview of Admissions Process<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>URI-GSO has a rolling admission with an encouraged deadline of January 1st to be eligible for URI internal fellowships.<\/li>\n<li>Admission decisions are on a rolling basis, with the first review starting on January 1st. Typically decisions of admission, denial, and waitlist occur by mid-February.<\/li>\n<li>We strongly encourage prospective students to submit an inquire response form <em>and <\/em>to contact potential <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/people\/\">faculty advisors<\/a>. Making contact early (late summer\/early fall) to will allow time for GSO Academic Affairs to direct your inquiry and\/or for faculty to discuss availability of positions in their lab, funding, each other&#8217;s mentoring\/learning styles, and fit within our program. The advisor-advisee relationship is one of the most important aspects of a successful graduate experience. Students will not be accepted into the URI-GSO Graduate Program without a faculty sponsor (a current GSO faculty who agrees to act as a temporary advisor to the applicant).<\/li>\n<li>No GREs required, though recent <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/graduate-school\/admission\/international\/\">TOEFL scores<\/a>, or equivalent, are required for students whose first language is not English.<\/li>\n<li>Applications are open to review by all URI-GSO faculty, with an emphasis on evaluation from disciplinary groups (Biological, Physical, Chemical, and Geological Oceanography). Admission decisions are made by the Student Admission and Review Committee using the Admission Rubric below coupled with feedback from all URI-GSO faculty who evaluated applications. Emphasis is put on potential advisor approval.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At GSO, students who meet our merit based admissions standards <\/span>may be accepted when funding sources have been identified. Alternatively, applicants that meet our merit based admissions but for whom funding source have not been identified will be waitlisted. <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Applicants need to be in good communication with potential advisors on funding options<\/span><\/li>\n<li>While we appreciate notification of admission decisions as soon as possible, students are not required to accept financial offers until April 15<sup>th<\/sup>, pursuant to the <a href=\"https:\/\/cgsnet.org\/resources\/for-current-prospective-graduate-students\/april-15-resolution\/\">April 15 Resolution of the Council of Graduate Schools<\/a> (nearly all universities in the U. S. are part of this agreement).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Admissions Rubric<\/h2>\n<p>Applications are evaluated holistically based on demonstrated experience and\/or potential outlined in the Rubric below, as illustrated through the applicant\u2019s Personal Statement, CV, Academic transcripts, and Letters of Recommendation.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Category<\/th>\n<th>General Criteria<\/th>\n<th>Basis for Ranking<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Academic Preparation<\/td>\n<td>Coursework; Academic honors or recognition<\/td>\n<td>Grades; Depth of coursework; Honors. Emphasis on natural science and quantitative coursework<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #e5e4e2\">\n<td>Research<\/td>\n<td>Research experiences and potential; Technical skills; Motivation<\/td>\n<td>Extent of research experiences; Depth of skills; Evidence of independence\/creativity; Letters of recommendation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Fit with Program<\/td>\n<td>Alignment with institutional and individual faculty research; Evidence or potential for community engagement.<\/td>\n<td>Alignment with faculty (emphasis on potential advisor), Values fit with GSO&#8217;s strengths and goals.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #e5e4e2\">\n<td>Non-Cognitive Competencies<\/td>\n<td>Curiosity, Initiative, and Drive; Orientation towards achievement; Conscientiousness; Teamwork and Collaboration; Perseverance; Realistic self appraisal.<\/td>\n<td>Demonstration of excellence, leadership, initiative; Evidence of working independently and collaboratively in groups; Self assessment of strengths\/areas for improvement; Evaluation of previous challenges and efforts to overcome them.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Tips for Personal Statement<\/h2>\n<p>The personal statement should reflect on: 1) experiences and potential in academics, research, and community building, 2) fit with URI-GSO graduate program and potential advisor(s) (why are you applying to this program, how will this program help your graduate and long-term career goals?), and 3) address any areas of past challenges (e.g., poor grades) and steps taken to learn and grow. The essay should clearly illustrate your depth of skill, demonstration of excellence, creativity, leadership, initiative, perseverance, and ability to work independently and collaboratively.<\/p>\n<h2>Tips for writers of Letters of Recommendation<\/h2>\n<p>The best letter writers have significant knowledge of the applicant, including time as a major advisor, supervisor, or mentor, especially in research-related activities. Successful letters of recommendation highlight experiences and potential in one or more of these categories: academics, research, and community building. Together, letters of recommendation should clearly illustrate the candidate\u2019s depth of skill, demonstration of excellence, creativity, leadership, initiative, perseverance, and ability to work independently and collaboratively.<\/p>\n<h2>Brief overview of degree programs<\/h2>\n<p>There are <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/\">multiple graduate programs<\/a> in Oceanography offered through URI-GSO.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/oceanography\/\">Doctorate (Ph.D.)<\/a> focused on biological, chemical, geological, or physical oceanography\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Typically 5-6 years to complete<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Annual stipend ($39,770 for Level 1, $40,944 for Level 2, and $42,854 for Level 3 full-time appointments)<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Health benefits and tuition covered<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Involves course work, comprehensive exam, research credits, thesis proposal defense, research cruise (minimum 5 days at sea), and final thesis defense<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/oceanography\/\">Masters of Science (M.S.)<\/a> focused on biological, chemical, geological, or physical oceanography\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Typically 2-2.5 years to complete<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Annual stipend ($39,770 for Level 1 and $40,944 for Level 2 full-time appointments)<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Health benefits, and tuition covered<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Involves course work, research credits, thesis proposal defense, research cruise (minimum 5 days at sea) and final thesis defense<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/mma\/\">Joint Ph.D. in Oceanography and Masters of Marine Affairs (M.M.A.)<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Typically 6 years to complete<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">The program in Marine Affairs focuses on ocean\/coastal management, policy, and law, and the joint degree program prepares scientists with policy knowledge and skills needed in many contemporary professional positions, both inside and outside of government<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Students who successfully complete the M.M.A. degree may transfer up to six credits from that program into the oceanography Ph.D.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/professional\/\">Masters of Oceanography (M.O.)<\/a> in program tracks of fisheries, coastal systems, ocean data and technology, or general oceanography\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Can be completed in one calendar year as a full time student<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Does not cover stipend, healthcare, or tuition<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Students complete 30 graduate-level credits and an internship or capstone project but do not complete a master\u2019s thesis.<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">This program is geared towards professionals in non-research fields (e.g., maritime companies in consulting, construction, shipping, resource and energy development, port management, the uniformed marine services &#8211; Navy, Coast Guard, and NOAA Corps, government agencies, and environmental organizations) who would benefit from graduate oceanography education but do not intend to conduct oceanographic research<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/professional\/5th-year-master-of-oceanography\/\">5th-Year MO program<\/a> is available to URI undergraduates who wish to begin earning credits toward an M.O. while they work on their bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/online\/programs\/graduate\/master-of-oceanography\/\">Online Masters of Oceanography<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Typically 2 years to complete in 7-week asynchronous sessions that can be completed while working full time.<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Students complete 30 graduate-level credits<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">This program is geared towards professionals in non-research fields (e.g., maritime companies in consulting, construction, shipping, resource and energy development, port management, the uniformed marine services &#8211; Navy, Coast Guard, and NOAA Corps &#8211; government agencies and environmental organizations) who would benefit from graduate oceanography education but do not intend to conduct oceanographic research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/academics\/blue-mba\/\">Blue MBA<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Typically 2 years to complete<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Dual-degree program that merges the Master of Business Administration (MBA) with the Master of Oceanography (MO)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Funding Options at URI-GSO<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Acceptance into URI-GSO Graduate Programs in Oceanography is separate from funding support. It is imperative that prospective students maintain open communication with prospective advisors about funding plans.<\/li>\n<li>Funding is often one of the biggest barriers to graduate school. We get far more excellent applications than we have funds to support. We highly recommend contacting potential advisors early (e.g., late summer, early fall of the year you plan to apply) to discuss funding options, explore fellowships etc.<\/li>\n<li>Examples of typical funding options\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA):\n<ul>\n<li>Students on GRAs are funded through research grants obtained by the major advisor and come with expectations of conducting graduate research related to the funded work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Teaching Assistantships (TA):\n<ul>\n<li>Students funded on TAs are paid by the University to assist in delivering course work.<\/li>\n<li>While TA-ing is an option in the URI-GSO graduate program, our program has limited TA allotments and we do not expect, nor could we facilitate, students TA-ing their way through their graduate program. TAs are typically reserved for current students and not typically available as funding for incoming students.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\">Fellowships: Students are highly encouraged to apply for graduate fellowships. To do so, prospective students should contact potential advisors early (e.g., late summer, early fall of the year you plan to apply) to discuss potential fellowship options and application procedures\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square\">URI Fellowships: URI provides a fellowship for new, incoming students. This fellowship will support incoming graduate students for one or two years with subsequent semesters supported by grants or departmental funding.&nbsp; Submission of applications will be done by&nbsp; the URI-GSO graduate program and not by the individual student.\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/graduate-school\/funding\/deans-fellowship-for-new-students\/\">Dean&#8217;s Fellowship for New Students<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square\">External Fellowships: There are a number of potential external fellowships. These fellowships usually require developing a personal essay, a research proposal, multiple letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a CV. These fellowships typically provide multiple years of graduate stipend and tuition support and are highly competitive. For example:\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nsfgrfp.org\/\">NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (Due in Oct)<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ndseg.org\/\">National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (Due in Oct)<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\"><a href=\"http:\/\/fosterscholars.noaa.gov\/\">NOAA Nancy Foster Scholarship (Due in Dec)<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle\"><a style=\"font-family: Charter, Georgia, serif;font-size: 20px\" href=\"http:\/\/sites.nationalacademies.org\/PGA\/FordFellowships\/index.htm\">Ford Foundation Fellowship (Due in Dec)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>For More Information<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"uri-people-tool cl-tiles halves\"><div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/meet\/rob-pockalny\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"364\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/RPockalny_Jan2023-e1674845387724-364x364.jpg\" class=\"u-photo third_column wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/RPockalny_Jan2023-e1674845387724-364x364.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/RPockalny_Jan2023-e1674845387724-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/RPockalny_Jan2023-e1674845387724-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/RPockalny_Jan2023-e1674845387724-768x767.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/RPockalny_Jan2023-e1674845387724-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/RPockalny_Jan2023-e1674845387724-1000x999.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/RPockalny_Jan2023-e1674845387724-1280x1279.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/RPockalny_Jan2023-e1674845387724.jpg 1345w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/meet\/rob-pockalny\/\">Rob Pockalny<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">Acting Associate Dean of Academic &amp; Student Affairs; Associate Marine Research Scientist<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\">Marine Geology and Geophysics <\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-misc\"><span class=\"p-tel\">401.874.6926<\/span> <br> <a class=\"u-email\" href=\"mailto:rpockalny@uri.edu\">rpockalny@uri.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ready to come aboard?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1726,"featured_media":0,"parent":114891,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-115918","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/115918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1726"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=115918"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/115918\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":191762,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/115918\/revisions\/191762"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/114891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=115918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}