The Ph.D. program in Earth and Environmental Sciences spans the social, natural, and physical sciences, encouraging students to pursue diverse topics.
From its inception in 1983, the Ph.D. Program in Earth and Environmental Sciences has identified itself with "promoting teaching and research in the study of the earth." With faculty in atmospheric sciences, environmental sciences, geography, and geology, the Earth and Environmental Sciences program at The Graduate Center spans a broad array of subjects focusing on the earth, its environments, human activities, and the linkages between them.
Whether they are paleontologists or cultural geographers, Earth and Environmental Sciences students become part of a strong academic community supported by our accomplished faculty who foster curiosity and the pursuit of social justice.
Our Program
Graduate Center students are encouraged to work across disciplines. This interdisciplinary approach is supported by our accomplished faculty members who have a variety of research interests. Along the path to degree, students are encouraged to attend academic conferences, write articles to submit for publication, and many will teach undergraduate courses at a CUNY college.
Students must complete 4-5 core courses and can choose elective courses within the Earth and Environmental Sciences program and in other doctoral programs at The Graduate Center. Most required courses and courses for the Geography specialization are conducted at The Graduate Center, while laboratory courses and courses for the Environmental and Geological Sciences specialization are offered at the various affiliated departments throughout CUNY.
Earth and Environmental Sciences hosts a weekly colloquium and is part of an inter-university consortium that allow students to further discuss and pursue their research while working with colleagues within CUNY and from other schools in the region.
Graduates of the program go on to work in academia and in the public and private sector.
Specializations
Our students have the unique opportunity to study both the physical and human environments simultaneously, or to focus on specific subjects within the program's specializations, Environmental and Geological Sciences, and Geography. The faculty has a strong commitment to education and research in Environmental and Geological Sciences, and Geography.
The specialization in Environmental and Geological Sciences offers research opportunities in a broad spectrum of Earth-focused science, including topics of classical geology; studies of Earth's fluid envelopes; and applying combinations of geology, biology, chemistry, and physics to studying Earth's diverse environments and their ecosystems. The program has four core areas: Atmospheric and Hydrologic Sciences; Terrestrial, Estuarine, and Marine Studies; Earth Materials and Earth Processes; and Urban Environments and Public Health.
Read more about the specialization in Environmental and Geological Sciences
The specialization in Geography provides an opportunity to pursue doctoral studies in one of the world's largest and most dynamic metropolitan locations with a diverse faculty at The Graduate Center and at Hunter College, Lehman College, and the College of Staten Island within the CUNY system. The program has five core areas: Geographic Information Science; Geography and Social Theory; Physical Geography; Urban and Regional Dynamics; and Geographic Education.
Read more about the specialization in Geography
Prospective Students
Our students are diverse, and we welcome those who are passionate about their studies and have varied interests. We are a public institution with opportunities for fellowships and financial aid; many of our students graduate debt-free.
Annually, the Earth and Environmental Sciences program admits 12 full-time students -- 6 in the Environmental and Geological Sciences specialization and 6 in the Geography specialization.
For more information visit the admissions and aid page, and explore our courses and paths to degree.
Please note: The annual admissions deadline is December 15. The GRE and TOEFL are not required for students applying to EES in 2020.
Hear From Our Students and Professors
Students and professors talk about their research, the diverse academic nature of the Earth and Environmental Sciences program, and why they are thriving at The Graduate Center.
Contact Us
Monica Varsanyi
Professor
Graduate Center
Room 4306.01
Kieren Howard
Graduate Center
Room 4300
Judy Li
Assistant Program Officer
Graduate Center
Room 4306
Benjamin DeMott
College Assistant
Graduate Center
Room 4306
Monica Varsanyi
Professor
Graduate Center
Room 4306.01