Graduate Studies at CERI

Graduate Admissions

Graduate Student Handbook

Graduate Course Offerings

Current Students

Thesis and Dissertation Titles

Graduate Student FAQs

Colloquium Schedule

Memphis Attractions and Discounts

FAQ’s for Graduate Student Applicants

  1. What graduate degrees are offered in the geophysics graduate program through the Department of Earth Sciences (DES)?

  2. How do I apply to the University of Memphis (U of M) Graduate School and how much does it cost?

  3. How do I apply to CERI?

  4. May I start my Graduate Program in the spring semester?

  5. Does CERI offer graduate research assistantships and fellowships?

  6. Does CERI also pay semester tuition for graduate assistants?

  7. Who do I contact about a graduate research assistantship at CERI?

  8. Should I notify anyone at CERI that I am interested in applying to the Graduate School and studying geophysics?

  9. What are the application deadlines?

  10. If I have missed the application deadline date, may I still apply?

  11. Should I apply before I have taken my GRE or TOEFL exams?

  12. If my plans change, will I be able to change the enrollment date on my already submitted application and is there a fee?

  13. What other documents do I send to the Admissions Office?

  14. What supporting documents do I send to CERI and where do I send them?

  15. If I send the supporting documents to CERI, will they be forwarded to the department for review?

  16. What steps are involved in the review process for CERI graduate assistant applicants?

  17. Who do I contact to arrange a CERI visit?

  18. What geophysics courses are offered to graduate students at CERI through the DES?

  19. What are the requirements for a graduate research assistant at CERI?

  20. Do my previous degrees need to be in one of the earth sciences in order to be considered at CERI?

  21. What type of computers and computer software do graduate students use at CERI?

  22. When and how will I be notified that I have been accepted to the U of M and to CERI?

  23. When will I receive information about my financial support?

  24. If I apply to the Graduate School as an international student, will CERI pay to have my credentials translated and evaluated?

  25. Do CERI graduate research students also teach lab courses in the department?

  26. Who do I contact to answer my questions about international visas and I20’s?

  27. What are my on-campus and off-campus housing options?

  28. May I contact current CERI students for housing and roommate options?

  29. What shots are required of U of M students?

  30. May I take any of the required shots before I arrive at the U of M?

  31. Do I need to get a Social Security Number before I can be employed as a Graduate Assistant at the U of M?

  32. What will I do the first week I arrive at CERI?

  33. Will all of my geophysics courses be taught by CERI faculty members?

  34. When do I need to arrive to begin my first semester?

  35. When will I register for classes?

  36. Where can I find information about Memphis attractions?

Answers

1. What graduate degrees are offered in geophysics through the
Department of Earth Sciences (DES)?
Master’s degree (MS) in Earth Sciences and Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Earth Sciences

2. How do I apply to the University of Memphis (U of M) Graduate School and how much does it cost?
Complete the online application on the U of M Graduate School at www.memphis.edu/gradschool. The cost to submit a Domestic student application is $35 and it is $60 for an International student application.

3. How do I apply to CERI?
Since CERI is affiliated with the Department of Earth Sciences, it only necessary to complete the online application to the University of Memphis Graduate School at www.memphis.edu/gradschool and indicate Geophysics (GEOP) as the chosen concentration. Also, please contact Michelle Smith at CERI either by phone, (901) 678-4884, or email
address, mesmith@memphis.edu, so she can monitor the admission process and help answer any questions.

4. May I start my Graduate Program in the spring semester?
Yes. We have several students who began their graduate program in the Spring semester.

5. Does CERI offer graduate research assistantships and fellowships?
Yes. We offer full 12 month support to all CERI graduate research assistants.

6. Does CERI also pay semester tuition for graduate assistants?
Yes. CERI pays tuition for all CERI graduate research assistants.

7. Who do I contact about a graduate research assistantship at CERI?
Contact Michelle Smith at CERI either by phone, (901) 678-48884 or email, mesmith@memphis.edu.

8. Should I notify anyone at CERI that I am interested in applying to the Graduate School and studying geophysics?
Yes. Please contact Michelle Smith that you have officially applied to the U of M’s Graduate Program. Then, read about possible research projects available with each of our faculty members. If one looks interesting, please contact that faculty member for more details.

9. What are the application deadlines?
The Department of Earth Sciences require the application and supporting documents to be sent by January 15th for Fall admission and August 15th for Spring admission. Since Graduate Assistantships are highly competitive, early applications are encouraged. Exceptions are sometimes made for late applications.

10. If I have missed the application deadline date, may I still apply?
Yes. All applications will be considered. But, it is best to apply as early as possible.

11. Should I apply before I have taken my GRE or TOEFL exams?
Yes. It is best to submit your online application even though you have not taken the GRE or TOEFL exam. You may have the original GRE and TOEFL documents sent to Admissions later.

12. If my plans change, will I be able to change the enrollment date on my already submitted application and is there a fee?
If you have already submitted your admission application for one semester (example: Fall 2009), you may change the enrollment semester to another semester (example: Spring 2010). There is no fee for this change. The method to change this date is determined by your admission status. Please contact Michelle Smith, if this change is necessary.

13. What other documents do I need to send to the Admissions Office?
After you have submitted the online application, the following documents are also required to be sent to Admissions:

  1. Original transcripts – should be sent directly from the College or University

  2. Original GRE – should be sent directly from the testing center

  3. Original TOEFL for International students - should be sent directly from the testing center.

14. What supporting documents do I send to CERI and where do I send them?
While required transcripts are being sent to Admissions, certain supporting documents are also required to be sent to CERI, Attention: Michelle Smith, 3876 Central Ave., Ste. 1, Memphis, TN 38152:

  1. Statement of Research Interest – a letter briefly describing your research interests. Also include any future plans for your career, such as teaching, etc. This may be emailed or faxed to Michelle Smith at CERI’s address.

  2. Three signed Letters of Recommendation – signed letters from professors or other professionals who are familiar with your education and work. These signed letters may be faxed or mailed to Michelle Smith at CERI.

15. If I send the supporting documents to CERI, will they be forwarded to the department for review?
Yes. All of the documents that are sent to CERI will be duplicated in the Department of Earth Sciences office for faculty review.

16. What steps are involved in the review process for CERI graduate assistant applicants?
The graduate student review process has several steps.

  1. Once all of the required documents have been sent to both Admissions and CERI, Admissions will decide if the applicant meets all graduate degree requirements.

  2. If Admissions has given their approval, CERI and the Department of Earth Sciences (DES) review the student’s folder.

  3. The student’s folder is then presented to the DES Graduate Program Committee for a committee decision. Notification letters to the applicant will be made by Admissions and DES. CERI will also provide the student applicant an official Financial Offer Letter for the student to sign and return to CERI.

17. Who do I contact to arrange a visit to CERI?
Michelle Smith
Phone: (901) 678-4884
FAX: (901) 678-4734
mesmith@memphis.edu

18. What geophysics courses are offered to graduate students at CERI through the DES?
A list of available geophysics courses may be found on the CERI website, http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/graduate/courses.html.

19. What are the requirements for a graduate research assistant at CERI?
Graduate research assistants at CERI are required to regularly attend classes and conduct research 20 hours a week during the school year. Since the students do not attend classes in the Summer, they are required to conduct research 37.5 hours during the week.

20. Do my previous degrees need to be in one of the earth sciences in order to be considered at CERI?
No. Other degrees will give student applicants basic qualifications for the geophysics graduate program, such as Math, Physics, and Engineering.

21. What type of computers and computer software do graduate students use at CERI?
Our student labs at CERI contain PC, Mac, and Sun computers that have access to several geophysics programs.

22. When and how will I be notified that I have been accepted to the U of M and to CERI?
Acceptance letters will be mailed to you by the U of M Admissions and the Department of Earth Sciences. CERI will contact you by both email and mail with an official Financial Offer Letter for you to sign and return. This letter will specify all of the financial details for the graduate research assistant at CERI.

23. When will I receive information about my financial support?
After you have been accepted into the Graduate Program, CERI will notify you by both email and mail with an official Financial Offer Letter that will explain your support.

24. If I apply to the Graduate School as an international student, will CERI pay to have my credentials translated and evaluated?
Yes. CERI will arrange to have your credentials sent to Evaluation Services, Inc. (ESI). Your signature on the ESI application form will be needed. Michelle Smith will be in contact closely with you during this process. ESI does require official transcripts for this evaluation.

25. Do CERI graduate research students also teach lab courses in the department?
No. The reason is that they are considered research graduate students and not teaching assistants.

26. Who do I contact to answer my questions about international visas and I20’s?
Contact Mrs. Susan Cohn, International Student Services, at (901) 678-4015 or scohn@memphis.edu.

27. What are my on-campus and off-campus housing options?
If the student wishes to live on campus, the U of M has many dorms to choose from. Married housing on campus is also available. The student should contact campus housing for all options. There are plenty of apartments off campus and in walking distance to CERI. The student may contact Campus View Properties at (901) 324-0488 or Mynders Village Apartments at (866) 293-8080, ext. 4173 for off-campus apartments.

28. May I contact current CERI students for housing and roommate options?
Yes. Since we have students graduating every semester, the current students always need roommates. They will also be able to answer other questions that you may have about CERI or the university. Please visit the student contact list on the website.

29. What shots are required of U of M students?
All students are required to have 2 MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella) shots during their lifetime. The student must have the first MMR shot before registration. International students are also required to have a Tuberculosis (TB) skin test in the United States. Student Health Services does not give MMR shots to students, but they will give the TB test for a $15 fee.

30. May I take any of the required shots before I arrive in Memphis?
Yes. You may take the 2 MMR shots before arriving in Memphis. The Tuberculosis (TB) skin test must be taken in the United States. An official health document must be shown to the Health Center for proof of any prior shots before registration.

31. Do I need to get a Social Security Number before I can be employed as a Graduate Assistant at the U of M?
Yes. To apply for a Social Security Number you must contact the Social Security Administration at 1-866-336-2212. The closest office to the university is located at 1330 Monroe Ave., Memphis, TN 38104. It sometimes takes several weeks before a number is assigned.

32. What will I do the first week I arrive at CERI?
There will be several orientation meetings and luncheons that you will be required to attend. You will also meet with your Temporary Advising Committee at CERI to schedule and register for your first semester classes.

33. Will all of my geophysics courses be taught by CERI faculty members?
Yes.

34. When do I need to arrive to begin my first semester?
The Monday before semester classes begin.

35. When will I register for classes?
The first week that you arrive and after you have met with your Temporary Advisory Committee.

36. Where can I find information about Memphis attractions?
Click here.