Arid Lands Resource Sciences (PHD)

Required Documents include:

• A completed Graduate College application form for admission;

• One official transcript from each university/college attended;

• A $85.00 application fee for domestic students, and $95.00 application fee for international students.

As stated in The University of Arizona Graduate Catalog, the Arid Lands Resource Sciences Executive Committee must approve all applicants for this degree program. To assist the committee in an orderly review, we have found it advantageous to circulate among members a dossier covering those areas of most concern to the committee members. Although providing all information requested may require considerable time to prepare, the thoroughness and orderliness of the dossier is a measure of the applicant's maturity, one of the criteria by which the applicant is evaluated by the committee. The completed dossier should consist of the following:

1. Official transcripts of all previous college or university work.

2. Graduate Records Examination scores no more than five years old.

3. Proof of English proficiency is required for any international applicant born in a country where English is not the official language. 
   Acceptable English Proficiency Credentials can be found at:
   https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/requirements/international-applicants#english-proficiency

4. A list of publications and special papers (whether published or not). Reprints of journal articles are helpful but not necessary.

5. A minimum of three letters of reference. Letters should be from academic advisors as well as from professional supervisors.

6. A curriculum vitae, giving name, date and place of birth, resume of professional work with dates of employment and identification of all previous and present employers, membership in professional organizations, academic awards, professional honors, and any other pertinent information that may be useful to the committee in evaluating your qualifications for the degree program.

7. A brief statement, submitted separately or as part of your curriculum vitae, setting forth your long-range professional plans, such as the type of work you plan to pursue upon completion of the doctoral program.

8. A proposed graduate program, which should include two basic areas:

   1. While not necessary, you may list specific courses by title and number. A general statement showing the relationship of various disciplines within your program is sufficient.

   2. A brief description of the type of research you plan to undertake for your dissertation.

9. Applicants should specify one or more faculty members with whom they may wish to work. Applicants may learn more about the interests and research programs of ALRS faculty by (1) consulting the ALRS website (2) consulting the home pages of the faculty members' home departments, or (3) contacting faculty members directly (e-mail addresses provided on the ALRS website). Applicants who have contacted potential mentors are more likely to be admitted to the program, while otherwise well-qualified applicants may not be accepted if there is no mentor to match the applicant's stated interests.

10. It is clearly understood that in many cases it will be difficult to delineate a research program without benefit of the advance course work that you will be pursuing. Nonetheless, your ability to identify a research project which can make a meaningful contribution to the understanding or solution of worldwide problems of arid lands is also a demonstration of your ability to complete an interdisciplinary doctoral program. The program is flexible enough so that you may, with the consent of advisor and dissertation committee, change the direction of your research, provided it is consistent with the goal of making a meaningful contribution to our knowledge of arid lands.

    Dossier materials are to be uploaded in UA Grad App at: https://apply.grad.arizona.edu/users/login

Required test(s):
Required GRE Subject tests: general test only (No scores more than 5 years old) 

Minimum GRE Verbal: 130-170, in 1 point increments
Minimum GRE Quantitative:  130-170, in 1 point increments
Minumum GRE Written: 0-6, in half point increments
Minimum MAT:
Minimum TOEFL:  79 internet based  (IBT) 550 paper based (PB) required for international students or
Minimum IELTS:   7 (no subject area below a 6) for international students
Minimum Pearson PTE Academic
Minimum Minimum CEPT:   110 on Full Academic test for international students

For more information on the English Proficiency requirement, please click here

GraduateTuition Scholarships and Graduate College Fellowships

The ALRS Graduate Interdisciplinary Program receives a limited amount of funding for graduate tuition scholarships and fellowships.  The awards are based upon academic merit.  Current students must indicate their desire to be considered for these awards on their annual report which is due on March 15th of each year.  New students should submit their request for consideration for these awards in writing to the graduate coordinator by March 15th.

Graduate Research/Teaching Assistantships

Students are encouraged to contact appropriate faculty to determine if funding is available for research or teaching assistantships.  The terms of these assistantships are negotiated between the faculty and student and are administered by the department that houses the funding from which the assistantship will be supported.  Also, each year the Graduate Interdisciplinary Administrative Office coordinates the recruitment and placement of Tier One teaching assistantships.  Again, students are encouraged to apply and participate in these teaching opportunities.  Application procedures and deadline will be circulated when they are made available.

Miscellaneous Funding Opportunities

Other funding opportunities include but are not limited to Peace Corp Fellows Program, Graduate Student Research Fund, AHSS: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Graduate Fellowships,  Minority Graduate Student Research Fund, Summer Research Support Program, Minority Academic Assistance Program, Minority Student Travel Fund, Graduate and Professional Student Travel Grant Fund, Travel Incentive Program, the Dean's Fellowship Program in the Graduate College, Michael A. Cusanovich Research Fellowship, The Herbert E. Carter Travel Award and the Raphael & Jolene Gruener Research Travel Awards in the Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs and the William E. McGinnies Fellowship.  All awards are competitive and meritorious.

Domestic and International Applicants:

• Fall: December 1st
• Spring: August 1st

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.