Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science

The objective of the Ph.D. degree is to accomplish original, valid, and important research. Since the degree is the training ground for a career in academic teaching and scholarly research, the Ph.D. candidate must demonstrate the ability to do independent research. To earn the Ph.D., the candidate will: satisfy the Graduate School residence requirements, complete the coursework approved by the advisory committee, accomplish the required research and prepare a thesis embodying the research findings, and pass the examinations and complete the requirements prescribed by the Graduate Program and Graduate School.

Applicants may apply for admission to only one (1) program at a time.
For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either 1) a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or 2) a post-secondary degree that is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree earned from an officially recognized degree-granting international institution.
Ordinarily, an entering student must have completed in a satisfactory manner a minimum of course work in designated areas, the specific courses and amount of work depending upon the intended field of advanced study.
Admission is granted jointly by the Graduate School and the graduate program in which the student plans to study. The establishment of standards by which applicants are admitted is the responsibility of the graduate program.
International Students Admission Requirements
International applicants must hold either 1) a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or 2) a post-secondary degree that is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree earned from an officially recognized degree-granting international institution.
International applicants must submit official or attested university records, with certified translations if the records are not in English. Notarized copies are not sufficient.
The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. Individual graduate programs of study may require higher scores for admission.
TOEFL:
Internet-based test (iBT) - a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the internet-based test (iBT).
Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisional admission, with Graduate School approval, which requires completion of specified remedial English courses ESL 114G (American Oral English for Academic Purposes) and/or ESL 116G (ESL/Composition for Academic Disciplines) and attainment of a grade of B or higher within the first semester of enrollment.
Paper-based test (taken prior to July 2017) the minimum acceptable score is 550.
Paper-based test (taken July 2017 or later) a combined total of the 3 sections evaluated must be 60 or greater.
IELTS: The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS Academic Test is 6.5.
Scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are not required for admission but may be submitted if desired by the applicant.

For admission, an applicant should have at least a 3.25 grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale), and courses that are basic to the individual's field of specialization.
Three reference letters and a brief statement describing the applicant's academic goals, career interests, and special qualifications are required. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces available. Exceptions to admission requirements may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests, at the discretion of the program.

Admission to the Ph.D. program in Soil Science requires a master's degree in Soil Science or a closely related field, or a bachelor's degree along with exceptional qualifications, the support of the prospective adviser, and concurrence of the Graduate Programs Committee and the Department Head.