Geological Sciences, PhD

Location(s): Main Campus

The PhD program in Geological Sciences enables students to pursue advanced studies in the in the broad field of earth sciences. Graduate students are expected to demonstrate breadth of training in the departmental focus areas of Climate Science & Global Change, Environmental Geoscience, and Natural Resources & Energy. Students in this program take courses to strengthen their understanding of the broad principles and practices of the earth sciences, as well as to provide training within their chosen specialization. This program may be supported by coursework in appropriate allied sciences. Programs of study must be approved by a faculty advisor and the departmental graduate committee. Before undertaking the dissertation, the student is assigned an advisory committee consisting of faculty whose research interests are appropriate to the proposed problem.

Admission Requirements

Qualified students with either a bachelor’s or master’s degree who have demonstrated an understanding of fundamental problems in a wide range of Earth Science disciplines are eligible for admission into the PhD program.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

The department requires that all full-time PhD students complete a minimum of 33 credits by the end of their third semester. This includes at least six formal four-credit graduate courses. In so doing, each student also must satisfy the University residence requirement and the department’s research skill requirement.

Research Skill Requirement

The research skills requirement involves identifying a tangible research skill or skills that will be employed and mastered over the course of the research project. While full implementation of this research skill will occur over the course of the research project, it must be identified and initial work with this skill must commence prior to admission of PhD candidacy.

Exam Requirement

PhD students are required to pass the departmental qualifying examination and the above coursework for recommendation to candidacy. The qualifying exam is composed of two parts:

A general oral examination
Oral defense of a research prospectus that has been approved by the student’s advisory committee.

Granting of the Degree

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences is recommended for candidates who have completed an approved program, received approval of the dissertation by the departmental graduate committee and by the student’s advisory committee, passed an oral examination in defense of the dissertation and submitted an approved final copy of the dissertation.

Additional Information About the Program

For more information on the Geological Sciences PhD program, please refer to the Earth Sciences website. To apply to the Geological Sciences PhD program, please visit the University Admissions website.