Nature of the Program

The doctorate prepares the student for a research career, primarily by establishing a broad knowledge of one of the basic areas of geography, geology, or geophysics, and through the experience of successfully completing a dissertation of original research. The prescribed examinations will permit the student to demonstrate mastery of his or her chosen fields of expertise. The individual curriculum will reflect the student’s preparation and the demands of the dissertation topic selected, and will assure a strong general knowledge of Earth Sciences.

Admission Standards and Procedures

All prospective students must meet the minimum requirements for admission to the program as stipulated by The Graduate School (LINK). Meeting the minimum department standards does not entitle an applicant to admission. Meeting such standards only insures consideration of the application.

• Application Deadlines are November 1^st for consideration for Spring Semester Admission, and January 31^st for Fall Semester admission.  Decisions for both Spring and Fall semesters are made usually within 30 days after each respective deadline.  Early completion of applications is strongly suggested.

• Applicants must have a satisfactory academic record (equivalent to 32 credit hours) work in one or more of our core areas of geology, geography, archaeology, or environmental sciences.  Applicants deficient in undergraduate coursework, if admitted will be required to take course work to have deficiencies removed without graduate credit.  

• Applicants must have a minimum of a cumulative 2.75 or equivalent GPA for consideration for admission.

• All applications require copies of official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement of research interests, and a writing sample. The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is not required. 

• The department does not waive any fees whatsoever associated with applying to the University or the Graduate Program.

• International students, in addition to the above requirements, must also demonstrate English proficiency as per Graduate School requirements (Link). Students must have the following minimum scores on one of the four following exams:

• • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), 550 on paper, 80 internet version
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System), 6.5
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English), 59
  • Duolingo English Test, 110

• Applicants whose highest degree is from a foreign university are required to have their credentials evaluated by any credentialing agency listed on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services web site (www.naces.org).

• International Applicants have additional requirements beyond the scope of the department and are urged to consult information provided online by the Graduate School (Link).

• Although the deadline for Spring Semester admission is November 1^st of each cycle, International Applicants considering a Spring Semester start date should complete their applications at least 30 days prior to the deadline to ensure that visa, and other requirements can be completed in a timely manner. 

Program Requirements

1. Completion of a minimum of 72 semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 40 semester hours beyond the masters degree. The courses to be completed shall be determined in consultation with the student’s graduate committee.
2. Satisfactory performance on the Qualifying Examination. The Qualifying Examination will be given at the beginning of the third semester of residence, on or before a date set by the discipline Graduate Coordinator. At least one week prior to the examination date, a PhD student will present to his/her committee an abstract describing a topic that involves original research. The abstract should be no longer than one page and must describe an original concept or approach to a research problem with a suspected positive outcome deduced by the student. The subject may or may not become part of the dissertation. The exam will begin by the student giving a 15 to 20 minute presentation of the material in the abstract. An oral exam, not to exceed two hours, will follow covering (primarily) the topic described in the abstract but the questions can and should broaden to other areas.
3. Satisfactory completion of a Comprehensive Examination. The Comprehensive Examination will be given at the beginning of the fifth semester of residence, on a date set by the Graduate Coordinator. The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to determine the student’s understanding of the chosen field of specialization (“depth”) as well as general knowledge in earth sciences (“breadth”). The comprehensive examination will consist of a two-day (12 hours maximum) written examination followed no more than two days later by a two-hour oral examination. The oral examination will be used to clarify any points left in question by the written responses. A student should consult his or her dissertation advisor and graduate committee regarding the areas in which comprehension is expected.
4. Submission of two manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals or books.
5. Completion and successful defense of a dissertation: (ESCI 9000 ) at least 9 hours. NOTE: Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.