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PhD in Earth and Environmental Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Earth & Environmental Science:


Doctor of Philosophy in Earth and Environmental Science with Dissertation in Geology

Students of exceptional ability, as demonstrated in previous courses or in a master’s degree program, may pursue a program leading to the doctoral degree. The prospective doctoral candidate in Earth and environmental science with specialization in geology should develop a good background in geology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, in addition to achieving a high level of competence in the field of specialization. Ph.D. students must include three credits of GEOL 592 and at least six credit hours of GEOL 593, unless the degree is completed in a shorter time. Additional information is found under the Graduate Program (page 46). Research fields appropriate for the geology candidate include petrology, volcanology, mineral deposits, geochronology, stable isotopes, environmental geology, coal geology, geohydrology, sedimentation and stratigraphy, regional tectonics, and structural geology. Interdisciplinary programs in the Earth science fields are encouraged.

Doctor of Philosophy in Earth and Environmental Science with Dissertation in Geochemistry

Students of exceptional ability as demonstrated in previous courses or in a master’s degree program may pursue a program leading to the doctoral degree. The prospective doctoral candidate in Earth and environmental science with specialization in geochemistry should develop a good background in chemistry, geology, mathematics, and physics in addition to achieving a high level of competence in the field of specialization. Ph.D. students must include three credit hours of GEOC 592 and at least six credit hours of GEOC 593, unless the degree is completed in a shorter time. Additional information is found under the Graduate Program (page 46). Fields of doctoral dissertation research include geochemistry of ore deposits, trace element and isotope geochemistry of igneous and metamorphic systems, fluid‐ inclusion geochemistry, geochronology, hydrogeochemistry, stable isotope geochemistry, and environmental geochemistry. Interdisciplinary programs in the Earth science fields are encouraged.

Doctor of Philosophy in Earth and Environmental Science with Dissertation in Geophysics

Students of exceptional ability as demonstrated by previous academic achievement may pursue a program leading to the doctoral degree. The prospective doctoral candidate in Earth and environmental science with specialization in physics of the solid Earth should develop a solid background in physics, mathematics, and geology in addition to achieving a high level of competence in the field of geophysics. With the approval of the advisory committee, the student should select a program including a minimum of nine credit hours in graduate geophysics beyond the M.S. degree, three credit hours of GEOP 592, at least four credit hours of GEOP 593, unless the degree is completed in a shorter time, plus additional courses in related fields. Research fields appropriate for the geophysics candidate include crustal exploration, earthquake seismology, tectonophysics,  environmental, and hydrogeothermal studies. Interdisciplinary programs in the Earth science fields are encouraged.

Doctor of Philosophy in Earth and Environmental Science with Dissertation in Hydrology

Students of exceptional ability as demonstrated in previous courses or in a master’s degree program may pursue a program leading to the doctoral degree. The prospective doctoral candidate in Earth and environmental science with specialization in hydrology should develop a good background in physics, mathematics, chemistry, and geology in addition to achieving a high level of competence in the field of specialization. With approval of the advisory committee, the student should select a program including a minimum of nine credits in graduate hydrology beyond the M.S. degree, three credits of HYD 592, plus additional courses in related fields. Some appropriate courses are given under the Master of Science degree requirements. Research fields appropriate for the doctoral candidate include regional hydrology, groundwater recharge, vadose zone hydrology, stochastic subsurface hydrology, hydrogeochemistry, isotope hydrology, hydroclimatology, pollutant transport, aquifer restoration, multi‐phase flow of immiscible fluids, deterministic and stochastic numerical aquifer simulation, finite difference and finite element numerical methods, and field instrumentation. Interdisciplinary programs in the Earth science fields are encouraged.

Doctor of Philosophy in Earth and Environmental Science with Dissertation in Geobiology

Students of exceptional ability as demonstrated in previous courses or in a master’s degree program may pursue a program leading to the doctoral degree. The prospective doctoral candidate in Earth and environmental science with specialization in geobiology should develop a good background in chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics, and biology in addition to achieving a high level of competence in the fi eld of specialization. With the approval of the advisory committ ee, the student should select a program including a minimum of nine credit hours in graduate coursework beyond the M.S. degree, three credit hours of GEOB 592 and at least six credit hours of GEOB 593, unless the degree is completed in a shorter time.  Fields of doctoral dissertation research include geomicrobiology, biogeochemical cycling, biologically mediated diagenesis, biological mineral precipitation and dissolution, isotopic geochemistry of biologically mediated processes, origin and early evolution of life, paleobiology, paleontology, and astrobiology. Interdisciplinary programs in the Earth science fields are encouraged.

Additional details, including course descriptions, are in the College Catalog.

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