Complete at least 72 credits of graduate coursework.. The Program of Study for a doctoral degree, if the student has a master’s degree, must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above. For a doctoral degree, if the student does not have a master’s degree, the Program of Study must include at least 30 credits at the level of 6000 or above. An overall GPA of 3.3 or higher and individual course grades of B or higher (in all degree-program coursework) are required.

Successfully complete a written dissertation research proposal, present that proposal orally to the committee, and defend it during an oral examination. The oral examination will include questions of a deep and probing nature and may range beyond the dissertation proposal into geoscience areas unrelated to the student’s specialization.

Successfully complete and defend a dissertation. The dissertation will be a written document and should consist of several products submitted or accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed venue. The defense will be oral, including a presentation of the work and successful defense of the work to the faculty. Dissertations must be submitted to the Merrill-Cazier Library.

Geosciences graduate students using department or University facilities and/or under Geosciences faculty supervision must register for a minimum of 3 credits every semester, up to and including the semester in which the dissertation is cleared by the School of Graduate Studies.

A doctorate must be completed within eight years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review. Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.

Students must submit and obtain approval of academic forms required for doctoral students by the School of Graduate Studies.

• Degree Verification: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program. An official transcript must be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies.
• Overall Graduate GPA at least 3.0 and no grades of C- or lower: Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for Degree Plan courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.
• Course Number Acceptability: The program of study for a PhD Degree Plan cannot include more than 12 semester credits of courses at the 5000 level. Credits in courses numbered below 5000-level are not accepted for this Degree Plan.
• Matriculation Start Semester: A PhD degree must be completed within eight years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s advisor and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.
• Coursework Validity: Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.
• Doctoral form approvals:

o Supervisory Committee submitted by the end of the second semester
o Program of Study submitted by the end of the second semester
o Application for Candidacy
o Authorship and Copyright
o Dissertation Format and Style
o Appointment for Examination (submitted 10 days before date of defense)
o Record of Examination
o Title Page
o Graduation application

• Students in the PhD Geosciences Degree Plan program are required to take 42 credits beyond an MS degree. Students with a Bachelor’s degree entering a PhD Degree Plan program are required to take 70 credits beyond a BS degree.

Geology - PhD

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Program Overview

Program Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes