Program Overview

Applied Geology - Ph.D.

Overview

The Ph.D. degree in Applied Geology prepares students for careers in industry and academic institutions where research into the application of geological principles focuses on solutions to basic and applied research questions. Focus areas include environmental research (water, surface and subsurface processes; geohazards; and natural resources), as well as evolution of earth's systems research (climate change, paleoecology and evolution, crustal processes).

Contact Information

• David Singer | |

Program Delivery

• Delivery: In person
• Location: Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

• Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
  • 1.9% slower than the average
  • 13,100 number of jobs
  • $94,520 potential earnings
• Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
  • 4.9% about as fast as the average
  • 31,800 number of jobs
  • $93,580 potential earnings
• Hydrologists
  • 5.3% faster than the average
  • 7,000 number of jobs
  • $84,040 potential earnings
• Natural sciences managers
  • 4.8% about as fast as the average
  • 71,400 number of jobs
  • $137,940 potential earnings

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority deadline: January 15
    Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

• Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours
  • ESCI 70084 | GEOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT ORIENTATION | 1
  • ESCI 70087 | WRITING IN THE EARTH SCIENCES | 1
  • Additional Requirements | 28-58
  • Culminating Requirement
    • ESCI 80199 | DISSERTATION I | 30
• Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Baccalaureate Students | 90
• Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Master's Students | 60

Graduation Requirements

• Graduation Requirements Summary
  • Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA
  • • | 3.000

Candidacy

• To be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree, a student must pass comprehensive written and oral examinations prior to the start of the fifth semester after admission to the doctoral program.
• The comprehensive examinations focus on mastery of the student’s major area of concentration and one minor area, as well as the fundamentals of geology and its allied sciences as appropriate to the student’s proposed dissertation topic.
• Students who fail the comprehensive examinations may be allowed to repeat them once; this must be completed more than one month after the initial examination, but less than six months thereafter.

Residency

• All students admitted to the doctoral program must complete two successive semesters of full-time graduate study at Kent State University.
• During this time they must obtain a minimum of 22 credit hours.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Graduates of this program will be able to:
  1. Show in-depth comprehension of several areas, including both basic and applied aspects of geology/earth sciences.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to formulate testable scientific hypotheses and carry out independent research using appropriate field, experimental, analytical and/or computational methods.
  3. Describe, synthesize and interpret the results of a scientific investigation and understand its broader applications.