Program Overview

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Introduction to the Doctoral Degree Program

The Doctoral Degree program in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at Caltech is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in the earth and planetary sciences. The program is tailored to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to pursue a successful career in research and academia.

Program Requirements

To be eligible for the Doctoral Degree program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Pass the qualifying oral examination
• Satisfy course requirements of the division and of an option
• Complete a thesis and successfully defend it in a final oral examination

Division Requirements

The division requires students to:

• Pass the qualifying oral examination
• Satisfy course requirements of the division and of an option
• Complete a thesis and successfully defend it in a final oral examination

Qualifying Oral Examination

The qualifying oral examination is a critical component of the Doctoral Degree program. The examination consists of an oral and a written defense of two research propositions, supplemented by a written description of one of them. Students are encouraged to consult with various faculty members concerning their ideas on propositions, but the material submitted must represent the work of the student.

PhD Progress Timeline

The PhD progress timeline is as follows:

• By the end of the first academic year (third term): submission by the student of tentative titles of propositions for review by the qualifying examination committee
• By the end of the second academic year:
  • Passage of the oral exam
  • Approval by the option of the courses planned to satisfy candidacy requirements
  • Establishment of the adviser and the thesis advisory committee, and submission of a tentative thesis topic
  • Hold first TAC meeting
• By the end of the third academic year:
  • Satisfactory completion of the course requirements
  • Satisfactory completion of the other requirements, including selection of the thesis topic, the adviser, and the thesis advisory committee
  • Admission to candidacy—a student who has not been admitted to candidacy by the end of the third year will need permission of the Academic Officer to register
  • TAC meeting
• By the end of the fourth academic year:
  • Satisfactory progress toward completion of the thesis
  • TAC meeting
• By the end of the fifth academic year:
  • Satisfactory progress toward completion of the thesis
  • TAC meeting
• After completing the fifth academic year, the student must formally petition to register for each subsequent year, and financial aid will normally not be extended beyond the sixth year

Candidacy Applications

To allow time for grades to be finalized and for the processing of option approval, applications for candidacy will be on the agenda for the faculty meeting of the spring academic term. All candidacy applications will be reviewed at the May faculty meeting each year.

Procedures for Thesis Defense

The procedures for thesis defense are as follows:

• At least one month before the defense, the student must notify the division office of the title of their thesis, the names of the committee members, the date, and the time of their thesis exam.
• Two weeks before the defense, the student must provide a copy of their completed thesis to each of their committee members.
• One week before the defense, the division office will send a seminar announcement to the faculty.
• Following the defense, the student is responsible for reminding the members of their committee to approve their thesis and defense.

Research Areas

The Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences offers research opportunities in the following areas:

• Environmental Science and Engineering
• Geobiology
• Geochemistry
• Geology
• Geophysics
• Planetary Science

Conclusion

The Doctoral Degree program in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at Caltech is a comprehensive and rigorous program that provides students with the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to pursue a successful career in research and academia. The program is designed to equip students with a deep understanding of the earth and planetary sciences, and to provide them with the opportunity to conduct original research in their area of interest.