Program Overview

Overview

The Ph.D. in Marine Geosciences program at the University of Miami is designed to educate and train students to become the next generation of scientists conducting research in and teaching geology and geophysics, geochemistry, and environmental geosciences. During their Ph.D. degree, MGS students use pioneering remote sensing and seismic techniques to assess the Earth’s crustal movement and other physical processes in terrestrial, marine, and coastal zones.

Admission Requirements

The undergraduate student wishing to prepare for graduate work in the marine geosciences must be well trained in the basic sciences. The GRE score is not required for admission. You may optionally submit your GRE score, but not all faculty will consider this information. Individual faculty members may consider GRE scores as part of a holistic evaluation of the candidates. Applicants whose first language is not English must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 550.

Curriculum Requirements

The MGS Ph.D. degree requires 60 total credits.

• Course Requirements: 6
  • All MGS students must complete two of the following courses:
    • MGS 611: Earth Surface Processes
    • MGS 613: Introductory Geochemistry
    • MGS 614: Geophysics
• Electives: 24
• Dissertation Research: 30
  • MGS 830: Doctoral Dissertation
• Required Examinations:
  • Comprehensive Examination
  • Qualifying Examination
• Additional Requirements:
  • RSM 700: Research Ethics
  • MGS Seminar
  • MGS 701: Seminar in Marine Geosciences
  • THE GEOTOPICS Lecture Series
  • Educational Training Program (TA)
    • RSM 771: Educational Training 1
    • RSM 772: Educational Training 2
    • RSM 773: Educational Training 3

Comprehensive Examination

All students who enroll in the MGS academic program starting in the Fall semester are required to take a comprehensive examination by the end of their third semester. The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to evaluate the student’s understanding of fundamental principles, reasoning skills, and to determine if any basic deficiencies are present in the student’s background up to three semesters of classes.

Qualifying Examination

Ph.D. students are required to take the qualifying examination by the end of the third year. The purpose of the exam is to determine the students' understanding of general principles of geology, geochemistry, and geophysics, knowledge of the student’s individual specialty, and knowledge of the student's peripheral and supporting disciplines.

Sample Plan of Study

A sample plan of study is provided, outlining the course requirements and credit hours for each semester.

Mission

The mission of the MGS Ph.D. program is to educate and train students to become the next generation of scientists conducting research in and teaching geology and geophysics, geochemistry, and environmental geosciences.

Goals

To educate and train students to become the next generation of scientists conducting research and education in the areas of marine geology and geophysics, geochemistry, and environmental geosciences.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students in the MGS Ph.D. program will demonstrate a broad comprehension of marine and Earth science, and then use this knowledge to develop an independent scientific research topic of sufficient quality and originality to lead to a Ph.D. dissertation.
• Each student will prepare an original Ph.D. dissertation that demonstrates their ability to critically evaluate scientific literature, comprehend previous knowledge on a topic, formulate testable hypotheses, and independently use available data and tools to produce a significant original contribution on the topic.
• Students will demonstrate good oral communication skills and be able to effectively communicate and defend their scientific findings to a peer audience.