Program Overview

Geology PhD Program

The Geology PhD Program is a comprehensive program that requires a minimum of 90 credits for post-baccalaureate students and 60 credits for post-master's students. The program duration is 5 years.

Graduate Research

• The Graduate Research course (GEOL7005) should be taken during the fall semester of the first year, with a minimum credit of 1.
  • Course | Title/Desc | Credit ---|---|--- GEOL7005 | Graduate Research (C min) | 1

Geology Colloquium

• Students must register for GEOL7025 each semester for a total of 8 credit hours.
  • Course | Title/Desc | Credit ---|---|--- GEOL7025 | Geology Colloquium (C min) | 1

Dissertation Research and Coursework

• The student will take a combination of Dissertation Research credits and graduate-level coursework to reach a minimum of 51 credit hours.
  • Dissertation Research:
    • Students enroll in a minimum of 1 credit of GEOL9001 each semester for a total minimum of 8 credit hours.
    • Course | Title/Desc | Credit ---|---|--- GEOL9001 | PhD Dissertation Research (C min) | 8 - 15
  • Graduate-level Coursework:
    • Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 hours of lecture- and lab-based courses.
    • These courses may be taken from the GEOL discipline or related disciplines in the College of Arts & Sciences and in the College of Engineering & Applied Science.
    • GEOL7030 may not be used toward this requirement.

Credit Hours

• The minimum number of credit hours can vary based on previously earned credits and/or the level of placement into required coursework.
• The typical minimum number of credit hours students must complete is explained above.