项目介绍

2022年4月28日

COURSES:

Course work requirements are flexible, and courses are selected under the advisement of the graduate student’s advisory committee based on the area of concentration. Students are expected to complete eight courses by the end of the semester in which they take the general exam. The eight courses must include GEO 505 and 506 – Fundamentals of the Geosciences, and at least two graduate-level or appropriate-level undergraduate courses outside their field of expertise. Courses must be taken for a grade when the graded option is offered, and the average of the graded courses is expected to be B or higher.

Students must also take GEO/AOS 503 – Responsible Conduct of Research in Geosciences, which does not count towards the eight courses.PRE-GENERALS REQUIREMENT(S):

Research paper and thesis proposal
There are several benchmark research requirements in the first two years of the Ph.D. program. These include a research proposal in the fall of the first year, a progress report in the spring of the first year, and a public presentation in the fall of the second year.

Students must submit a high-quality research paper summarizing the first two years of research to the general examination committee at least one week before the general examination.  While the research paper does not need to be ready for publication, the paper should be of a sufficient scholarly level to warrant submission to a peer-reviewed journal. The research accomplishments should indicate a reasonable level of productivity, and the interpretation should indicate knowledge of the literature and excellent critical thinking.

A short thesis proposal clearly expressing the justification for and direction of the future thesis work (which may or may not be the same as the research conducted before the general exam) is required. GENERAL EXAM:

The general examination for advancement to Ph.D. candidacy is normally taken before the end of the second year of graduate work. The examination is designed to establish the student’s depth and breadth of knowledge in the chosen fields of specialization, advancement in scholarly research methods, and the ability to organize and present research material. The examination is based in part on the written report described above and also contains an oral component to be carried out in front of a committee of 3-5 faculty members.

During the general examination, a student is expected to demonstrate competence and professional expertise in the geosciences, and related fields as relevant to the student’s research interests and courses are taken. Accordingly, the examination is designed to explore: (1) the student’s ability to organize and conduct an original research program and to present research results and material, (2) the student’s depth of knowledge in the chosen fields of specialization, and (3) breadth in the geological and related sciences.

A typical examination consists of two parts: the research paper and thesis proposal and two topics of expertise selected by the student. The exam does not normally last longer than 3 hours. The first half of the exam covers the research paper and the thesis proposal, beginning with a student presentation of 20 minutes in length. Each committee member will question the student on the student’s research area. Then, after a short break, the second part of the exam covers the two topics selected by the student. Each committee member will ask questions testing the student’s general knowledge of the basic science underlying the areas of specialization and fundamental concepts in Earth sciences and related disciplines.

During the general examination, a student is expected to demonstrate competence and professional expertise in the geosciences, and related fields as relevant to the student’s research interests and courses are taken. Accordingly, the examination is designed to explore: (1) the student’s ability to organize and conduct an original research program and to present research results and material, (2) the student’s depth of knowledge in the chosen fields of specialization, and (3) breadth in the geological and related sciences.

A typical examination consists of two parts: the research paper and thesis proposal and two topics of expertise selected by the student.   The exam does not normally last longer than 3 hours.  The first half of the exam covers the research paper and the thesis proposal, beginning with a student presentation of 20 minutes in length.  Each committee member will question the student on the student’s research area. Then, after a short break, the second part of the exam covers the two topics selected by the student. Each committee member will ask questions testing the student’s general knowledge of the basic science underlying the areas of specialization and fundamental concepts in earth sciences and related disciplines.QUALIFYING FOR THE M.A.:

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy. It is earned after a student successfully completes a minimum of seven courses and passes the general examination. It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, with approval from their advisory committee, provided these requirements have been met.

Under some circumstances, students may decide before the general exam that they do not wish to continue in the Ph.D. program but wish to qualify for a master’s degree (M.A.) from the department. In this case, the student should discuss this option with the adviser and advisory committee well in advance. The general exam for an M.A. degree is similar to that for Ph.D. candidacy but will not include the defense of a research plan. TEACHING:

All graduate students are required to participate in the instruction of undergraduates for at least one term (one term as a full assistant in instruction, or two terms as half-time assistant in instruction) as a significant part of their education.DISSERTATION AND FPO:

The dissertation shows that the candidate has technical mastery in the chosen field and is capable of independent research. It is expected to be a positive contribution to knowledge, consisting of a new scientific generalization, a new body of integrated facts that carries scientific implications that extend beyond itself, or a substantial improvement in technique or procedure.

The final public oral examination includes a 45-minute presentation by the candidate that summarizes the dissertation. Candidates are then expected to respond to questions relating to their research and to wide-ranging questions about related subjects.

The Ph.D. will be awarded once the dissertation has been approved and the final public oral has been completed.