Degree Requirements for the Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences

A student may not become a candidate for the Ph.D. degree without first fulfilling the requirements for the M.A. and M.Phil. degrees. Specific course requirements will vary depending on the student's chosen area of research.

Requirements for the MA degree:

This degree is prerequisite to the M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees unless the student has been awarded two Residence Units of advanced standing.

Program of study: To be approved by an advisory committee designated by the department.

Length of program: No fewer than two Residence Units and no more than four. (MA must be completed in two years.)

Points of E-credit: Twenty approved course points; removal of admissions deficiencies.

Field requirement: Students in terrestrial and marine geology and in solid earth geophysics and planetary science programs are advised to take a field course.

Languages: None.

Examination: Written submission of the results of two research projects, and successful oral presentation of these results to the student's advisory committee.

Requirements for the M.Phil. degree:

This degree is prerequisite to the Ph.D. degree.

Length of program: The degree is to be completed by the end of the fourth year of study, except for those students granted advanced standing, who must complete the degree by the end of the third year of study.

Residence Units: Six full-time, including those earned for the MA degree.

Points of E-credit: Minimum of forty-five approved course points (including those earned for the MA degree), including seminar courses but excluding research points.

Required courses:

At least 10 points outside the student's program of study and in a major subdivision within the department (geology/petrology/mineralogy; marine geology and geophysics; solid earth geophysics; terrestrial geology/paleontology; oceanography; atmospheric science);
an approved field course required of candidates in the first four subdivisions listed above; and
courses prescribed by the department subdivision.

Languages: No formal requirement; students in certain disciplines may be asked to show proficiency in a foreign language if their advisor or their research requires it.

Apprenticeship: To be served in laboratory or field research and approved by the student's advisory committee.

Examination: A two-hour oral certifying examination, which must be taken by the end of the third academic year, consisting of questioning and discussion centered on the student's major and minor fields and research, but also in general earth sciences. Performance in the certifying examination determines whether or not the student may continue in residence toward the Ph.D. degree upon completion of the M. Phil. Degree

Thesis Proposal: Within six months of successfully completing the certifying exam, students must present a thesis proposal to their advisory committee (and invited guests, if any).

Requirements for the Ph.D. degree:

The MA and M.Phil. Degrees are prerequisite to the Ph.D. degree.

Recommended length of program: Five years, including the earning of the MA and M.Phil. Degrees, at least one year of which should be spent in preparing the dissertation.

For certification to the Ph.D. examination: Dissertation must have been approved by the candidate's advisory committee.

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