Program Quick Facts
Work leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is designed to give the candidate a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of his or her professional field and training in methods of research. The final basis for granting the degree shall be the candidate's grasp of the subject matter of a broad field of study and a demonstrated ability to do independent research. In addition, the candidate must have acquired the ability to express thoughts clearly and forcefully in both oral and written languages. The degree is not granted solely for the completion of coursework, residence and technical requirements, although these must be met.
Skills obtained by graduates from this degree program include knowing how to:
Skills obtained by graduates from this degree program include knowing how to:
- Explain the scope, significance and limitations of geological information to land and environment stewardship and civil infrastructure stakeholders
- Develop new methods to evaluate risk and vulnerability from geological hazards and to make detailed evaluations about quality and quantity of Earth resources
- Determine whether geological data indicate a subsurface target of interest so that reliable drilling and excavation decisions can be made
- Design and execute field studies that employ geological data to solve a given geoscience problem
- Create robust and reliable inferences of fundamental Earth structures and processes from incomplete and possibly inaccurate geological information
- Combine geological and geophysical data to build and assess the implications of integrative models whose value exceed the sum of its components
- Deliver oral presentations and answer technical questions in plain language, in which geological information is motivated, described, interpreted, and from which compelling conclusions are carefully explained to the audience
- Prepare and widely circulate well-written and well-structured written documents that contain sound reasoning and robust conclusions based on geological principles
- Use the full capabilities of commerical software packages to process, display and manipulate geological data and work with companies for their further development and refinement
- Use advanced geological field and laboratory equipment and work with companies for their further development and refinement; execute robust and decisive tests of geological research hypotheses using advanced principles, data, and techniques; apply and further develop advanced principles of scientific uncertainty as they relates to geological hypothesis testing
- Be a role model in professional conduct and misconduct in research and assume leadership roles of professional societies within geological sciences
- Demonstrate exemplary behavior in balancing stakeholder, client and public interest as it pertains to geological investigations