Mar 26, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog

Earth and Energy Sciences, PhD


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study

The Ph.D. degree program in Earth and Energy Sciences prepares students to embrace an inter- and multi-disciplinary understanding of issues central to meeting the energy and environmental challenges of today and the future.

Admission Requirements


In addition to meeting the general application and admission requirements of the Graduate School, applicants to the Ph.D. program in Earth and Energy Sciences must provide: 1) evidence of a B.S. in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Physics, or a related field of study; and 2) a personal statement of interest in the program and a Curriculum Vitae. If previous research experience exists, it should be emphasized in the personal statement. 

It is expected that admitted students will have completed Calculus I and II as well as a minimum of two courses and one laboratory in each of the following disciplines: Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, and Physics.

Course Requirements


To earn the Ph.D. degree in Earth and Energy Sciences, students must complete a minimum of 72 graduate credit hours. That includes core courses (12 credit hours), specialized courses (30 credit hours), graduate seminar (6 credit hours), and dissertation research (24 credit hours), as detailed below.

Specialization Coursework (30 credit hours)


To ensure a strong multi-disciplinary background, in addition to the four core courses, the students are required to take 30 credit hours in different disciplines. Of these, at least 18 credit hours must be in EESC courses with emphasis in the various participating disciplines (EESC 61X in Chemistry, EESC 62X in Environmental Science, EESC 63X in Geology, EESC 64X in Physics) or traditional, CHEM, ENVS, GEOL, and PHYS, graduate courses, with a minimum of 3 credit hours in each of the four disciplines. The requirement of 3 credit hours in each of the four disciplines cannot be satisfied with directed individual study courses. The remaining 12 credit hours of specialization courses may be taken in any of the aforementioned disciplines or, upon approval by the graduate coordinator, in other disciplines such as Biology, Engineering, Management, or Mathematics.

Graduate Seminar (6 credit hours)


EESC 691  and EESC 692  are to be taken for a minimum of three times each. A maximum of two credit hours of EESC 691  can be substituted by seminar courses in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, and Physics, which are: CHEM 590 , ENVS 559 , GEOL 551 , PHYS 591 , and PHYS 592 , respectively.

Dissertation (24 credit hours)


A minimum of 24 credit hours of EESC 699 - Dissertation Research and Dissertation , is required to satisfy the degree requirements. EESC 699  is taken with the research adviser.

General Comprehensive Examination


Each student is expected to complete a general comprehensive examination at the end of the third semester of the study. This time limit may be adjusted only under atypical circumstances. This exam focuses on the student’s mastery of core course content and the application of this content to analyze and create complex analytical constructs. Comprehensive exams are designed, administered, and assessed by a committee comprised of a chair and four faculty members who most recently taught the core courses.

Degree Progress


At the start of the program, each student will meet with the Earth and Energy Sciences program graduate coordinator, who chairs the Graduate Advisory Committee for the EESC program. An Individual Development Plan (IDP) shall be created based on the student’s initial plans and interests. This document will be updated every semester at the time of advising and before the advising hold is lifted. It is the student’s responsibility to inform their current graduate coordinator of the program of any changes in the IDP as their research progresses.

Unless a dissertation advisor is already chosen, each student must elect a field of specialization and a dissertation adviser from the graduate faculty in the program, at the latest after the comprehensive exam has been successfully completed. The student is required to request meetings with faculty members to be able to choose a dissertation adviser and a topic. In consultation with the dissertation adviser, the student shall create a doctoral committee, which includes the student’s dissertation advisor, as its chair, and a minimum of three other graduate-faculty members from the disciplines contributing to the EESC program. At least two members must be from two different EESC disciplines that are not represented by the dissertation advisor. Outside committee members (from other departments or institutions) are allowed and recommended.

No later than the end of the third year of study, the student must convene the committee for a dissertation proposal defense. At the defense, the student presents and oral exposure of the problem to be investigated, motivation, preliminary results, and a detailed plan of action, in order to receive feedback from the committee. The student is expected to demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between basic research and potential applications in relation to their chosen research topic. The doctoral committee can also suggest specific courses to be added to the student’s IDP that are relevant to the research topic. The result of the proposal defense and any recommendations must be communicated to the current graduate coordinator of EESC by the student’s dissertation adviser in writing. Acceptance of the proposal by the research adviser and a majority vote of the dissertation committee is required for a satisfactory proposal dissertation defense. A second defense is allowed if the first attempt is unsuccessful. If the second defense is also unsuccessful, the student shall become ineligible to continue in the program and will be evaluated by the Earth and Energy Science Graduate Advisory Committee for M.S. degree program options in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, or Physics.

Final Examination


The oral defense of the dissertation constitutes the final examination for the degree. A minimum of six months must pass between a successful proposal defense and the dissertation defense. A waiver for this rule may be granted for particular circumstances, which will be evaluated by the Graduate Advisory Committee. A rigorous examination of the dissertation as well as discussions covering topics in related areas are to take place during the dissertation defense. The written dissertation must be reviewed by the doctoral committee prior to the defense. The dissertation is expected to represent original work by the student and to be of a quality acceptable for publication in peer-reviewed journals in the specific field of study. If the oral dissertation defense is unsatisfactory to fifty percent or more of the committee, a second defense shall be allowed not earlier than six months after the unsuccessful defense. If the second oral defense is unsatisfactory to fifty percent or more of the committee, the student shall become ineligible to continue in the program and will be evaluated by the Earth and Energy Science Graduate Advisory Committee for M.S. degree program options in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, or Physics.

After completing the revisions requested by the doctoral committee members, the candidate must prepare the final version of the dissertation in accordance with the requirements of the Graduate School.

Notes


Students should consult the Doctor of Philosophy Degree Checklist compiled by the Graduate School and included in the University Catalog. Students with a M.S. degree may transfer credit hours to be used toward the required 30 credit hours of specialization coursework, following the University guidelines.

The proposal and dissertation defense events are open to the public. The graduate coordinator of the program will announce the event at least a week in advance, using information from the defending student, who must initiate the process.

Submission of at least one manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal is a requirement for graduation.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study