The Earth and Planetary Sciences Department at UCSC has an outstanding reputation; our PhD recipients are leaders in academia, research, government, and industry. The Ph.D. program in Earth & Planetary Sciences teaches students to conduct basic and applied research, to work in a cutting-edge technical environment, both independently and in groups. The program is tailored to the individual student's academic background, professional experience, research plans, and career goals.
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Modest course requirements include: courses 205--Introductory Graduate Seminar, 203--Introductory Teaching Seminar, 206--Great Papers in the Earth & Planetary sciences. Additionally, after consultation with their adviser, students choose from among courses 207--Tectonics, 208--Methods in Paleoclimatology, 209--Isotope Geochemistry, 210--Stellar/Planetary Formation and Evolution, and 220--Ground Water Modeling. Other course selections are tailored to individual academic backgrounds, professional experience and plans for research. No specific number of course credits is required for the Ph.D., but ordinarily students put more of their effort into course work during their first year of graduate study.
Graduate students are also required to enroll in and attend EART293, Graduate Research Seminar (1 unit) in winter quarter each year. During each seminar, two-three graduate students (generally in their 2nd, 4th, and occasionally 6th year) give oral presentations on current or anticipated research and are critiqued by their peers (for both content and presentation). The primary purpose of this seminar is to give students practice in presenting research results. Students should prepare carefully and practice for these seminars. UCSC Earth and Planetary Sciences graduate students have received a large number of awards for presentations at national and international meetings, and we think the Eart293 has helped contributed to this, plus it keeps us aware of what kinds of research projects are underway or planned.
Graduate students are also expected to enroll quarterly and attend the weekly EART292-01, Whole Earth Seminar (Tuesdays at 4 pm) and EART292-02, IGPP Seminar (generally Fridays at 3:30, but schedules vary). These seminars are coordinated by faculty and graduate students, bringing researchers from other institutions and organizations to give talks and interact informally with Earth and Planetary Sciences students, researchers, faculty and staff. These multi-disciplinary seminars are intended to keep faculty and students up-to-date on recent research developments in the sciences. In addition, most visitors are happy to meet with interested students - be sure to contact the seminar host if you are interested in meeting with a speaker, and tell the organizers if you know of excellent speakers we should bring to give a talk.
After successfully completing the preliminary interview and course work (in the first year), and selecting an approved dissertation subject (normally at the beginning of the second year), a student takes their qualifying oral examination by no later than the end of the 8th full-time quarter, conducted by a committee of faculty including one external examiner. The doctoral dissertation that follows presents the results of original and creative work by the student. Students will present a dissertation defense seminar prior to the final signing of their dissertation. The degree is completed upon the signing of the final written doctoral dissertation by the student's reading committee, its filing with the Graduate Division, and presentation of the public defense seminar.
Students considering applying to do a PhD in Earth & Planetary Sciences at UCSC are encouraged to contact prospective faculty advisors in areas of mutual interest as early as possible.
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