Geological Sciences (PhD)
Department website: http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/
Areas of active research in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences include studies in sedimentary depositional systems; hydrogeology; climate systems science; structural geology; marine geology and geophysics; regional tectonics; seismology; paleomagnetism; seismic reflection and refraction; isotope and aqueous geochemistry; sedimentary geochemistry; geomicrobiology; igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic petrology; high-temperature geochemistry; ore deposits and industrial mineral resources; and vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology. Cooperative research projects are under way with the Center for Space Research, the Institute for Geophysics, and the Bureau of Economic Geology.
Graduate Handbook
Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online. Please contact the program with concerns or questions.
Admission
The preliminary education of students who intend to become candidates for a graduate degree in geological sciences usually includes coursework in general geology, paleontology, mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, and field geology, as well as physics, chemistry, and calculus. Geophysicists and climatologists are expected to have a sound foundation in both mathematics and physics; paleontologists should include suitable preparation in the comparative morphology and genetics of living organisms. Students without the necessary foundation for advanced study and research may be required to take additional coursework.
Total Hours Required: 30
Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hours chosen from: GEO coursework | 15 | |
| Hours chosen from: outside of GEO | 6 | |
| GEO 999W | Dissertation | 9 |
| Graduate Geosciences Requirements | ||
| Graduate University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Additional Requirements and Policies
All graduate students must take GEO 398T Supervised Teaching in Geological Sciences in their first semester.
A program of work for the Doctor of Philosophy degree is designed for each student by their committee.