Nov 25, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
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2022-2023 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

Doctor of Philosophy - Geoscience

Plan Description

The Doctor of Philosophy – Geoscience degree is designed to prepare students for demanding research-oriented careers in academia, government service, private consulting, and industry. Working closely with their advisors, students focus on original research in an emphasis area. Research expectations are high; students are expected to develop original lines of research that will lead to three or more original manuscripts that are suitable for submission to a refereed scientific journal. Students are expected to have strong content knowledge in their area of emphasis and three additional sub-disciplines of the geological sciences. Fundamental knowledge levels are tested first in a diagnostic interview that is used to guide coursework taken by the student, and then later in a comprehensive exam.

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements. 

Admission Requirements Include:

  1. A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Geoscience or an appropriate related field.
  2. A successful applicant should have overall grade point average (GPA) higher than 3.0, unless other evidence indicates that the applicant will be successful in the graduate program.
  3. For international applicants whose native language is not English, a proof of English proficiency is required.
  4. In order to be admitted without conditions the applicant should have completed an introductory geology class and six of the following eight classes (or their equivalents): mineralogy, geochemistry, geomorphology, structural geology, igneous and metamorphic petrology, paleontology, field geology, and sedimentology/stratigraphy.

Files need to be loaded to the UNLV online application system (Grad Rebel Gateway) include:

  1. Three letters of recommendation from individuals competent to comment on the applicant’s promise as a graduate student.
  2. A Statement of Purpose: an essay (1–2 pages) describing the applicant’s reasons for considering graduate study, goals after completion of the graduate degree, and specific area(s)/potential advisor(s) of interest.
  3. A brief, one-page (maximum two-page) CV containing the applicant’s address and contact information.
  4. The official transcripts from all college and universities the applicant has attended. (please note: conditional acceptance can be given with unofficial transcripts being submitted during application, however those will need to be replaced for official documents if admitted).

Details of the admission procedure for the PhD Program can be found on the Department’s website.

All application materials are submitted through the UNLV Graduate College Graduate Rebel Gateway. Applicants do not need to send a separate application to the Geoscience Department or College of Sciences.

Plan Requirements

See Subplan Requirements below.

Subplan 1: Post-Bachelor’s
Subplan 2: Post-Master’s
 

Subplan 1 Requirements: Post-Bachelor’s

Total Credits Required: 60

Course Requirements

Required Course – Credits: 3

Elective Courses – Credits: 45

Complete 45 credits of 600- or 700-level GEOL courses, or other advisor-approved courses.

Dissertation – Credits: 12

Degree Requirements

  1. Students must complete a minimum of 60 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. A minimum of 24 of the 60 credits required must be at the 700-level.
  3. Although more course work and dissertation credits may be taken, only 12 credits of Dissertation, and 48 course credits will be counted toward the degree program.
  4. Doctoral students are encouraged to take courses from outside of geoscience; however, a minimum of 15 credits must be geoscience (GEOL) courses.
  5. A maximum of three credits of Independent Study are permitted, except in special circumstances in which case permission from the doctoral advising committee, the department Graduate Coordinator and the department chair is required.
  6. Satisfactory progress toward meeting the degree requirements is required of all candidates. Satisfactory progress is defined as, at a minimum:
    1. Maintenance of at least a 3.00 grade point average in all graduate-level courses. Two grades of B- are permitted in the degree program as long as the GPA remains at or above 3.00. One grade of C+ or lower results in academic probation even if the overall GPA is above 3.0. Two grades of C+ or lower will result in automatic suspension from the program.
    2. Selecting a dissertation advisor and committee. The advisor must be selected before the end of the first semester and the committee before the end of the second semester.
    3. Scheduling of an interview with the advisor either during or before the first semester. If an advisor is not selected, a temporary advisor will be assigned by the graduate coordinator. The purpose of the interview is to develop a plan of course work for the first year.
    4. In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
    5. Scheduling of a diagnostic interview with the Advisory Committee before the end of the 2nd semester. The purpose of the interview is to develop a list of recommended courses and design the student’s degree program, which must be submitted prior to completing 16 credits of course work toward the degree.
    6. Preparation of a dissertation proposal and satisfactory performance on a Proposal Defense Examination. This examination must be completed prior to the end of the third semester. The Proposal Defense Examination focuses on the dissertation proposal and the student’s ability to perform the research. It includes a formal oral presentation of the student’s dissertation proposal, research to date, and questions by the dissertation advisory committee on the dissertation topic. The Proposal Defense Examination is to be taken prior to the Comprehensive Examination.
    7. Satisfactory performance on the Comprehensive Examination. Ph.D. students must have a basic knowledge of Physical Geology in addition to a comprehensive knowledge of three fields of geosciences (see Department of Geoscience Graduate Student Guidelines for recommended fields for each Ph.D. Emphasis). The format and content of the exam will be determined by the student’s doctoral advisory committee with approval of the department graduate coordinator. The Comprehensive Examination will be taken either the semester after all course work is completed or before the end of the fourth semester, whichever comes first.  The Comprehensive Examination can be taken either entirely as an oral examination or with both oral and written components. The decision of which of these options to take is decided by unanimous agreement by the student’s doctoral advising committee. In the case of non-unanimous agreement, both the oral and written components will be given.
    8. Preparation of a dissertation proposal and satisfactory performance on a Proposal Defense Examination. This examination must be completed prior to the end of the fifth semester. The Proposal Defense Examination focuses on the dissertation proposal and the student’s ability to perform the research. It includes a formal oral presentation of the student’s dissertation proposal, research to date, and questions by the dissertation advisory committee on the dissertation topic. The Proposal Defense Examination is to be taken after the Comprehensive Examination.
    9. Students who fail to pass the Comprehensive Examination or Proposal Defense on the first attempt must successfully complete a second examination (as specified by the doctoral advisory committee) within the next six months to remain in the program. Students who entered the program with a baccalaureate degree and who fail the second examination may be allowed to continue as a Master of Science student with the consent of the doctoral advising committee. Students who entered the program with a master’s degree who fail the examination a second time will be separated from the program. A student who has successfully passed both the Proposal Defense and Comprehensive Examinations will be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.
    10. Satisfactory performance on a final examination will consist of the presentation and defense of the dissertation research. The defense will consist of an oral presentation open to the public, a short period of questions from the public, a closed session of questions from the doctoral advising committee, and a closed deliberation and vote by just the advisory committee members. Any graduate faculty member may attend the closed session of questions of the defense.
  7. Using Degree Audit as a guide, a degree program must be approved by the advisory committee prior to the beginning of the third semester of enrollment.
  8. It is recommended that the student be a teaching assistant or instructor for at least one semester.
  9. Students may request a maximum of 15 graduate credits taken at UNLV prior to admission be included in the graduate degree program, providing those credits were not used to fulfill undergraduate requirements and a grade of B (3.00) or higher was achieved.

Graduation Requirements

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Subplan 2 Requirements: Post-Master’s

Total Credits Required: 36

Course Requirements

Required Course – Credits: 3

Elective Courses – Credits: 21

Complete 21 credits of 600- or 700-level GEOL courses, or other advisor-approved courses.

Dissertation – Credits: 12

Degree Requirements

  1. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. A minimum of 12 of the 36 credits required must be at the 700-level.
  3. Although more course work and dissertation credits may be taken, only 12 credits of Dissertation, and 24 course credits will be counted toward the degree program.
  4. Doctoral students are encouraged to take courses from outside of geoscience; however, a minimum of 15 credits must be geoscience (GEOL) courses.
  5. A maximum of three credits of Independent Study are permitted, except in special circumstances in which case permission from the doctoral advising committee, the department Graduate Coordinator and the department chair is required.
  6. Satisfactory progress toward meeting the degree requirements is required of all candidates. Satisfactory progress is defined as, at a minimum:
    1. Maintenance of at least a 3.00 grade point average in all graduate-level courses. Two grades of B- are permitted in the degree program as long as the GPA remains at or above 3.00. One grade of C+ or lower results in academic probation even if the overall GPA is above 3.0. Two grades of C+ or lower will result in automatic suspension from the program.
    2. Selecting a dissertation advisor and committee. The advisor must be selected before the end of the first semester and the committee before the end of the second semester.
    3. Scheduling of an interview with the advisor either during or before the first semester. If an advisor is not selected, a temporary advisor will be assigned by the graduate coordinator. The purpose of the interview is to develop a plan of course work for the first year.
    4. In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
    5. Scheduling of a diagnostic interview with the Advisory Committee before the end of the 2nd semester. The purpose of the interview is to develop a list of recommended courses and design the student’s degree program, which must be submitted prior to completing 16 credits of course work toward the degree.
    6. Satisfactory performance on the Comprehensive Examination. Ph.D. students must have a basic knowledge of Physical Geology in addition to a comprehensive knowledge of three fields of geosciences (see Department of Geoscience Graduate Student Guidelines for recommended fields for each Ph.D. Emphasis). The format and content of the exam will be determined by the student’s doctoral advisory committee with approval of the department graduate coordinator. The Comprehensive Examination will be taken either the semester after all course work is completed or before the end of the fourth semester, whichever comes first. The Comprehensive Examination can be taken either entirely as an oral examination or with both oral and written components. The decision of which of these options to take is decided by unanimous agreement by the student’s doctoral advising committee. In the case of non-unanimous agreement, both the oral and written components will be given.
    7. Preparation of a dissertation proposal and satisfactory performance on a Proposal Defense Examination. This examination must be completed prior to the end of the third semester. The Proposal Defense Examination focuses on the dissertation proposal and the student’s ability to perform the research. It includes a formal oral presentation of the student’s dissertation proposal, research to date, and questions by the dissertation advisory committee on the dissertation topic. The Proposal Defense Examination is to be taken after to the Comprehensive Examination.
    8. Students who fail to pass the Comprehensive Examination or Proposal Defense on the first attempt must successfully complete a second examination (as specified by the doctoral advisory committee) within the next six months to remain in the program. Students who entered the program with a baccalaureate degree and who fail the second examination may be allowed to continue as a Master of Science student with the consent of the doctoral advising committee. Students who entered the program with a master’s degree who fail the examination a second time will be separated from the program. A student who has successfully passed both the Proposal Defense and Comprehensive Examinations will be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.
    9. Satisfactory performance on a final examination will consist of the presentation and defense of the dissertation research. The defense will consist of an oral presentation open to the public, a short period of questions from the public, a closed session of questions from the doctoral advising committee, and a closed deliberation and vote by just the advisory committee members. Any graduate faculty member may attend the closed session of questions of the defense.
  7. Using Degree Audit as a guide, a degree program must be approved by the advisory committee prior to the beginning of the third semester of enrollment.
  8. It is recommended that the student be a teaching assistant or instructor for at least one semester.
  9. Students may request a maximum of 15 graduate credits taken at UNLV prior to admission be included in the graduate degree program, providing those credits were not used to fulfill undergraduate requirements and a grade of B (3.00) or higher was achieved.

Graduation Requirements

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Plan Graduation Requirements

The student must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.

After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.