Students entering the PhD program with a Master's degree must complete the comprehensive examination by no later than the end of the student's third semester. Students entering the PhD program with a Bachelor's degree (but without a Master's degree) must complete the comprehensive examination by no later than the end of the student's fourth semester.

The written dissertation will demonstrate high-quality, original research by the student. Research results will be presented orally in a departmental seminar open to the public, and will be defended in a private defense restricted to the Dissertation Committee and interested departmental faculty. Publication of at least one research paper on the student's dissertation topic (not previous work) in a peer-refereed journal or equivalent outlet is expected.

In addition to University requirements, the Department has several compulsory additional course work requirements for the PhD. All students pursuing a PhD degree must enroll in course number?GEOL 595?every semester they are in residence unless course or teaching conflicts preclude a student from being present. Each student must also enroll in course?GEOL 596?one time during their residency. A student may apply a maximum of 4 credit hours of?GEOL 595/GEOL 596?toward graduation. All PhD students are required to complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of graded approved coursework at the 600-level (this requirement supersedes the University requirement). Before receiving a PhD degree, students must demonstrate committee-approved proficiency in field-based Earth Sciences. A minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA is required in all graded graduate course work, and taking courses from outside the department is encouraged.