The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences is a medium-sized, nationally-ranked program, with opportunities for scholarship in many areas, including geology, geobiology, geochemistry, geophysics, and planetary science. We are one of the few departments in the country with an integrated program of instruction and research that treats Earth as a planet and makes direct use of knowledge gained by exploring the solar system. As a graduate student, you will have the opportunity to explore the many disciplines through your course work, conduct cutting-edge research in world-class facilities, and join a collaborative and supportive community of scholars.
We welcome students of many different academic backgrounds, including:
- Geology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Environmental Science
- Engineering
Our PhD training emphasizes modern, quantitative approaches. It involves field and laboratory work, as well as theory and advanced computation. The degree requirements are intended to ensure that all doctoral candidates develop independence and originality of thought and acquire knowledge that has sufficient breadth (the broad knowledge of Earth and planetary sciences) and depth (a deeper working knowledge of a specific research area). We believe that the major advances in science are likely to be made at the discipline boundaries and, therefore, does not define disciplines or impose strict rules on what constitutes depth. Instead, the Research Advisory Committee, working with the student, defines the areas of expertise the student wishes to pursue.
