Doctor of Philosophy in Geoscience

Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Geoscience program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas prepares students for research-oriented careers in academia, government, consulting, and industry. Students focus on original research in geology, hydrology, or soil science, and are expected to develop original lines of research leading to peer-reviewed publications. The program emphasizes strong content knowledge, scientific ethics, and the ability to conduct independent research. Graduates are well-prepared for careers as research scientists, professors, environmental consultants, hydrologists, geologists, and soil scientists.

Program Outline

Outline:

The Doctor of Philosophy in Geoscience program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas 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 one of three emphasis areas: geology, hydrology, or soil science. 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 exam that is used to guide coursework taken by the student, and then later in a comprehensive exam.

Assessment:

Students are assessed on their ability to:

• Define a research problem by identifying questions and formulating tests of hypotheses
• Demonstrate an understanding of scientific ethics
• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of scientific literature for work relevant to research projects
• Conduct field and laboratory research related to dissertation projects
• Demonstrate a broad knowledge on the subjects closely related to the field of specialization
• Demonstrate the ability to do original and creative research
• Design and carry out a substantial independent research project through to completion
• Present scientific results to the audience of the scientific community and the general public
• Prepare publications and submit them to peer-reviewed journals
• Demonstrate an excellent knowledge of at least one field of specialization

Teaching:

The program is taught by a team of experienced faculty members who are actively engaged in research. The program uses a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, and research projects. Students are also encouraged to participate in research conferences and to publish their work in peer-reviewed journals.

Careers:

Graduates of the program are prepared for a variety of careers in academia, government service, private consulting, and industry. Some of the most common career paths include:

• Research scientist
• Professor
• Environmental consultant
• Hydrologist
• Geologist
• Soil scientist