Applied Geology - Ph.D.

Program Overview

The Ph.D. in Applied Geology prepares students for research-focused careers in industry and academia, focusing on environmental research (e.g., water, geohazards, natural resources) and earth's systems evolution (e.g., climate change, paleoecology, crustal processes). Post-baccalaureate students complete 90 credit hours, while post-master's students complete 60. Graduates gain expertise in hypothesis formulation, independent research, and scientific analysis and interpretation. Career options include positions as atmospheric, earth, and space sciences teachers, geoscientists, hydrologists, and natural sciences managers.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Ph.D. degree in Applied Geology prepares students for careers in industry and academic institutions where research into the application of geological principles focuses on solutions to basic and applied research questions. Focus areas include environmental research (water, surface and subsurface processes; geohazards; and natural resources), as well as evolution of earth's systems research (climate change, paleoecology and evolution, crustal processes).

Outline:

• Major Requirements:
• ESCI 70084 GEOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT ORIENTATION (1 credit hour)
• ESCI 70087 WRITING IN THE EARTH SCIENCES (1 credit hour)
• Additional Requirements (28-58 credit hours)
• Culminating Requirement: ESCI 80199 DISSERTATION I (130 credit hours)
• Minimum Total Credit Hours:
• Post-Baccalaureate Students: 90 credit hours
• Post-Master's Students: 60 credit hours
• Candidacy:
• Students must pass comprehensive written and oral examinations prior to the start of the fifth semester after admission to the doctoral program.
• The comprehensive examinations focus on mastery of the student’s major area of concentration and one minor area, as well as the fundamentals of geology and its allied sciences as appropriate to the student’s proposed dissertation topic.
• Students who fail the comprehensive examinations may be allowed to repeat them once; this must be completed more than one month after the initial examination, but less than six months thereafter.
• Residency:
• All students admitted to the doctoral program must complete two successive semesters of full-time graduate study at Kent State University.
• During this time they must obtain a minimum of 22 credit hours.

Careers:

• Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries:
• Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary (1.9% slower than the average, 13,100 number of jobs, $94,520 potential earnings)
• Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers (4.9% about as fast as the average, 31,800 number of jobs, $93,580 potential earnings)
• Hydrologists (5.3% faster than the average, 7,000 number of jobs, $84,040 potential earnings)
• Natural sciences managers (4.8% about as fast as the average, 71,400 number of jobs, $137,940 potential earnings)

Other:

• Program Learning Outcomes:
• Graduates of this program will be able to:
• Show in-depth comprehension of several areas, including both basic and applied aspects of geology/earth sciences.
• Demonstrate the ability to formulate testable scientific hypotheses and carry out independent research using appropriate field, experimental, analytical and/or computational methods.
• Describe, synthesize and interpret the results of a scientific investigation and understand its broader applications.