Graduate Bulletin

Geoscience, Ph.D.

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: February 1

Spring: October 1

Applications are evaluated together after the deadline has passed.  Program admissions are limited and competitive.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic competence.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

Applicants are required to have taken at least five courses in Geology and one year of college-level Chemistry, Calculus, and Physics or Biology.

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

TBA

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

A baccalaureate degree, whether a B.A. or a B.S., with a major in Geology or a related program in Science or Mathematics is required.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should include the following elements: your specific interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is required. Scores are typically in the 50th percentile or higher in the quantitative, verbal, and analytical areas.

Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 105 iBT or 620 PBT.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 24

Required Courses:

Seven Earth and Environmental Science courses to be chosen from:

EES 5402:  X-ray Crystallography

EES 5454:  Introduction To Geophysics

EES 5461:  Low-Temperature Geochemistry

EES 5462:  Advanced Low-Temperature Geochemistry

EES 5725:  Soils and Paleosols

EES 5802:  Tectonics

EES 8411:  Advanced Hydrogeology

EES 8421:  Groundwater Modeling

EES 8601:  Stratigraphic Dynamics

EES 8701:  High-Temperature Reactions

EES 8706:  Regional Geology

EES 8711:  Economics of Geological Ore Deposits

EES 8911:  Teaching of Geology

EES 9996:  Master's Research and Thesis

Also, one elective, chosen in consultation with an advisor.

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Comprehensive Examination:

The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to demonstrate breadth and depth of knowledge in the concepts of geological sciences. The exam has written and oral sections. The subject areas are general geology in the written portion and discussion of a potential thesis topic and other general geology concepts in the oral portion. The examination is taken when the student completes approximately 20 credits.

The Graduate Faculty in the Geology program write the questions. Faculty members from each area of specialization participate. The Graduate Faculty members who write the questions also evaluate the answers. The written examination is evaluated for content and understanding of core concepts. The oral examination is evaluated on the basis of clarity of the thesis proposal presentation and other general geology concepts. The oral examination is evaluated by the student's advisor and at least two other faculty members. The combined results of the written and oral examinations determine whether a student has qualified.

Comprehensive examinations are generally administered once annually in April. The written examination runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The oral examination runs about 1 hour.

Proposal:

Dissertation:

The Department of Earth and Environmental Science requires an original research dissertation as the culminating project in its Ph.D. degree program.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/geology

Department Information:

Dept. of Geology

326 Beury Hall (016-00)

1901 North 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122-6081

scox@temple.edu

215-204-8227

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Shelah Cox
scox@temple.edu
215-204-8227

Program Coordinator:

George H. Myer, Ph.D.
gmyer@temple.edu
215-204-7173

Graduate Chairperson:

George H. Myer, Ph.D.
gmyer@temple.edu
215-204-7173

Chairperson:

David E. Grandstaff, Ph.D.
grand@temple.edu
215-204-8228

About the Program

The Department of Earth and Environmental Science offers a Ph.D. program that includes graduate courses in Geology, weekly graduate seminars, qualifying exams, and research leading to a doctoral dissertation.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years

Campus Location:

Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Full-time status is expected.  Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m.

Department Information:

Dept. of Geology

326 Beury Hall (016-00)

1901 North 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122-6081

scox@temple.edu

215-204-8227

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Interdisciplinary Study:

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

No.

Ranking:

Not applicable.

Accreditation:

Not applicable.

Areas of Specialization:

Advanced courses and research opportunities are available in cyclic stratigraphy, environmental geology, geochemistry, geophysics, hydrogeology, mineral science, paleopedology and modern soils, petrology, and sedimentology.

Job Placement:

Our graduates secure positions in industry and government and are accepted into doctoral programs.

Licensure:

Licensure is recommended after three years of on-the-job training. The Pennsylvania Professional Geologist Licensing Examination is administered by the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG).

Non-Matriculated Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students are allowed to take up to 9 credits.

Financing Opportunities

The responsibilities of the Teaching Assistant are to teach introductory geology labs and attend weekly seminars. Graduate students in our program are usually given a Teaching Assistantship, which carries a stipend and full-tuition remission (up to 12 credits per semester).

Updated 10.16.12