Earth Sciences
間眅埶AV Requirements
Applicants normally will have completed a master's degree in science or engineering. 間眅埶AV to the doctor of philosophy (PhD) program is governed by the minimum University requirements (see ).
For students entering without a master's degree, the following additional requirements apply.
Entry with a BSc or Equivalent Degree
- a 3.67 cumulative grade point average or equivalent first class standing
- completion of a thesis or other scholarly work
Transfer from MSc to PhD Program
- at least 12 months in the Earth Sciences MSc program
- a 3.67 cumulative grade point average
- completion of a thesis or other scholarly work
- approval of the student's supervisory committee and the departmental graduate program committee
Program Requirements
The program will normally be completed in 12 terms (four years) and not more than 15 terms (five years).
Minimum Grade
Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in course work (see ). Failure to do so is evidence of unsatisfactory progress (see ).
Course Work
Students complete all of
A required course designed to acquaint new graduate students with the research strengths of the program, research facilities in the University, and its vicinity. Procedures and policies relating to preparation, conduct and presentation of thesis research will be discussed. Graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory.
Graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Prerequisite: Enrolment in PhD program.
In addition, those who entered the program with a BSc degree only are required to complete an additional 15 units in graduate courses, whereas for those who entered with a master’s degree, an additional six units of graduate courses are required. With the graduate chair’s approval, students may substitute related graduate courses from other departments/programs including physical geography, chemistry, physics, biological sciences, and the resource and environmental management. No more than six units from 700 division EASC courses will be permitted.
With advance approval, students may complete up to one half of the above course requirements at another university. Additional course work may be assigned by the supervisory committee, based on the results of the oral candidacy examination.
Research Seminars
In addition to normal course work, PhD students must give one research seminar, which should be based on completed, or nearly completed, thesis work:
Graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Prerequisite: Enrolment in PhD program.
Students are expected to attend all the research seminars in the department.
Oral Candidacy Examination
Students complete an oral candidacy exam prior to the end of the fourth term of enrolment, or in the first term after transferring from the MSc program.
The student submits a written thesis proposal to the supervisory committee and presents it at the beginning of the oral candidacy exam, which is followed by an oral exam. The student demonstrates an ability to conduct independent research, and have a sufficient command of the studied discipline to explain the research proposal and defend it. The examination must be successfully completed prior to undertaking any significant thesis research.
The exam concentrates on a major and two minor research areas, as agreed by the supervisory committee and student, and is graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory by an examining committee of the supervisory committee and one external member. Students with an unsatisfactory grade must pass a second exam within six months; a second unsatisfactory rating results in withdrawal.
Thesis
Students define and undertake original research, the results of which are reported in a thesis and is then defended before an examining committee (see ).
Students must conform to residence requirements
Progress Review
The student’s progress is reviewed every 12 months by a supervisory committee of three or more faculty (see ). The senior supervisor will be an earth sciences faculty member approved by the graduate program committee. At each review, the student presents a summary of work to date, with the first review being the oral candidacy exam when the thesis proposal is to be presented. Students with unsatisfactory research progress, or failing to demonstrate satisfactory knowledge and understanding of recent publications in their research area, or failing to have their revised research proposal approved by the supervisory committee within 18 months of admission may be required to withdraw (see ).
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.