CONTENTS
- SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES
- DEPARTMENT POLICIES ON USE OF EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
- ACADEMIC POLICIES
- ADVISING
- DEPARTMENTAL GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
- ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
- M.A. DEGREE PROGRAM AND REQUIREMENTS
- Ph.D. DEGREE PROGRAM AND REQUIREMENTS
- SCHEDULING OF ORAL EXAMINATIONS DURING SUMMER
I. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES
The graduate program in the Department of Geological Sciences offers advanced studies leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in a wide variety of fields in the earth sciences. These include: structural geology-tectonics; geophysics-seismology; mineralogy-petrology-geochemistry; paleobiology; stratigraphy-sedimentology; hydrogeology; and geomorphology-neotectonics. Students are encouraged to obtain a broadly based geological background before undertaking specialized research projects. This philosophy emphasizing the breadth of the earth sciences is achieved through graduate course electives.
Students in the M.A. program are required to complete a thesis involving significant research in the geological sciences. M.A.T. students with an earth science emphasis also commonly take graduate courses in the department. The Ph.D. degree program provides students with opportunities to pursue advanced studies in the geological sciences and to conduct original research in one of the fields mentioned above. Students need to plan their course programs carefully in consultation with their adviser and the Graduate Committee. Course requirements (see below) should be satisfied early, before beginning full-time work on thesis or dissertation. This is to avoid loss of effort and time in pursuing course work which later might not be approved. Decisions on thesis and dissertation research topics should be made as early as possible to leave ample time for planning and carrying out required research. For example, M.A. thesis proposals should be submitted by the middle of the second semester of study to facilitate acceptance before full-time research begins in the summer. Drafts of completed work should be submitted early to allow sufficient time for review and for scheduling examinations.
The facilities and equipment of the department that are used principally for instruction are
available also for student research in most cases. Use of facilities and equipment implies acceptance of responsibility for replacement or repair in the event of damage or loss. Specialized
research equipment is accessible only with permission from the faculty member or technical staff
in charge. Some specific examples are set out below.
A. Equipment
With few exceptions, departmental equipment may not be removed from the building, nor
transferred from one student to another.
1. Keys. Students may have one key for their assigned office and one for the outside building
door. These must be signed for in the department office or from the building supervisor, and
must be returned when a student vacates his/her office space, or when a prolonged absence is
anticipated. A refundable fee is assessed at the time of key check-out. Short-term key loans
for other facilities are available with permission from the faculty/staff in charge of that facility.
Such keys must be signed for and returned when the specific task has been completed.
2. Computers. Computers are scattered throughout the department. Some are dedicated to
specific areas, e.g. analytical equipment, seismology. Others are available for general analytical, word-processing, and e-mail use in room 262C. Research and e-mail accounts can be
established through the department office. The computer PODs in the Computer Center,
Science II, and Science III have a large number of micros, terminals, and laser printers for
general use. Academic Support in the computer center gives short-courses on the use of
micros, word-processing, e-mail, internet access, etc. The Science Library has workstations
for Internet access for bibliographic searches and other information retrieval.
3. Research facilities. The Department has extensive analytical research facilities. Equipment
includes two heating-freezing microscopes with video recording capabilities for fluid inclusion
studies; a recirculating flume for experiments in sediment transport; an experimental petrology
laboratory with various high-pressure and high-temperature equipment; a paleomagnetism
laboratory; a seismology laboratory with computer workstations, a local seismograph station,
and shallow seismic exploration equipment; two scanning electron microscopes and a
cathodoluminescence microscope; a DCP-atomic emission spectrometer for whole-rock and
mineral-separate analyses; an ICP-mass spectrometer for trace element analysis, a JEOL-8900
electron microprobe; a Philips automated X-ray diffractometer; GPS surveying equipment;
stereoscopes and a zoom transfer scope for study of aerial photographs. Permission to use
equipment must be obtained from appropriate faculty and/or technical staff.
4. Brunton compasses. The Department has a small number of Bruntons to support field
courses. These may be borrowed for limited periods, provided they are returned at a predetermined date, in good condition. Since Bruntons are basic tools for geologists, students should
obtain their own for extended summer thesis/dissertation work. Arrangements for short-term
loans only can be made with Prof. William MacDonald.
5. Microscopes. Student microscopes, stored in Room 254, may be used there but not borrowed or removed. Research microscopes are available elsewhere; make inquiries with the
appropriate faculty supervisor.
6. Drafting equipment. The draftsperson will sign out on loan a limited amount of drafting
equipment, specifically lettering instruments. Students must supply their own materials, ink,
paper, etc.
7. Photographic equipment. Students may use the department dark room (Rm. 156). Students
may make limited use of department photographic equipment (enlarger, camera, drier) only
with permission and supervision of the department photographic staff.
8. Thin-section supplies. Because of the difficulty for students in securing thin-section supplies,
these are normally provided by the department. Faculty will provide such supplies through
research grants where large quantities are involved. Supplies and instruction in their use will
be provided by staff in charge of the thin-section/rock preparation laboratory.
9. Department vehicles. These are intended for field trips in instructional support. Students
may obtain limited short-term use of vans on a stand-by basis, always with the understanding
that instructional needs come first, sometimes on short notice. Department vehicles may not
be used for personal purposes. Department vehicles may only be driven by students with a
valid N.Y. State driving license and holding research or teaching assistantships.
10. Other. Other items of research and instructional equipment occasionally can be loaned, with
approval by and with supervision of the faculty or staff in charge.
B. Facilities
1. Laboratory. Students may use dark rooms and photographic areas (Rm. 156), thin-section
laboratory, polished-section and impregnating laboratory, SEM laboratory, microprobe
laboratory, and some other facilities with approval of faculty/staff in charge, provided that
instruction in the use of equipment has been obtained previously. Photomicroscopy facilities
and aerial photograph interpretation facilities are available; inquire with your faculty supervisor.
CAUTION: By using equipment, students accept responsibility for the care and safety of its use.
Some equipment is potentially hazardous and all safety regulations must be strictly followed.
Any equipment not operating normally must be reported immediately. Students using equipment in evening or weekend hours must adhere to a 'buddy' system in which they notify fellow
students of their intent to use any potentially hazardous equipment. Failure to clean up one's
mess, and/or gross negligence in use of equipment will result in revocation of privilege of use.
2. Short-term storage of current research materials. Rock samples, thin-sections, fossils, and
other working materials in current use may be stored only temporarily in the various laboratories according to the availability of space. Do not clutter working areas with storage items.
Periodic clearings may result in materials being discarded unless clearly marked and properly
shelved.
C. Technical and Secretarial Services
The Department does not provide drafting, photography, typing, etc. for student
classwork, research, theses, dissertations, etc.. Students requiring such work in support of their
teaching responsibilities must submit requests through their supervisors. The Department has
facilities for students to perform their own drafting, typing, photographic, thin-section, etc. work.
Technical staff include a draftsperson, photographer, thin-section technician, electronics technician, and a microprobe/analytical instruments technician.
A. Registration And Related University Requirements
Consult the Graduate School Student Handbook or the Graduate Office when in doubt about
these requirements.
1. General requirement. All graduate students must continuously register each semester, even
if for only 1 credit hour, from the time they enter the program until all degree requirements
and examinations have been completed, or until they withdraw from the program. Failure to
register for any semester will be interpreted as withdrawal from the program. To continue in
the graduate program after withdrawal, the student must reapply for admission. The only
exception is by leave of absence, approved by the Graduate Vice Provost, for serious personal
hardship; such leave of absence must be granted prior to the beginning of the semester of
leave.
2. Continuous registration. Graduate students may wish or need to absent themselves from
campus. To satisfy the continuous registration requirement, such off-campus students must
notify the Graduate School of their intent to continue in the program. This is generally done
by registering for Continuous Registration (Geol. Sci. 700). Note that during the semester of
completion of all degree requirements, all students must register for 1 credit-hour of Continuous Registration or Thesis.
3. Residence requirement. All graduate students must be in residence for at least two semesters and must accumulate a minimum of 24 credit hours of course work to qualify for any
graduate degree. For doctoral students, the 24 credit hours residence requirement must be
accumulated before candidacy can be granted. Credit hours earned as College Teaching of the
Discipline (591), Thesis (599), Pre-dissertation Research (698), and Dissertation (699) do not
count towards this university requirement. Doctoral students entering with the M.A. degree
from Binghamton University have already completed this requirement.
B. Course and Grade Requirements
1. Maximum and minimum course loads. The mandated course load of the first-year M.A.
student is 12 credit hours per semester. For all other students with tuition waivers, the required course load is 9 c.h. per semester. However, current practice is that a student who has
completed all course requirements for the degree and is working full-time on a thesis or
dissertation may register for 1 c.h. per semester, subject to approval by the adviser and Graduate Director. These students are considered full-time by the University once they have filed
the appropriate full-time equivalency form with the Graduate Office. Students wishing to take
more credits may petition through the Graduate Committee, with an explanation of their
needs.
2. Transfer credits. Students may petition the Graduate School through the Graduate Committee for transfer credit for graduate courses taken elsewhere. Up to 6 credit-hours of transfer
credit may be approved for the M.A. student. Transfer credits are not normally accepted for
doctoral students. The petition for transfer credit should be drawn up in consultation with the
adviser and according to the restrictions and regulations described in the GSSH. Please note
that transfer credits, among other things, may not be used to satisfy the residence requirement.
3. Grade Requirements. A cumulative minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) is
required in graduate courses. The GPA is obtained by dividing qualified graduate grade points
by the corresponding total credit hours. Excluded from the calculation are research credits
and courses taken under non-standard grading options (e.g., audit, S/U, P/NP). This information can readily be accessed through the BUSI computer system.
4. Graduate credit for undergraduate courses. Students may petition the Graduate Vice
Provost for graduate credit for up to two high-level undergraduate (400 level) courses.
Petitions may be granted if: a) the course is required by the Graduate Committee to overcome
deficiencies and/or augment a student's background in a specialization in which no appropriate
graduate course is offered; and b) the work completed by the student is at a level substantially
higher than for undergraduates enrolled in the course, with a supporting statement from the
instructor.
5. Incompletes. The University requires that Incompletes must be made up by the end of the
following semester. Incompletes not made up will be given final grades of WF (withdrew,
failing).
6. Matriculation from Non-Matriculated status. Non-matriculated students may apply for
matriculation into the graduate program. If admission is granted, up to a maximum of 12
course credits may be applied toward the degree requirements pending the approval of the
Graduate Committee.
C. Status in Program
1. Provisional status. Well-qualified students may be accepted into the graduate program on a
provisional basis if deficiencies exist in their undergraduate record. Deficiencies are specified
by the Graduate Committee, which also recommends courses and deadlines to remedy deficiencies. Deficiencies are normally satisfied during the first year of graduate work. Upon
fulfilling the recommendations of the Graduate Committee to make up the deficiencies, the
provisional status is removed and the student is admitted on a regular basis. During the
provisional period, the student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, or he/she will
be dropped from the program.
2. Probationary status. Students acquire probationary status automatically when the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 (B). Students on probation must show significant improvement in
the next semester following--i.e., obtain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better--or they will be
dropped from the program.
3. Leave of absence. A leave of absence is allowed only in cases of severe personal hardship,
and requires justification. Leaves of absence may be requested from the Graduate Office only
in advance of the beginning of the semester, preferably at least one month prior. Up to one
year of leave may be granted. The period of leave of absence is counted against time limits for
completion of degree requirements. Leave of absence is not granted for temporary absences
for research purposes. Such periods must be covered by registering for at least one credit of
continuous registration. Students who complete all course requirements and leave the University to complete thesis/dissertation research must also register for continuous registration (see
above).
4. Withdrawal.
a) Withdrawal from courses. Students who find for reasons of personal urgency that they
must leave in mid-semester must formally withdraw from the courses for which they have
registered. Such withdrawals are initiated at the office of the Registrar. If a student who
withdraws intends to return at a later date, he/she may petition for leave/inactive status for the
next semester(s).
b) Withdrawal from program. Lack of satisfactory progress towards the degree at any time
may result in a recommendation for termination from the program. Failing to maintain continuous registration will result in automatic withdrawal from the program. To resume the
graduate program, the individual must reapply for admission. Students on probation for
academic reasons who fail to show significant improvement will be dropped permanently from
the program.
c) Five-year rule. The Graduate School requires graduate degree candidates to complete all
graduation requirements within 5 years of admission to the Graduate School for master's
students, or within 5 years of admission to candidacy for Ph.D. students.
5. Transfer from M.A. to Ph.D. program. Students may petition the Graduate Committee to
be advanced from the M.A. to the Ph.D. program. Only exceptional students will be allowed
to do so directly. In most cases, the student will be required to complete all M.A. requirements including a thesis before being admitted to the Ph.D. program. The M.A. thesis is
viewed by the Department as important in evaluating a student's ability to perform independent
research for the Ph.D. dissertation. The petition to the Graduate Committee must provide an
explanation of the intended program; a letter of recommendation and evaluation by the student's M.A. adviser is also required. Satisfactory completion of an M.A. program does not
guarantee admission into the Ph.D. program. Admission is on a competitive basis with other
Ph.D. applicants.
D. Assistantships And Fellowships
1. Appointments and renewals. All enrolled students not holding assistantships are eligible for
support as funds become available; students wishing to be considered for support should file a
formal request with the Department chairman or the chair of the Graduate Committee.
Qualified recipients are assigned teaching, research, or administrative tasks as required by the
faculty supervisors; these may include supervising and grading laboratory exercises and
examinations in undergraduate classes, delivering occasional lectures for faculty attending
meetings, helping in the Department office, assisting with organizing Department map and
other collections. Students should make clear to the department chairman their intent to
continue as full-time students so that their eligibility status for support is known. Neither
funding nor renewal is automatic. Other sources of funding, in addition to teaching and
graduate assistantships (state-supported) and research assistantships (grant-supported) include
University fellowships and other assistantship positions around the campus (such as at the
Graduate Office, Overseas Studies office, Library, etc.). Students on assistantships must abide
by the Terms and Conditions statement signed at the time of acceptance of the appointment.
Initial awards of assistantships are competitive and are based on academic performance, letters
of recommendation, scores on standardized tests, and needs of the Department. Renewal of
awards for subsequent years is contingent on demonstrated performance, both in terms of
course work and previous assistantship record, if any. Assistants are evaluated in writing by
their supervisors at the end of each semester. Continuation of an award depends on supervisor
evaluations, length of funding eligibility, and availability of funds. Full-time assistantships
require 20 hrs/week on the average, with some workloads fluctuating seasonally, as with field
trips, etc., and depending on the nature of the assignment. Students are notified of their
assignment at or before the start of the semester or as soon as possible thereafter (the final
assignment may change from the initial assignment due to class enrollments and schedule
conflicts, for example).
2. Graduate student union. Students supported by State-funded assistantships (T.A. and G.A.
positions) are represented by a bargaining unit, the Graduate Student Employees Union. The
terms of the Agreement between the GSEU and the University govern elements of salary,
benefits, and working conditions.
3. Funding durations. M.A. students in Geological Sciences can be funded for up to two years
(four semesters). Funding for the full time depends on maintaining satisfactory progress
toward the degree, as defined in this handbook, and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Ph.D. students in Geological Sciences can be funded for up to four years beyond the
M.A./M.S. or five years if entering with the B.A./B.S. degree and proceeding directly into the
Ph.D. program. Funding for the full time depends on maintaining satisfactory progress toward
the degree, as defined in this handbook, and is contingent on the availability of funds. One
additional year of funding for Ph.D. students can be obtained by appeal to the Graduate
Committee in Geological Sciences; such additional funding should not be construed as
automatic and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Any request for the additional year
of funding must be accompanied in writing by a letter or memorandum from the student's
adviser explaining the need for additional funding, summarizing the progress of the student,
and indicating a realistic completion time for the student (and why additional funding will
facilitate completion). As a general policy, we give preference in funding to new students
ahead of continuing students at this advanced (greater than four or five years, as appropriate)
stage.
4. New York drivers license. Each teaching or graduate assistant must obtain a N.Y. State
driver's license within 3 weeks of the beginning of the term if at all possible. A N.Y.S. drivers
license is required of assistants on departmental field-trips, as for any driver of New York
State vehicles. Note: N.Y. State insurance (N.Y. State is self-insured) may not cover drivers
lacking N.Y.S. drivers license.
5. Tuition scholarship. A tuition scholarship usually accompanies assistantship awards. The
usual support is 12 c.h. for first-year MA students and 9 c.h. or the minimum credits necessary
for all others; however, the level of the scholarship is dependent on availability of funding.
M.A. and Ph.D. students are assigned an initial academic adviser immediately upon
entering the program. The Graduate Committee assigns this adviser based on information in the
student's application, the indicated intentions of the student, or the likely area of research
specialization. Students should consult with this adviser regularly for advice relating to their
intended program. The assignment of an initial adviser is not intended to imply that a student
must select that adviser as the research director. In fact, graduate students are encouraged,
indeed urged, to seek the advice of numerous faculty members on academic and research issues.
The initial adviser will be replaced by the M.A. thesis or Ph.D. comprehensive examination
committee upon approval of the M.A. thesis proposal or Ph.D. examination committee,
respectively (see below).
Grievances regarding grading or discriminatory treatment in a specific course or by a
specific instructor should be directed to the Department chair. In general, grievances are initially
referred to a Department grievance committee. In the event of significant disagreements
regarding thesis/dissertation between a student and the adviser or advisors, it is recommended that
the student request a meeting with the thesis or dissertation committee to resolve the matter. If
the outcome proves unsatisfactory, the student might then request a meeting with the Graduate
Committee, which will review the matter. The committee may make its decision known
immediately or may pursue the matter in depth, interviewing the principals, as the situation
demands. Grievances that cannot be resolved at the department level may be brought to the
Grievance Committee of the Graduate Council as described in the GSSH.
The Department recognizes that graduate students need to achieve a broad perspective in
the Geological Sciences in order that they not be too limited to one specialty. This is a
department objective in addition to the usual graduate objective of developing a professional
specialization. Both M.A. and Ph.D. students are expected to demonstrate their breadth of
knowledge in the geological sciences. This is normally done by coursework, here at Binghamton
or at another institution. Specific application of this requirement is as follows:
1. All students must complete at least 24 credit hours of courses at Binghamton. This usually
involves six (6) four-credit or equivalent courses in the Geological Sciences. Geol. 597
(Independent Study) and courses from other departments may be counted toward this
requirement only if recommended by the student's adviser and approved in advance by the
Graduate Committee. An average of B or better must be maintained, and only grades higher
than C can be counted, in these six courses.
2. The program of courses will be established through consultation with the student's adviser and
approved by the Graduate Committee. The student will meet with his/her adviser to develop a
proposed course program. The exact makeup of the course program should be based on the
student's prior background and the training necessary for the student's planned program.
However, in each case a student is expected to demonstrate advanced knowledge in at least
three of the areas that define the breadth of the geological sciences (e.g., petrology/geochemistry, surficial geology/sedimentology/paleobiology, structure/tectonics/earth history, and
geophysics). Students will meet periodically with the Graduate Committee and/or their
academic progress will be reviewed by the Committee to be certain that an appropriate level of
breadth is maintained.
In addition to the Graduate School's residence and course-credit-hours requirements, there
are specific M.A. requirements of the Department of Geological Sciences. These include the
course requirement and the thesis requirement.
A. Course requirement
A minimum total of 30 credit hours is required to complete the M.A. degree in Geological
Sciences. Typically, 24 c.h. of courses are completed in the first year and at least 6 c.h. of thesis
are taken in the second year. To satisfy the breadth requirement, it is recommended that M.A.
students take at least three (3) 4-credit or equivalent courses in three different areas of the
geological sciences.
B. Thesis requirement
M.A. students in Geological Sciences are required to complete a thesis involving
independent research in their chosen area of specialization. Associated with this is the
requirement to register for no less than 6 c.h. of Thesis Research (Geol. 599). A final public
defense and oral examination is required on the thesis. The M.A. thesis is intended to
demonstrate the capacity for independent work of high quality.
1. Submittal of M.A. thesis proposal. Early upon entering the program, the M.A. student
should discuss thesis possibilities with potential faculty advisers having specializations related
to the student's area of interest. After deciding upon a topic, the student, in consultation with
the adviser, prepares a thesis proposal during the second semester, or earlier if possible. The
student should discuss this proposal with two other faculty members in the department and
obtain their consent to serve on the thesis committee. Two copies of the thesis proposal with
the signatures of the adviser and two additional faculty who have agreed to serve on the thesis
committee should be submitted to the Graduate Committee for approval. Generally the
proposal is about 5 pages in length (see below). The Graduate Committee must approve both
proposal and committee before research may begin.
2. Scheduling. M.A. thesis work generally occupies the summer months full time and academic
months part time. To obtain approval to begin research during the first summer following
entry into the program, the M.A. thesis proposal must be submitted no later than 6 weeks
before the end of the second semester (approximately March 15). This allows time for review,
revision, and resubmittal if necessary. Similarly, students contemplating graduation should
submit the final thesis draft no later than 6 weeks before the end of the semester in which
graduation is desired (approx. November 1 or March 15). Adherence to these deadlines allows
time for reading, examination, revision, and submittal of the thesis and completion of all
paperwork before the semester's degree completion deadline.
3. M.A. thesis proposal. The proposal, of five pages or less, double spaced, should include:
4. M.A. thesis defense. The defense draft of the thesis, complete in all respects, should be as
near to final draft form as possible with respect to figures, tables, bibliography, abstract, index,
pagination, grammar, etc. One copy should be supplied for each examiner. Early drafts
should be reviewed by the adviser and by other committee members to improve as much as
possible the style and content.
In order for a student to defend an M.A. thesis, all members of the thesis committee must
agree that the thesis is ready for defense. Obviously, that means that they need a chance to
read it. The committee members should be given at least two weeks to read the thesis before a
thesis defense can be scheduled. The oral examination can be scheduled only after all
committee members have read the thesis and approved that it is ready for defense.
Because the oral examination is a public presentation and defense, and because most students
and faculty are absent during the summer period, ORAL EXAMINATIONS DURING THE
SUMMER PERIOD (SPRING COMMENCEMENT TO START OF FALL SEMESTER)
ARE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. The conditions for exceptions to this rule are described
in the last section of this handbook.
The adviser with consent of the advisory committee will arrange a time and place for the oral
examination and distribute announcements to faculty and students through the department at
least one week in advance of the defense. The student is allowed 20 to 30 minutes to present
the results of the investigation. Examiners then question the student on the thesis and related
topics.
The adviser communicates the results of the exam to the Graduate Committee indicating pass
with no revision, pass with minor revision, pass with major revision, or fail, with no
recommendation for revision
5. M.A. Thesis Final Copies. Bound final copies are submitted to the Graduate Office.
Guidelines on the preparation of final drafts of M.A. theses are available from the Graduate
Office. Consult the GSSH for important information relating to University requirements for
graduation. Students should also provide the thesis adviser with a bound final copy of the
thesis.
NOTE: STUDENTS ALONE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMITTING REQUIRED
THESIS COPIES AND PAPERWORK TO THE APPROPRIATE OFFICE, AND FOR
MEETING ALL OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES.
The Department of Geological Sciences' requirements for the Ph.D. degree include the
general course requirements, breadth requirement, the comprehensive examination, the research
skills-language requirement, and the Ph.D. dissertation.
A. General Course Requirements
The department requires that all full-time Ph.D. students maintain a full course load until
completion of the general oral examination. This requires at least two formal courses (excluding
Geol. Sci. 597, 698, 699, and 701) per semester. In so doing, each student also must satisfy the
University residence requirement and the Department breadth requirement.
B. Breadth Requirement
To satisfy the departmental breadth requirement, Ph.D. students should demonstrate
advanced knowledge that spans four different subfields of the Geological Sciences, including
sedimentology/surficial geology, petrology/geochemistry, geophysics, and tectonics/earth history.
Ph.D. students may use graduate level courses taken in another department at this University or
courses taken at another University in partial fulfillment of this requirement. Such use of courses
outside the Department must include a detailed course outline, a statement of the grade and
credits obtained, a declaration that the course was taken for graduate credit, and relevant
supportive material such as copies of the syllabus or catalog description, name of textbook used
or assigned reading list, and summary of lab topics (if a lab course).
C. Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination is designed to assess the ability of a Ph.D. student to
define and develop a research problem using scientific methodology and to assess the breadth of
the student's knowledge in various subdisciplines in the geological sciences relevant to the
student's research goals. Thus, the examination is administered in two parts: 1) a general oral
examination; and 2) an oral defense of a Ph.D. proposal. Discussion of the comprehensive
examination and possible Ph.D. topics with advisors, other faculty, and other students is
encouraged.
1. Time Schedule. Students must take the general oral portion of the comprehensive
examination before the middle of their third semester, although they are encouraged to take
the examination earlier. The oral defense of the Ph.D. proposal must be completed by the
middle of the fourth semester. The two portions of the examination are given separately (i.e.,
not in the same day).
2. General Oral Examination. The general oral examination comprises up to 3 hours of
questions from a committee of 5 faculty members of the Department of Geological Sciences
and is open to other faculty. An additional faculty member from outside the department may
be invited to serve on the committee. The student, in consultation with her/his adviser, should
submit a list of proposed examiners to the Graduate Committee no later than three weeks prior
to the examination date. The proposed committee should reflect the breadth of the Geological
Sciences; thus, the specializations of the faculty should not concentrate in one or two
subdisciplines. Commonly this is best achieved by recommending a committee representative
of the areas of academic work that the student has used to satisfy the breadth requirement.
The examining committee is then appointed by the Graduate Committee. The student's adviser
is responsible for arranging a time and place for the exam and informing other faculty with
several days' notice.
The objective of the general oral examination is to assess the breadth and depth of a student's
professional knowledge. In general, this involves questioning that reflects the breadth of the
student's course work, disciplines that are relevant to the student's academic and research
interest, and the emphases of the examining faculty.
The student's adviser is the chair of the examination committee. Each faculty member is
allotted approximately a half hour for questions, although the exact format of the examination
is at the discretion of the examining committee. Upon completion of the examination, the
examining committee votes on the results of the exam. A majority vote of the committee
determines one of the following results: PASS; CONDITIONAL PASS, with the requirement
that the student complete specified remedial work prior to defense of the Ph.D. proposal;
FAIL, with the opportunity to RETAKE the general examination before the end of the
semester; or FAIL, with termination of the student's program. A second failure requires
termination of the student's program. The committee immediately advises the student of its
decision, and the adviser notifies the Graduate Committee in writing of the result of the
examination.
3. Oral Defense of Ph.D. Proposal. The second portion of the comprehensive examination
comprises an oral defense of a dissertation proposal. The student should commence
investigation of possible dissertation research topics as soon as possible upon entry into the
Ph.D. program. There are three steps in the examination process.
a. A brief written summary of the proposed research notifies the Graduate Committee of the
student's intended dissertation research. This summary outlines the problem, referring to
sufficient previous work to indicate its significance, and the student's approach toward solving
that problem. It should be submitted to the Graduate Committee no later than the third week
of the semester during which the student intends to defend the Ph.D. proposal. It must be
approved in writing by the adviser, and the student should obtain signatures of at least two
other faculty from the Department of Geological Sciences who have agreed to serve on the
examining committee and subsequent dissertation committee. The Graduate Committee then
will assign a committee of at least four examiners, including those who have already agreed to
serve on the committee.
b. The student prepares a detailed dissertation proposal and submits written copies to the
members of the examining committee. The members of the committee are responsible for
reading the proposal, critically commenting upon the proposal, and returning it to the student
in a timely fashion if revision is necessary. When the proposal is in defensible form, an oral
defense is scheduled. Note that this process commonly requires several weeks.
Format of Proposal. The proposal attempts to demonstrate two related aspects of dissertation
research: (a) that the student has developed the ability to define a scientific problem on which
research can be completed for a Ph.D.; and (b) that the student knows how to proceed with
that problem. Six important elements need to be included.
1) Summarize the essence of the proposed research in a brief abstract.
2) Define the Ph.D. research as a scientific problem of importance in a field of the earth
sciences. Discuss and justify this importance.
3) Summarize the current state of knowledge about the problem. This involves a thorough
review of relevant scientific literature.
4) Present a detailed outline of the research plan, describing the scope and procedures to be
employed in the dissertation research. Justify how the research program will yield insight into
the scientific problem. Include a proposed timetable.
5) Demonstrate the feasibility of the dissertation project. As with any scientific proposal, it is
desirable that some preliminary feasibility work be conducted. Thus, the proposal may offer
some preliminary research results involving, for example, an application of proposed
laboratory or modeling techniques, reconnaissance field investigations to demonstrate
familiarity with the proposed study area, or any other appropriate preliminary research.
6) Cite appropriate literature and provide a reference list.
The proposal should be more than simply a list of proposed research techniques, although this
is a necessary part of the document. Rather, the proposal must stress the significance of the
scientific problem. The proposal must follow standard scientific journal format, such as that
of the Geological Society of America Bulletin or the Journal of Geophysical Research. Total
length, excluding figures and tables, should not exceed 15 pages. Figures must be carefully
prepared and/or reproduced, legible, and fully attributed if copied or modified from other
sources.
c. The oral defense of the Ph.D. proposal comprises up to 2 hours of presentation and
questioning and is open to all faculty. The student's adviser, who will chair the examination, is
responsible for arranging a time and place for the exam and informing other faculty with
several days notice. The examination itself begins with a 15- to 20-minute summary of the
proposed research by the student. This is followed by questions from the committee, and the
committee may invite questions from other faculty attending the examination. In contrast to
the general exam, the questions here are aimed at assessing the student's specific background
to undertake the proposed research. A majority vote of the committee determines PASS or
FAIL. A student who fails has 6 school weeks to retake the defense, and a second failure
results in termination from the program. The successfully defended proposal is submitted to
the Graduate Committee as the dissertation prospectus.
D. Research Skills-Language Requirement
Ph.D. students in Geological Sciences must satisfy a research skills requirement. The
specific scope of the requirement is set by the general oral examination committee. It may
involve translating one or more technical papers from a foreign language into English in order to
demonstrate the student's ability to utilize literature in another language. The committee may
also identify other research skills that are essential for the student to master. A student may
petition the Graduate Committee to substitute some other research skill for a language
requirement upon recommendation of the guidance committee. The research skills-language
requirement must be completed before admission to candidacy, within one semester of
completion of the comprehensive examination in order for the student to maintain satisfactory
progress in the program.
E. Candidacy
Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination and the research
skills-language requirement, the student is admitted into candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.
Full-time research on the Ph.D. dissertation may begin only after admission to candidacy,
although considerable background work and preliminary research should be completed prior to
this time. Ph.D. research normally takes no less than one year and typically requires two or more
years. The dissertation committee should be consulted regularly during the course of the
dissertation research. Dissertation research and the Ph.D. dissertation must be complete within
five years of admission to candidacy (University Five-year rule). Note that full-time
assistantship/fellowship support may be limited by the department or University to a period less
than that required for completion of the dissertation.
F. Ph.D. Dissertation Defense
The Ph.D. dissertation is defended in a public forum. The Department has the following
guidelines in preparing the dissertation for defense.
1. Dissertation Format. The Ph.D. dissertation should report the results of a coherent,
scientifically significant research program and demonstrate the candidate's ability to conceive,
carry forward, and complete such a program. The actual dissertation manuscript must follow
guidelines issued by the Graduate Office regarding page size, quality of paper, etc.. The
format for the body of the dissertation can be a traditional dissertation, with chapters
progressively developing the theme and substance of the dissertation research. However,
Ph.D. students in the Geological Sciences may organize their dissertation into publishable
chapters (or chapters ready for publication) linked by an introduction to the overall research
problem and an overall conclusion. Thus the dissertation might consist of units, each with its
own abstract and bibliography, and might consist of the typescript of manuscripts that have
been submitted for publication, or even that have been published. For the purpose of the
defense draft of the dissertation, the candidate is the sole author and must stand ready to
defend all work included in the defense draft. Authorship decisions pertaining to publication
of such units are left to the author or authors of the work.
2. Dissertation Defense Draft. The dissertation draft intended for defense must be complete in
all respects and must be reviewed and approved by each member of the dissertation committee
before the final oral examination can be scheduled. Thus, all tables, figures, references, index,
abstract, pagination, etc. must be complete when the defense draft is submitted; the
dissertation should already have benefitted from review by the adviser and other interested
faculty (including, but not necessarily limited to, the dissertation committee). There must be
unanimous approval by the dissertation committee that the draft is defensible before the exam
can proceed. Typically, an initial draft must begin circulating to the dissertation committee
two months before the planned defense in order to supply adequate time for review and
revision. At this point, a copy of the approved defense draft must be placed on file in the
Department office at least two weeks prior to the defense date so that other interested faculty
can read the dissertation before its defense. Any failure to meet this deadline REQUIRES
automatic postponement of the defense, with a new defense date scheduled for two weeks
after the defense draft is submitted to the Department office. Furthermore, the Graduate
Office requires a month's notice to schedule the final oral examination. After the Graduate
Office is notified, the Graduate Vice-Provost assigns an external examiner from another
department or institution. The student and her/his adviser may recommend who this external
examiner should be. The student must provide this examiner with a copy of the defense draft
at least two weeks before the scheduled examination date. Consult the Graduate School
Student Handbook for further details. Note that students intending to complete the Ph.D. in
May should submit defense drafts no later than mid-semester (October 15 or March 15).
3. Final Oral Examination. Final oral Ph.D. exams are public events, open to all faculty,
students, and any person wishing to attend. After appointment of the external examiner, the
final oral exam (dissertation defense) should be scheduled and publicized with adequate notice.
FINAL ORAL EXAMS WILL NOT NORMALLY BE SCHEDULED DURING
SEMESTER HOLIDAYS, RECESSES, OR DURING SUMMER PERIODS WHEN MOST
FACULTY AND STUDENTS ARE ABSENT. In case of hardship, exceptions to this latter
rule can be made by unanimous vote of the Ph.D. committee and affirmative vote of the entire
departmental faculty. See below for further details.
The final Ph.D. exam is chaired by the principal adviser, and the examination committee
normally is the dissertation advisory committee plus the outside examiner. Any substitutions
must be approved by the Graduate Committee at the time of request for scheduling the final
exam.
The examination may take several hours. It begins with a summary by the student of the
dissertation results, generally for no more than 45 minutes. The examination committee
questions the candidate about the dissertation results. In addition, the chair of the defense may
solicit questions from the audience.
At the conclusion of the exam, the chair requests all but the examination committee to leave
the room so that the members may reach a decision. The committee votes on the results of
the examination; a unanimous vote of the dissertation committee is required. The results can
be PASS, PASS with MAJOR or MINOR revisions, or FAIL (with or without
recommendation for termination). In the event of a qualified acceptance of the dissertation,
the adviser must notify the Graduate Vice-Provost in writing. All results are given to the
Graduate Committee in writing.
Students are responsible for submitting all final copies of the dissertation and for meeting all
other Graduate Office deadlines. Consult the GSSH for details and the Graduate Office for
deadlines, which vary from year to year. The student should provide a bound copy of the
dissertation to the principal adviser and other committee members who request one.
4. Final Disposition of Research Materials. Doctoral students are required to leave a suitably
labelled set of representative specimens from any collections made during the dissertation
research, together with copies of maps and other relevant materials, for permanent reference in
the department. Materials acquired through departmental or grant support must be left with
the adviser unless other arrangements are made.
Graduate theses and dissertations and Ph.D. proposals shall not be defended in the
Department of Geological Sciences at any time during the summer ("Summer" is herein defined
as beginning each year on the date scheduled for the University Commencement and ending on
the day preceding the first day of classes of the fall semester), except under the provisions stated
below.
A summer defense may only be scheduled
a) if a student, failing to meet the Spring graduation deadline, is clearly unable to attend a
defense during the ensuing fall semester or would be exceptionally afflicted by postponement,
and
b) if that student submits a written petition to the department chairman at least one month before
the end of the Spring Semester stating the circumstances, and
c) if that petition bears the unanimous written consent of all members of the student's thesis or
dissertation defense committee, and
d) if, upon being presented to the full faculty in residence, the petition gains the approval of the
simple majority of that faculty.
Last modified: May 26, 1998 (dmj, jsb)
II. DEPARTMENT POLICIES ON USE OF EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
III. ACADEMIC POLICIES
IV. ADVISING
V. DEPARTMENTAL GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
VI. ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
VII. M.A. DEGREE PROGRAM AND REQUIREMENTS
VIII. Ph.D. DEGREE PROGRAM AND REQUIREMENTS
IX. SCHEDULING OF ORAL EXAMINATIONS DURING SUMMER
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