Graduate Program Degree Programs

Students are responsible for consulting the campus General Catalog and quarterly Schedule of Classes for University requirements, registration procedures and fee deadlines.

Our graduate degrees in Earth Science are primarily research degrees, rather than unit-count degrees. The course requirements are fairly minimal, the course selection tailored to your research interests, and the focus is squarely on the progress and quality of your research, monitored by your Principal Advisor, and assessed by your Advisory Committee during periodic reviews and gateway examinations.

Masters Degree in Earth Science

The department offers a Master of Science in Earth Science. MS candidates follow an integrated course of study recommended by their placement committee and Principal Advisor.

An M.S. degree is earned by satisfying the course requirements listed below, producing a Research Paper, delivering a Research Competency (“Comps”) Review Presentation, and completing a satisfactory Thesis.

The course requirements common to all Earth Science graduate students consist of EARTH 201A, 201B, and 268, plus repeated attendance in EARTH 260 (seminar) every quarter while in residence. The individualized course requirement consists of 22 units of “Selected Courses” comprising (a) courses prescribed by the student’s Entrance Assessment Committee and (b) courses selected by the student. In total, students must complete a minimum of 30.0 graduate units (passed with a grade of B or better with the exception of EARTH 596, which may be passed satisfactorily). A maximum of 10 units of EARTH 596 and 10 units of 100-level courses may be applied toward the unit requirement; the rest must be 200-level courses. In addition to departmental requirements, candidates for graduate degrees must fulfill University requirements described in the “Graduate Education” section of the UCSB General Catalog. MS students should arrange their studies to finish in not more than two years.

For more details, see the Graduate Handbook

Questions not answered in the Graduate Handbook? Ask Quinlan Dougherty, Graduate Program Coordinator (grad@geol.ucsb.edu).

PhD in Earth Science

The department’s Ph.D. encompasses study in any of the branches of Earth Science.

A Ph.D. degree is earned by satisfying the course requirements listed below, passing all milestone examinations, and completing the preparation and successful defense of a satisfactory dissertation.

The course requirements common to all Earth Science graduate students consist of EARTH 201A, 201B, and 268, plus repeated attendance in EARTH 260 (seminar) every quarter while in residence. The individualized course requirement consists of 22 units of “Selected Courses” comprising (a) courses prescribed by the student’s Entrance Assessment Committee and (b) courses selected by the student. In total, students must complete a minimum of 30 graduate units (passed with a grade of B or better with the exception of EARTH 596, which may be passed satisfactorily). A maximum of 10 units of EARTH 596 and 10 units of 100-level courses may be applied toward the unit requirement; the rest must be 200-level courses. In addition to departmental requirements, candidates for graduate degrees must fulfill University requirements described in the “Graduate Education” section of the UCSB General Catalog.

Milestone Examinations
A Ph.D. student’s ability to proceed with the program is verified through two milestone examinations: the Research Competency Exam (“Comps”) in the Winter quarter of year 2 and the Oral Qualifying Exam (“Quals”) after 6 quarters in residency. Students who fail a milestone exam may have a second (and last) attempt the following quarter.

Dissertation Defense
The final requirement for the Ph.D. program is to complete and defend a dissertation, which must be an original work that demonstrates the ability to contribute significant, independent, and original research. The Ph.D. Committee (Advisory Committee) will guide the candidate in this work and judge the merit of the completed dissertation. The written dissertation must be approved by all members of the Ph.D. Committee. When the dissertation is completed to the satisfaction of the Ph.D. Committee, then the candidate must deliver a public oral defense. Possible outcomes are: (1) Pass, (2) Conditional Pass, or (3) Fail. 

We expect you to finish the Ph.D. within 4.5 to 5.5 years of full-time study. Students entering with a completed MA/MS degree are expected to complete their degrees in less time. 

For more details, see the Graduate Handbook

Questions not answered in the Graduate Handbook? Ask Quinlan Dougherty, Graduate Program Coordinator (grad@geol.ucsb.edu).

Certificate in College and University Teaching (Optional)

In addition to Teaching Assistantships, our department offers particularly motivated students a limited number of opportunities to teach entire courses as the Instructor of Record. Some students also pursue the Certificate in College and University Teaching

The Certificate in College and University Teaching (CCUT) is designed for doctoral students who wish to demonstrate superior competence and experience in preparation for teaching at the university or college level.

Awarding of the CCUT requires (i) participation in all required TA training programs and events, (ii) completion of a CCUT approved course that encompasses college-level pedagogy, (iii) completion of an activity aimed at improving instruction with technology (a classroom project, research-based discussion, or research paper), (iv) teaching a course as Instructor of Record, and (v) submission of a satisfactory portfolio describing and reflecting upon the above requirements. For more information, see here.

Doctoral Emphases (Optional)

You can enrich your doctoral program with any of three multidisciplinary emphases offered in collaboration with sister departments.

Climate Science and Climate Change

The PhD dissertation of students participating in this emphasis needs to have a strong focus in Climate Sciences and/or Climate Change.

Fulfillment of the emphasis requires presenting your research in the GEOG 288LC Geography in Climate Research Meetings seminar series and taking six courses: GEOG 287 Seminar in Climate Science and Climate Change, GEOG 280 Geography Climate Research Meetings, two elective courses in the Physical Sciences, and two elective courses and two elective courses in the social sciences. This emphasis is offered in collaboration with the Departments of: Economics, Environmental Science and Management, Geography, and the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science. More information is provided here.

Computational Science and Engineering

Going from application area to computational results requires domain expertise, mathematical modeling, numerical analysis, algorithm development, software implementation, program execution, analysis, validation, and visualization or results. CSE addresses these issues. Although CSE includes elements from computer science, applied mathematics, engineering and science, it focuses on the integration of knowledge and methodologies from all of these disciplines and, as such, is a subject distinct from any of them.

Fulfillment of the emphasis requires presentation of a research paper, writing and defending a dissertation in CSE and completing six courses in the three-part core sequence. Part 1, Numerical Methods requires three courses from the ECE 210 A-B-C D series consisting of Matrix Analysis and Computation and Numerical Simulation and Numerical Solutions of Partial Differential Equations Finite Difference Methods and Numerical Solutions of Partial Differential Equations Finite Elements Methods; Part 2, Parallel Computing requires one course from the CMPSC 240 A-B Applied Parallel Computing series; Part 3, Applied Mathematics requires both courses from either the MATH 214 A-B Ordinary Differential equations and Chaotic Dynamics and Bifurcation Theory series, the MATH 215 A-B Partial Differential Equations and Fourier Series and Numerical Methods series, or the CH E 230 A-B Advances in Theoretical Methods in Engineering series. The PhD dissertation must be centrally focused on a question emerging from Computational Science and Engineering.

This emphasis is offered in collaboration with the departments of Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Ecology Evolution and Marine Biology, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mathematics, and Mechanical Engineering. For more information, see here.

Environment and Society

This emphasis encompasses the diverse, dynamic, and complex interactions between human societies and their biophysical surroundings, over time and space. Environment and Society includes environmental change, environmental politics, and environmental problems and solutions, as well as critical theories of environmental thought, perception, representation, and action. This emphasis fosters the integrative thinking and problem-solving skills essential for leaders of the next generation of environmental scholars in their respective fields

The PhD dissertation of students in this emphasis must include some aspect of interdisciplinary environmental studies as a component of their dissertation.

Fulfillment of the emphasis requires completing four courses: Env S 200 Core Seminar in Environment and Society, plus three elective courses in an area of specialization outside of your department and/or discipline. You may design your own elective curriculum, with proper justification, or choose them from a standing list. Consistent attendance at the annual symposium, where beginning and continuing students present their research, is also required.

This emphasis is offered in collaboration with the Departments of Anthropology, Environmental Science and Management, Chicana and Chicano Studies, East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies, Ecology Evolution and Marine Biology, Education, English, Feminist Studies, Film and Media Studies, Geography, Global Studies, History, Interdeparmental Graduate Program in Marine Science, Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology & Brain Science, and Sociology. For more information, see here