How will the composition of my committee change as I progress toward my degree?

The candidacy examination committee consists of three members of the earth sciences graduate faculty: the advisor, the minor advisor, and one general earth sciences examiner. All members of the committee must have the appropriate graduate faculty rank as described in the departmental handbook. The dissertation committee, which evaluates the student's dissertation proposal, consists of the candidacy examination committee, plus an outside member who may be from another department on campus or another institution if approved by the Graduate College.

What specific coursework must be taken to satisfy the Ph.D. requirements?

Students must take a specific amount of coursework in their minor area. Beyond this, the only specific requirement that must be completed prior to graduation is a dissertation and certain amount of credit hours above the M.S. or B.S. respectively. Specific coursework necessary to prepare the candidate for the dissertation work will be selected on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the faculty advisor and the members of the examination committee.

Applied Geology - Ph.D.

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).

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Program Information for Applied Geology - Ph.D.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Show in-depth comprehension of several areas, including both basic and applied aspects of geology/earth sciences.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to formulate testable scientific hypotheses and carry out independent research using appropriate field, experimental, analytical and/or computational methods.
  3. Describe, synthesize and interpret the results of a scientific investigation and understand its broader applications.

Admissions for Applied Geology - Ph.D.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Priority deadline: January 15
      Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Coursework

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Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
ESCI 70084GEOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT ORIENTATION 1
ESCI 70087WRITING IN THE EARTH SCIENCES 1
Additional Requirements28-58
Culminating Requirement
ESCI 80199DISSERTATION I 130
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Baccalaureate Students90
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Master's Students60
1

Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for ESCI 80199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I, and thereafter ESCI 80299, each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • All students will have a fundamental knowledge and understanding of earth materials by the end of the second year in the program. This will be fulfilled by a lecture and lab course in Earth materials or an equivalent course related to mineralogy and/or petrology as determined by the graduate coordinator.

Candidacy

To be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree, a student 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.

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Applied Geology - Ph.D.

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

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Paleontology - Minor

The Paleontology minor provides a comprehensive understanding of paleontology and its interdisciplinary nature. You will gain hands-on experience in the field and the lab while studying a diverse range of topics, including paleobotany, paleoecology and vertebrate paleontology. With the knowledge and skills acquired from this program, you will be well equipped for careers in the field of paleontology or any related field. Enroll now and uncover the secrets of the past.

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Program Information for Paleontology - Minor

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Paleontology minor prepares students to integrate concepts in geology and biology to address issues in conservation paleobiology, historical and current causes of extinctions and evolutionary patterns on geological scales. Scientific knowledge about paleontology is used to inform different areas of formal study such as biological sciences, conservation biology, anthropology, environmental studies, geography and museum and natural history education.

Students in the minor gain broad knowledge of paleobiology and the interplay between the geosphere and the biosphere over geologic time as well as in the Anthropocene. Competencies focus on evolutionary processes over geologic time applied to the interpretation of modern and historic floras and faunas and communication about these issues to policymakers and the public.

Admissions for Paleontology - Minor

Admissions

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

To declare the Paleontology minor, students must have a minimum 2.000 overall Kent State University GPA. No Kent State University GPA is required if the student is a first-semester freshman or transfer student admitted in good standing.

Coursework

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Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

Minor Requirement
ESCI 11042EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS) 3
ESCI 11043EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ESCI 34061PRINCIPLES OF PALEONTOLOGY 4
Minor Electives, choose from the following:6-7
ANTH 18630
HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS)
ANTH 48810
HUMAN PALEONTOLOGY
BSCI 30050
HUMAN GENETICS
BSCI 30275
LOCAL FLORA (ELR)
BSCI 40163
EVOLUTION
BSCI 40556
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
ESCI 41079
ALL ABOUT DINOSAURS
ESCI 41085
MASS EXTINCTIONS: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES
ESCI 44070
SEDIMENTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY
ESCI 44072
MARINE PROCESSES
ESCI 44074
PALEOCEANOGRAPHY
Minimum Total Credit Hours:14

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
  • Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).
Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
    • Stark Campus

Environmental Geology - Minor

The Environmental Geology minor prepares students to integrate concepts and knowledge of environmental geology and to communicate these issues to a variety of audiences, including policymakers and the public. Scientific knowledge about environmental geology processes is used to inform different areas of formal study such as anthropology, architecture, geography, political science, environmental law, environmental studies and recreation and park management.

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Program Information for Environmental Geology - Minor

Coursework

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Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

Minor Requirements
ESCI 21062ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (KBS) 3
ESCI 11040HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) 3
or ESCI 21080 ALL ABOUT THE OCEANS (KBS)
ESCI 33025WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT 3
Minor Electives, choose from the following:6-7
ESCI 32066
GEOMORPHOLOGY
ESCI 40380
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
ESCI 41085
MASS EXTINCTIONS: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES
ESCI 42030
REMOTE SENSING
ESCI 42035
DATA ANALYSIS IN THE EARTH SCIENCES
ESCI 44025
GEOLOGIC HAZARDS AND DISASTERS
ESCI 44074
PALEOCEANOGRAPHY
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
  • Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).
Admissions for Environmental Geology - Minor

Admissions

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

To declare the Environmental Geology minor, students must have a minimum 2.000 overall Kent State University GPA. No Kent State University GPA is required if the student is a first-semester freshman or transfer student admitted in good standing.

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
    • Stark Campus

Explore Kent Chemistry 2024

students doing a lab experiment

We invite high school students and their families to visit the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for Explore Kent Chemistry Day on Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. High school juniors and seniors come from all over Ohio and neighboring states for Explore Kent Chemistry Day! At Explore Kent Chemistry Day, our chemistry and biochemistry Faculty will discuss our curriculum, career prospects with our degrees and research opportunities available to undergraduates. Current Kent State chemistry and biochemistry majors will provide insight into ...

Earth Science - Minor

The Earth Science minor prepares students to integrate concepts and knowledge of Earth's surface, its interior and its interactions with life and water. Scientific knowledge about Earth processes and earth-life-water interactions is critical for making informed decisions in science education, public policy, public health, conservation, resource management and environmental consulting. Students in the minor gain essential knowledge of earth systems science, including the interactions of earth's atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere over both shorter (millennium) and longer (mega-annum) time periods.

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Program Information for Earth Science - Minor

Coursework

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Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

Minor Requirements
ESCI 11040HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) 3
ESCI 33025WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT 3
GEOG 41066GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE 3
Minor Electives, choose from the following: 16-7
ESCI 42030
REMOTE SENSING
ESCI 44025
GEOLOGIC HAZARDS AND DISASTERS
ESCI 44074
PALEOCEANOGRAPHY
GEOG 31062
FUNDAMENTALS OF METEOROLOGY
GEOG 41073
CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
GEOG 49070
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15
1

Other relevant courses may be substituted in consultation with an adviser.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
  • Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).
Admissions for Earth Science - Minor

Admissions

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

To declare the Earth Science minor, students must have a minimum 2.000 overall Kent State University GPA. No Kent State University GPA is required if the student is a first-semester freshman or transfer student admitted in good standing.

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
    • Stark Campus

Geology - Minor

The Geology minor is for students who have a primary interest in a field that can be complemented by a basic knowledge of geological concepts. The minor can be of particular benefit to students who have a major or interest in the following: anthropology, architecture, business, geography, journalism, political science, environmental law, recreation and park management and other liberal arts or science fields.

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Program Information for Geology - Minor

Coursework

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Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

Minor Requirements
Minor Elective, choose from the following:3
ESCI 11040
HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS)
ESCI 11042
EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS)
ESCI 21062
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (KBS)
ESCI 21080
ALL ABOUT THE OCEANS (KBS)
Earth Science (ESCI) Electives 1,212
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15
1

Earth Science (ESCI) electives must be chosen from courses not listed above. Students must meet prerequisites for all courses chosen as Earth Science (ESCI) electives.

2

Maximum 3 credit hours of ESCI 40096 may be applied to the 12 elective credit hours.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Courses with S/U grade may not be applied to the minor.
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
  • Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).
Admissions for Geology - Minor

Admissions

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
    • Stark Campus

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