Graduate
Student Learning Outcomes
Geology
Broad Earth Sciences Graduate Program Goals
Upon graduating, students with a graduate degree (MS in Geology or PhD in Applied Earth Sciences) will:
- Broadly understand and explain the significance of major research questions in one or more areas of earth sciences.
- Formulate testable scientific hypotheses.
- Carry out independent research in one or more subfields of earth sciences, using appropriate field, experimental, analytical, and/or computational methods.
- Describe, synthesize, and interpret the results of a scientific investigation orally and in writing.
Student Learning Outcomes for the M.S. Degree Program
Students who graduate with an MS degree* will achieve the following objectives:
- Demonstrate the ability to synthesize current research questions and approaches in one or more subfields of Earth Sciences by critical evaluation of primary scientific literature.
- Write a research proposal that presents a testable hypothesis, outlines the types of data needed to test the hypothesis, and describes how the collected data will be used to test the hypothesis.
- Devise and implement a field, experimental, analytical, and/or computational plan aimed at collecting and analyzing the data necessary to address a specific scientific question.
- Communicate research results to peers via poster or oral presentation, or publication in peer-reviewed journals, meeting abstracts, and/or technical reports.
- Write and defend their research results (orally or in poster format) to demonstrate mastery of the material and an ability to communicate the results and significance of their work.
*numbers 1-5 apply to thesis-option MS graduates. Number 1 applies to non-thesis option MS graduates.
Student Learning Outcomes for the PhD in Applied Earth Sciences
Students who graduate with a Ph.D. in Applied Earth Science will achieve the following objectives:
- Conduct independent research under the supervision of a research advisor to design, test, and analyze the results of original laboratory and/or field experiments.
- Demonstrate the ability to read, interpret, and incorporate the results of primary literature into the research design.
- Employ rigorous approaches to sampling design and data collection, replication of experimental results, set up of experimental controls, and organization of raw data.
- Summarize, describe and analyze patterns in data, interpret results and draw conclusions from data to defend or refute a hypothesis.
- Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of applied earth sciences through successful completion of preliminary and qualifying examinations.
- Document an original contribution to applied earth sciences through publication of peer-reviewed results, and presentation and defense of an original dissertation.
