PhD In Earth Sciences Khalifa University

Overall Program Structure

The Ph.D. in Earth Sciences consists of a minimum of 60 credit hours, distributed as follows: 24 credit hours of coursework, and 36 credit hours of Ph.D. Dissertation and two zero credit Ph.D. Seminar courses. The components of the program are summarized in the table below:

Program Component - Credit Hours

• SCIE 701 Research Methods Science - 3
• SCIE 702 Research Seminar I - 0
• SCIE 703 Research Seminar II - 0
• Program Electives - 21
• SCIE 799 Ph.D. Research Dissertation - 36
• Total - 60

Program Requirements

Students seeking the degree of Ph.D. in Earth Sciences must successfully complete a minimum of 60 credit hours as specified in the program requirements detailed below, with a minimum CGPA of 3.0. Course selection should be made in consultation with the student’s Main Advisor.

Program Core (3 credit hours)

Students must complete the following core courses:

• SCIE 701 Research Methods Science
• SCIE 702 Research Seminar I (0 credits)
• SCIE 703 Research Seminar II (0 credits)

Program Electives 21 credit hours)

Students must complete a total of six elective courses (18 credits). Program electives are listed below:

• ERTH 701 Petroleum Systems
• ERTH 702 Lab Methods in Sedimentology and Geochemistry
• ERTH 703 Lab and Field Techniques in Geophysics
• ERTH 711 Carbonate Petrology and Stratigraphy
• ERTH 712 Field Geology
• ERTH 713 Rock Physics
• ERTH 714 Seismic Interpretation in Petroleum Exploration and Production
• ERTH 715 Seismic Modelling and Imaging
• ERTH 718 Biogeochemical Cycles
• ERTH 719 Deformation and Structures of Sedimentary Rocks
• ERTH 720 Organic Geochemistry
• ERTH 721 Sedimentary Basins Analysis
• ERTH 722 Shared Earth Models
• ERTH 723 Isotope Geochemistry

Subject to the approval of the Main Advisor and the Program Coordinator, up to two electives (6 credits) may be taken from outside the student’s department, if these courses support the student’s dissertation topic.

SCIE 799 Ph.D. Research Dissertation (36 credit hours)

Students must complete a Dissertation that involves creative, research-oriented work within the field of Earth Sciences, under the direct supervision of a full-time faculty advisor from the Earth Sciences Department, and at least one other full-time faculty who acts as a co-advisor. The outcome of the research should demonstrate the synthesis of information into knowledge in a form that may be used by others. The research findings must be documented in a formal dissertation and defended successfully in a viva voce examination.

Objectives

The objectives of the Ph.D. in Earth Sciences program are to produce graduates who have the ability to:

• Synthesize and critically evaluate complex current knowledge in the Earth Sciences in order to plan and implement new and creative approaches so as to generate new knowledge and solve research challenges with effective dissemination of the results to a variety of audiences;
• Work to the highest professional and ethical standards in an area of Earth Sciences and develop their individual academic, professional, and career skills; and
• Keep abreast of the latest developments in Earth Sciences that contribute to the advancement of knowledge for the benefit of society.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, a graduate will be able to:

• Demonstrate and critically analyze comprehensive, deep, and overarching knowledge that is at the frontier of recent developments in Earth Sciences.
• Conduct and defend original independent research that creates significant new knowledge in Earth Sciences of publishable quality that leads to scholarly articles or other intellectual outputs.
• Analyse and critically evaluate the uses and limitations of diverse methodologies and techniques for solving problems in Earth Sciences research, leading to informed and valid judgments.
• Select and deploy advanced experimental and related skills to investigate and solve complex problems in Earth Sciences research.
• Communicate effectively and professionally, in written and oral forms as appropriate, the major tenets of areas of Earth Sciences and their individual specializations to a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrate a commitment to safe, responsible, and ethical behavior in all research and professional activities.
• Reflect upon their role(s) in their research specialization and in the wider research community to ensure that they take responsibility for their own development and that of peer groups and networks.