Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Requirements
PhD degrees are expected to take four years to complete. Students not following this schedule are at risk of making unsatisfactory academic progress. Graduate College (GC) forms will be routed through GradPath in UAccess. Geoscience (GEO) forms wil be submitted to the Geosciences Graduate Office (Gould-Simpson room 210.) Please refer to the Graduate College's Degree Requirements page for information about Graduate College forms.
NOTE: The following information is a snapshot of what is required for the degree. More detailed information can be found in the updated handbook or via the UArizona Catalog.
REQUIRED Annual Committee Meeting
It is the student's responsibility to arrange and hold a required yearly committee meeting with all four committee members. The meeting (30-60 minutes minimum) is an opportunity to discuss progress and goals as a group, identify relevant courses, provide advice, and consider funding opportunities. Please fill out the Annual Meeting Form with all members' names and date. This meeting is not supposed to be a mini-oral exam; the advisory committee should benefit the student by providing advice and support.
Prepare a brief (no more than one page) written report that summarizes progress during the past year and outlines all goals for the coming year. The prepared progress report should be signed by each member of the committee and a copy is due in the Geosciences Academic Affairs office (Gould Simpson Rm 210).
Below is the recommended schedule for PhD students.
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | |
| YEAR ONE | Diagnostic exam | |
| YEAR TWO | Committee Meeting (in prep for comps) | Comp Exams |
| YEAR THREE | Committee meeting | |
| YEAR FOUR | Committee Meeting (if graduating in May) | or Committee Meeting (if not graduating) |
| YEAR FIVE | Committee Meeting (if graduating in May) |
Timeline for Completion of PhD Paperwork
| First Semester | Responsible Conduct of Research (GC) Submit this form through GradPath. Required before any other forms can be filed. |
| First Semester | PhD Diagnostic Exam (GEO) Submit Diagnostic Exam form to Geosciences Grad Office. Meet with Temporary Advisor and two committee members; plan program of study. |
| Second Semester | Evaluation of Transfer Credit (GC) If applicable. Student may use 15 units of transfer from an MS degree. |
| Third Semester | PhD Plan of Study (GC) Submit this form through GradPath. List (minimum) 45 units of course work as well as 18 units of GEOS 920, dissertation. |
| Third Semester | Comp Exam Committee Appointment (GC) Submit this form through GradPath. Your committee must have four members; three members must be tenure-track in Geosciences |
| Fourth Semester | Comprehensive Exam Work with advisor to determine format of written exam. Complete written exam. Submit Announcement of Doctoral Comprehensive Exam (GC) through GradPath to schedule oral exam. |
| Semester after Oral Comprehensive Exam | Formulate dissertation research proposal (GEO). Submit Proposed Dissertation Research form to Geosciences Grad Office. |
| Six months before defense | Doctoral Dissertation Committee Appointment (GC). Submit this form through GradPath. |
| By Posted Deadline | Submit Announcement of Final Oral Defense through GradPath to schedule defense. |
| By Posted Deadline | Submit an electronic copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. |
Questions and Concerns
For questions or concerns about our graduate academic program, please contact Professor Susan Beck, Chair, Graduate Policy Committee at slbeck@email.arizona.edu. To schedule an advising appointment with a graduate advisor, please contact Rocina Garcia at rocinagarcia@arizona.edu.
To submit anonymous questions or concerns to our Department Head or Associate Department Head, please use this form:
STUDENT QUESTIONS & CONCERNS
Graduate Admissions
Gould-Simpson Rm. 210
Department of Geosciences
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721-0077
Phone: (520) 621-6004