PhD Earth and Planetary Science at University of California, Berkeley

The Department of Earth and Planetary Science offers a PhD degree in Earth and Planetary Science. The central objective of the graduate program is to encourage creative thinking and develop the capacity for independent and original research. A strong undergraduate background in the physical sciences is especially helpful, and a significant number of our graduate students have their training in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or astronomy.

Faculty: Graduate Division  |  Department: Earth and Planetary Science  |  Duration: 6 years  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Location: Berkeley, CA, United States

What you will study

Doctoral Degree Requirements Candidates for the PhD degree must pass the oral qualifying examination by the end of the second year and complete a thesis to the satisfaction of the appointed thesis committee. Students must have two research propositions to present at the qualifying examination, each developed under the supervision of a different professor on substantially different topics. There are no required courses for the PhD program.

Career pathways

Graduates enter career areas including Academia & Education, Government, Environment, Law & Public Policy, Science & Research.

Official programme page