Discipline Coordinator

Fengpeng Sun, (816) 235-1334, sunf@umkc.edu

Geosciences faculty who are members of the doctoral faculty.

Geosciences is a discipline in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program administered by the School of Graduate Studies.

Note: The discipline-specific requirements listed here are in addition to the requirements listed in Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Application Procedure and Minimum Criteria for Admission and Minimum Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Academic Regulations and Degree Requirements.

Discipline-Specific Admission Requirements

Specific admission requirements defined by the faculty in Geosciences follow the guidelines established by the School of Graduate Studies. Typically, a student would be expected to hold an undergraduate or master's degree in environmental sciences, geology, geography or a closely-related field. Opportunities within the department range from the physical sciences to the humanities. Because of the wide range of faculty expertise, and in keeping with the general spirit of the entire interdisciplinary program, the faculty in Geosciences has deliberately chosen to establish broad guidelines for admission of Interdisciplinary Ph.D. students. All prospective graduate students must attain a GPA of 3.0 or above, on a 4.0 scale, in all university work prior to admission. Three letters of recommendation from professors as well as a proposal from the prospective student detailing goals and expectations are needed for an evaluation of the application. Students are expected to have an advisor at the time of admission.

Non-native English-speaking applicants seeking Geosciences as a primary discipline must demonstrate proficiency in English. This requirement can be satisfied by obtaining English proficiency certification from UMKC.

Suggested Compatible Co-disciplines

Faculty members in Geosciences conduct research in applied geophysics, atmospheric sciences, climate variability and climate change, engineering geology, environmental geology, geoarcheology, geochemistry, geomorphology, GIS, mineral deposits, neotectonics, Quaternary environments, stratigraphy and volcanos and hazards planetary geology. Suitable co-disciplines for the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program are practically unlimited. Consultation with the principal graduate advisors for geology and geography would be a good way for the student to explore the possibilities.

Previous and existing students have designated the following co-disciplines: Chemistry, Computer Science, Curriculum and Instruction, Engineering, History, Physics

Other excellent possibilities would include: Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations

Core Program Requirements

Specific core program requirements follow the guidelines established by the School of Graduate Studies and are otherwise defined by the student's supervisory committee in consultation with each individual student.

Other Discipline-Specific Special Requirements

While there is no set minimum number of hours for all students, at least 50 percent of the course credit hours for students who select Geosciences as their primary discipline must be taken in Geosciences. Students who have selected Geosciences as a primary disicpline or a co-discipline are expected to take no less than three courses from Geosciences as determined by their supervisory committee. Other special requirements are defined by the student's supervisory committee in individual consultation with each student.

Requirements for Comprehensive Examinations

Comprehensive examinations of all Ph.D. students who select Geosciences as the primary discipline will contain both written and oral components and may include questions from each of the co-disciplines and from related fields as determined by the student's examining committee. The examining committee consists of the student's supervisory committee and others who may be appointed by the dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Interdisciplinary Work

The faculty in Geosciences are committed to an interdisciplinary approach and expect that all Ph.D. students, whether enrolled in the primary or the co-disciplinary category, will complete courses and conduct research with this principle in mind.