Geology, PhD
Advance your understanding of Earth’s history and formation while learning how to address the real-world issues of today. The Geology MS program invites curious and passionate learners to engage in impactful research around the dynamic systems of our planet. Find out how our program helps you take the next step in turning your interest in geology into a rewarding future.
Program Overview
The Geology PhD program prepares students for careers in industry, academia, or government, equipping them with advanced research and laboratory skills.
You can choose to work in some of the program’s core research areas—earth, environmental, or planetary science—while also gaining specialized knowledge in whatever your specific interests are. You can take a variety of courses ranging from paleontology to urban ecology to oceanography, equipping you with extensive knowledge and a versatile curriculum that is both deep and wide.
This program is ideal for students who want to be at the forefront of geologic research, whether that’s through teaching and research, working in government, consulting on projects, or working in policy.
Additionally, with the option of receiving a concurrent master’s degree, you can tailor your academic path anyway you see fit.
PhD and Concurrent Master’s Degree Option
Our program currently offers PhD students the opportunity to complete a concurrent master’s degree in geology as they progress towards their PhD after completing 30 hours of coursework and a project. This opportunity not only accelerates your academic journey but also sets you apart in the job market and beyond.
Why Study Geology?
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville provides exceptional opportunities for students interested in obtaining a doctorate in geology. Whether you want to contribute to ground-breaking research, become a professor and teach the next generation of students, or enter industry, our program equips you with the research, scientific writing, laboratory, and fieldwork skills to excel.
You will collaborate alongside faculty who are pioneers in their fields and have contributed to published research on possible signs of life on Mars and an “Earth system engineering” concept offering a new way to interpret humans’ impact on the planet’s ecosystem.
Plus, you will network and attend research presentations from visiting scholars, scientists, and our very own faculty members, all while working in some of our state-of-the-art facilities such as the Electron Microprobe Lab, the Staple Isotope Lab, and the ICPMS Core Facility.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Electron Microprobe Lab
The Electron Microprobe Lab allows students to conduct geology, geochemistry, and petrology-related research on rocks, minerals, and more using the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science’s electron microprobe.
Stable Isotope Lab
Equipped with Thermo-Finnigan Delta mass spectrometers, the Staple Isotope Lab prepares students to conduct research on isotopes, contributing to research in the program’s core areas: earth, environmental, and planetary science.
ICPMS Core Facility
Equipped with ThermoFisher and excimer laser ablation systems, the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) Core Facility provides students with a space to test water, rock, and soil samples.
What Can You Do with a PhD in Geology After Graduation?
The Geology program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville equips students with a comprehensive curriculum on Earth’s physical, chemical, and biological processes, as well as field experience and research opportunities. Our program prepares students to go into their career with the scientific and practical knowledge needed to be successful.
Many of our graduates go on to teach and conduct research at leading colleges and universities across the country, contributing to the world’s next generation of scholars. Others, however, entry industry working in fields such as economic geology, fossil energy, geophysics, sedimentology, and sustainable energy geology. Many students also find that a doctorate in Geology opens pathways into environmental fields working as hydrogeologists, environmental consultants or scientists, engineering geologists (volcanology, seismology), or landslide geoscientists.
Structural geology, stratigraphy, and geologic engineering are other common fields, where federal government agencies, private research groups, and consulting firms look for employees who are well-versed in the field. Additionally, many of our students go on to work in planetary science research positions at NASA centers. With a doctorate in Geology, you’ll gain next-level experiences that help you excel in whatever career field you choose.
Featured Courses
EEPS 523 Paleoecology
Major concepts across paleoecology, including diversity patterns, niche occupation, community structure, trophic interactions, and trace fossils. Instruction will be divided between discussions of methods and the primary literature, and hands-on activities, providing students with opportunities to practice introduced concepts.
EEPS 532 Geochemical Modeling
Petrogenetic modeling provides a framework for interpreting igneous processes that operate in the Earth and planets. End-member petrogenetic models make fundamentally different assumptions about the physics of partial melting, melt extraction and melt migration. In this course we will review and critically evaluate models for partial melting of planetary interiors. Students will build a suite of MATLAB programs to apply to data from real samples.
EEPS 554 Environmental Restoration
Applications of ecology and geological sciences toward restoring natural systems to become more fully functioning ecosystems. Topics include geological mitigation, ecological succession, non-native species, and many case studies. At least one field trip to a nearby ecological restoration site will be required.
EEPS 586 Computational Models in Hydrogeology
A hands-on course that will introduce the multiple applications of computer models in quantitative hydrological studies. The focus will be on the practical skills necessary to develop a computer model, from conceptualization to interpretation. Students will train with software widely used by groundwater modelers, allowing them to acquire skills that are applicable and in high demand within a variety of industries.
Complementary Majors, Minors, and Certificates
The Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences has substantial breadth within their graduate students, who often come from majors outside of the geosciences, such as physics, chemistry, and biology.
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