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PhD in Earth Sciences (with only BSc Degree)

Introduction

This program is to be offered by the Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science (CoS) at Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi.

The PhD in Earth Sciences builds on Khalifa University’s internationally leading research activity in science, engineering, and medicine. It supports the University’s alignment with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 plan through the provision of internationally excellent education and student experience in Earth Sciences, producing highly skilled science professionals capable of transferring state-of-the-art technologies to priority sectors of industry, business and government. The aim of the PhD in Earth Sciences program is to produce graduates who are able to conduct independent research in Earth Sciences at the highest levels of originality and quality. The degree will be awarded to students who demonstrate a range of advanced knowledge and skills at the forefront of Earth Sciences and who complete an independent investigation of a novel specialist topic in order to present a dissertation addressing a problem in cutting edge research. Candidates for the degree will be supervised by teams of experienced researchers.

The PhD in Earth Sciences through the Bachelor-to-Doctorate Direct Admission is a 72 credit programs. There are 36 credits of taught courses and 36 credits of research aimed at producing a thesis describing an independent research project in a novel scientific topic.  The program builds on Khalifa University’s internationally leading research activity in science, engineering, and medicine.

The CAA recently approved Bachelor-to-Doctorate direct admission. Therefore, all students admitted directly to the PhD in Earth Sciences program with only a bachelor degree will follow the program structure and the typical study plan below.

 

Program Educational Objectives

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

  1. 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;
  2. Work to the highest professional and ethical standards in an area of Earth Sciences and develop their individual academic, professional and career skills; and
  3. Keep abreast of the latest developments in Earth Sciences that contribute to the advancement of knowledge for the benefit of society.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Demonstrate and critically analyze comprehensive, deep and overarching knowledge that is at the frontier of recent developments in Earth Sciences.
  2. 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.
  3. Analyze and critically evaluate the uses and limitations of diverse methodologies and techniques for solving problems in Earth Sciences research, leading to informed and valid judgements.
  4. Select and deploy advanced experimental and related skills to investigate and solve complex problems in Earth Sciences research.
  5. 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.
  6. Demonstrate a commitment to safe, responsible and ethical behavior in all research and professional activities.
  7. 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.