Science Hall 117
(213) 740-6106
FAX: (213) 740-8801Chair: Charles G. Sammis, Ph.D.
Faculty
W. M. Keck Foundation Chair in Geological Sciences: Keiiti Aki, Ph.D.Wilford and Daris Zinsmeyer Chair in Marine Studies: Donn S. Gorsline, Ph.D.
Professors: J. Lawford Anderson, Ph.D.*; David J. Bottjer, Ph.D.; Douglas W. Burbank, Ph.D.; Gregory A. Davis, Ph.D.; Robert G. Douglas, Ph.D.; Douglas E. Hammond, Ph.D.; Thomas L. Henyey, Ph.D.; Teh-Lung Ku, Ph.D.; Terence G. Langdon, Ph.D., D.Sc. (Materials Science); Hubert Saleur, Ph.D. (Physics); Charles G. Sammis, Ph.D.*; Ta-liang Teng, Ph.D.
Associate Professors: Steven P. Lund, Ph.D.; Jean Morrison, Ph.D.; Scott R. Paterson, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor: William M. Berelson, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professors: James F. Dolan, Ph.D.; Yong-Gang Li, Ph.D.; David A. Okaya, Ph.D.
Research Scientists: Yehuda Ben-Zion, Ph.D.; Shangde Luo, Ph.D.; Margaret Stramska, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professors: Thomas Clements, Ph.D.; William H. Easton, Ph.D.*; Alfred G. Fischer, Ph.D.; Richard H. Merriam, Ph.D.; Bernard W. Pipkin, Ph.D.*
*Recipient of university-wide or college teaching award.
The Department of Earth Sciences includes a spectrum of disciplines focused on understanding the processes that influence the tectonics and environment of the planet, on using this understanding to read the record of earth history written in rocks and sediments, and on developing models that can be used to predict future changes due to natural phenomena and mankind's perturbations. Issues of societal concern related to seismic risk, climate change, environmental contamination and other geologic hazards play an important role. Sub-disciplines housed in the department include geophysics, geochemistry, structural geology, petrology, marine geology, sedimentology, physical and chemical oceanography, paleoceanography and paleontology. In recognition of the growing diversity of its programs, the department has recently changed its name from Geological Sciences to Earth Sciences.
The department is committed to emphasizing both educational and research programs and views these efforts as complementary. Instruction is offered on several levels. These include introductory classes for non-science majors, undergraduate courses that are appropriate for undergraduates majoring in earth sciences or other science and engineering disciplines, and graduate classes appropriate for advanced degrees. A close working relationship exists between students and faculty members. Classes beyond the introductory level are usually small, permitting personalized instruction. Field trips are an important part of the instructional program. Three research centers are affiliated with the department: the Center for Earth Sciences, the Hancock Institute for Marine Studies and the Southern California Earthquake Center. The graduate program is closely linked with these research efforts, and both graduate and undergraduate students participate in research projects. Collaboration in both research and teaching has led to ties with other programs, including the Department of Biological Sciences, the Environmental Studies Program, the Graduate Program in Ocean Sciences, and several departments in the School of Engineering.
For students interested in pursuing careers in the earth and environmental sciences, the department offers B.A., B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. In addition, students may follow the geology concentration offered by the Environmental Studies Program. Many graduates now hold positions in industry as environmental consultants or petroleum geologists, in government as managers or researchers, and in academia as faculty and researchers. The B.A. degree is recommended for students interested in the earth sciences but who intend to pursue careers in other fields, such as business, law, education or other professions. A minor program is also available.
The Los Angeles and Southern California areas have a diverse geology, enabling students to gain broad, first-hand knowledge of geological processes. The department conducts field trips to study Southern California geology, maintains a seismic network in the Los Angeles basin for earthquake research and has access to oceanographic vessels for marine research. Many state-of-the-art laboratory instruments are available for use in research and instruction. Proof of health insurance is mandatory when participation in field trips is required for credit in any earth sciences class.
Undergraduate Degrees
Department Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences
Required courses Units GEOL 105L Planet Earth 4 GEOL 205L Quantitative Methods for the Earth Sciences 4 GEOL 215abL Mineralogy and Petrology 4-4 GEOL 320L Surficial Processes and Stratigraphic Systems 4 GEOL 321L Structural Geology and Tectonics 4 GEOL 333L Paleontology and the Evolution of Life 4 GEOL 412 Oceans, Climate, and the Environment 4 GEOL 440L Geophysics and Geoengineering 4 GEOL 460L Geochemistry and Hydrogeology 4 GEOL 465 Summer Field Geology 4 GEOL 485 Senior Seminar 4 MATH 125 Calculus I 4 MATH 126 Calculus II 4 CHEM 105abL General Chemistry, or CHEM 115abL Advanced General Chemistry 4-4 PHYS 135abL Physics for the Life Sciences, or PHYS 151L Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics, Waves,
and Sound, and4 PHYS 152L Fundamentals of Physics II: Thermodynamics,
Electricity, and Magnetism4
Department Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Earth Sciences
Required courses Units GEOL 105L Planet Earth 4 GEOL 205L Quantitative Methods for the Earth Sciences 4 GEOL 215abL Mineralogy and Petrology 4-4 GEOL 320L Surficial Processes and Stratigraphic Systems 4 GEOL 321L Structural Geology and Tectonics 4 GEOL 333L Paleontology and the Evolution of Life 4 Any three of the following upper division courses in Earth Sciences: GEOL 412 Oceans, Climate, and the Environment 4 GEOL 440L Geophysics and Geoengineering 4 GEOL 460L Geochemistry and Hydrogeology 4 GEOL 465 Summer Field Geology 4 GEOL 485 Senior Seminar 4 Lower division courses in other departments: MATH 118x Fundamental Principles of the Calculus, or MATH 125 Calculus I 4 Any two of the following four courses: CHEM 105abL General Chemistry, or 4-4 PHYS 135abL Physics for the Life Sciences 4-4
Grade Point Average in Major Subject
A grade of C or higher is required in each course in the earth sciences used to complete the department or physical sciences major.
Physical Sciences Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Science
For the lower division, CHEM 105abL or CHEM 115abL, GEOL 105L, MATH 125 and 126, PHYS 151L and 152L are required. For the upper division, 32 units of course work (eight courses) applicable to majors in astronomy, chemistry, earth sciences and physics with at least four units (one course) in each of these four majors are required.
Department Minor Requirements
Students must be in good academic standing at the time of entry into the minor. Students in the minor will be required to maintain a minimum GPA of C (2.0) and a minimum grade in each course of C. No P/NP enrollments will be permitted.For the lower division, GEOL 105L and 215aL are required. For the upper division, any four 300- or 400- level GEOL courses are required.
Graduate Degrees
The department prepares professional earth scientists for careers in academia, government and industry. This preparation includes work toward a master's degree which is the accepted degree for full career development in industry and governmental areas, and the doctorate, which prepares students for careers in teaching and research in both basic and applied specializations. A wide range of specializations is offered in the department including sedimentary geology, paleobiology, paleoecology, micropaleontology, paleoceanography, geochemistry, geophysics, oceanography, engineering geology and properties of earth materials, igneous and metamorphic petrology, structural geology and tectonics, geomorphology, and interdisciplinary options. Degrees in ocean sciences (through the Graduate Program in Ocean Sciences) are available; click here.
Admission Requirements
Prerequisites
An applicant for admission must have the equivalent of the courses in earth sciences, chemistry, mathematics, and physics required for the B.S. degree in geological sciences. Applicants with an undergraduate degree in science or engineering who lack required earth sciences courses will also be given consideration.
Criteria
The Department of Earth Sciences requires the following evidence for admission to its master's and doctoral programs: strong undergraduate background and a superior academic record as documented by GPA's in undergraduate and graduate work, Graduate Record Examinations scores in the verbal and quantitative General Test, and at least three letters of recommendation from undergraduate and graduate advisors and professors for admission to the master's program and four letters of recommendation for admission to the doctoral program. Students will be accepted for either master's degree or doctoral degree objectives, but the number of students accepted in any one year depends on available space in the department and acceptance for advisement by one or more professors.
Procedure
Applicants should contact the department office by mail or phone for a department admission package. This package outlines the various research programs offered and further details admission requirements. It also contains a required supplemental departmental application. The department admits students for both the fall and spring semesters; however, applicants for assistantships are encouraged to apply for the fall semester.
Degree Requirements
These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to Requirements for Graduation and the Graduate School for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.
Master of Science in Geological Sciences
Foreign Language/Research Tool Requirements
There is no language or research tool requirement for the master's degree.
Course Requirements
The M.S. degree in geological sciences requires 24 units of course work plus at least four thesis units. These restrictions apply: at least 16 units must be 500 level or higher; no more than eight units can be 590 Directed Research; and a maximum of four units, with superior grades, can be transferred from an accredited graduate school. Students are required to have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) in all graduate work. Students are also required to attend a series of departmental seminars.
Thesis
Students should arrange for the appointment of a thesis advisor and committee after the first semester, or, at the latest, after the first year of graduate work. The thesis committee should consist of the advisor plus two other faculty members, all of whom are generally selected from the department faculty. Once the committee is arranged, the student may make formal application to the Graduate School for the M.S. degree.
Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences
Foreign Language/Research Tool Requirements
Each student must pass a reading proficiency examination, specified by the department, in one foreign language. The examination must be passed before the qualifying examination is taken. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the guidance committee, but additional background work in advanced statistics, electronics or computer science will be required.
Course Requirements
The minimum number of course credits required for the Ph.D. is 60 units. No more than eight of these units may be earned in 794 Doctoral Dissertation. The guidance committee may require additional course work to insure a sufficient background in the student's area of specialization. At least two-thirds of the number of units presented for the degree must be 500 level or higher. Although the official minimum GPA for all graduate work attempted at USC is 3.0, the department does not consider a doctoral candidate in good standing unless the graduate GPA is considerably higher than the minimum (approximately 3.25 or above in graduate courses taken within the department).
Screening Procedure
Students in the Ph.D. program must pass the screening procedure before their 25th unit of graduate credit. Screening consists of a review of the student's progress and is usually done by the chair following a written recommendation by the student's advisor(s).
Guidance Committee
The doctoral guidance committee is formed after the student has passed the screening procedure. The committee is appointed by the department with the advice of the student's research advisor. The five-member committee consists of the advisor, a minimum of three other members from the Department of Earth Sciences, and one from outside the department. The committee consults with the student, recommends an appropriate program of study and administers the written and oral qualifying examinations.
Qualifying Examination
This examination consists of two parts, one written and the other oral. The written exam, which precedes the oral, includes questions submitted by committee members on current geological problems and theory. The oral portion of the exam consists of the defense of two propositions written by the candidate prior to the oral exam. In addition, general questions are posed to test the student's breadth of scientific and earth science background. The student's performance is evaluated by the guidance committee, with a pass based on not more than one negative vote or abstention. Those who intend to take the exam must meet all the conditions specified in the section on general requirements for the Ph.D.
Defense of the Dissertation
When the candidate has passed the qualifying examination, a dissertation committee replaces the guidance committee. The latter is appointed by the advisor and guidance committee in conjunction with the student. The dissertation committee administers the final defense of the dissertation.The defense takes place after the dissertation is substantially complete, and upon unanimous approval by the dissertation committee. It is conducted in the form of an open departmental seminar, but is evaluated by the dissertation committee alone.
Interdisciplinary Programs
Interdisciplinary programs can be arranged for students also interested in astronomy, bioscience, chemistry, engineering, oceanography and physics. The Department of Earth Sciences maintains laboratories for micropaleontologic, paleobiologic, mineralogic, petrologic, geophysical, geochemical and oceanographic research, and collections are available for comparative work in invertebrate paleontology. Students interested in systematic studies will find a wealth of material, available for comparative purposes, in the adjacent Los Angeles County Museum. Facilities for research in sedimentation, oceanography, and marine geology are provided in the department and by the university's research fleet.
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