Develop original cross-scale earth, life, environmental, or planetary research
Degree Program
Earth & Planetary Sciences
Earth & Planetary SciencesDegree Program · Life, Earth & Environmental Sciences
Earth, Life & Planetary Systems
Original research across earth history, living systems, climate, planetary processes, and coupled environmental change.
Program purpose
Doctor of Philosophy
The doctoral program supports cross-scale research connecting earth materials, chronology, ecology, climate, biology, sensing, modeling, and planetary comparison.
Learning outcomes
What graduates are prepared to do
Program outcomes connect disciplinary knowledge to methods, judgment, communication, and independently evaluated work.
Integrate field, laboratory, spatial, chronological, and computational evidence
Advance methods or explanations for complex system change
Publish and defend independent doctoral scholarship
Curriculum architecture
How the pathway is organized
Coursework progresses from foundations to methods, integration, and a culminating demonstration of capability.
Foundations
Build the knowledge, skills, and mindset for inquiry.
Application
Apply methods and tools to real-world questions.
Integration
Synthesize across disciplines and perspectives.
Demonstration
Produce and present work that creates impact.
- 01
Advanced earth-life systems theory
- 02
Primary methodological specialization
- 03
Quantitative, spatial, and computational methods
- 04
Field, laboratory, and institute research
- 05
Comprehensive review, proposal, dissertation, publication, and defense
Course sequence
Selected curriculum
EARTH-230
Earth Materials & Landscape Processes
Studies minerals, rocks, sediments, soils, geomorphic processes, and the material histories recorded in landscapes.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Climate Systems & Human Adaptation
Connects atmospheric and oceanic processes, climate records, modeling, risk, adaptation, and cultural responses to environmental change.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Environmental DNA Field Methods
Integrates field sampling, contamination control, molecular workflows, sequence analysis, and ecological interpretation for environmental DNA research.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 4.0
Spatial Analysis & LiDAR
Uses GIS, terrain models, point clouds, and LiDAR derivatives to investigate landscapes, built environments, archaeology, ecology, and infrastructure.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Complex Adaptive Systems
Examines emergence, feedback, adaptation, networks, path dependence, scale, and agent interaction across social, biological, environmental, and technological systems.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Quantum Foundations & Contextuality
Examines foundational quantum concepts, measurement, contextuality, symmetry, information, interpretation, and responsible interdisciplinary use.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Learning environments
Field, laboratory & studio work
- Field geology and environmental monitoring
- Genomics and environmental biology
- Geochronology and materials analysis
- Earth observation and computational modeling
Professional directions
Where the capability can lead
- Research and university appointments
- Earth and environmental systems leadership
- Planetary and remote-observation research
- Advanced scientific consulting and policy
Culminating work
Capstone, thesis, dissertation, or professional demonstration
The dissertation makes an original empirical, methodological, or theoretical contribution to earth-life or planetary systems research.
Admissions preparation
Materials and background
Admissions review considers preparation, purpose, prior work, and the fit between the applicant’s goals and the program.
Bachelor’s or master’s degree appropriate to the proposed field
Evidence of advanced research preparation and independent work
Research statement defining a tractable problem and faculty or institutional fit
Substantial writing, research, technical, or creative sample
Three academic or professional recommendations
Faculty & academic leadership
Program relationships
Next step
Connect this pathway to your academic goals.
Request information for a focused conversation or begin an application through the Stella Nova Student Information System.