The
University Senate of Michigan Technological University
Proposal
13-10
(Voting Units: Academic)
“Doctor
of Philosophy Degree Program in Geophysics”
1. General
Description of the Program
The faculty of the Department of Geological
and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES) at Michigan Technological University
seek to establish a Doctor of Philosophy program in Geophysics. Graduates of
the program will have broad training in geophysics and develop expertise in one
or more of the following specialties: earthquake seismology, exploration
seismology, geomagnetism, and volcano seismology.
2. Rationale
The GMES department recently hired two
new faculty members who have specialties in geophysics, bringing the total
number of geophysics faculty to six (Suzanne J. Beske-Diehl, Jimmy F. Diehl,
Wayne D. Pennington, Aleksey V. Smirnov, Roger Turpening, and Gregory P.
Waite). While the department currently graduates PhD students with specialties
in geophysics, their degrees are awarded in geology or geological engineering.
These graduates are geophysicists by training, but their degree titles do not
accurately reflect their expertise. In some cases, the lack of a Geophysics PhD
program has been a deterrent for applicants or would-be applicants to the
department. Having a PhD degree in geophysics is particularly important for
enabling our new assistant professors to attract high-quality PhD students.
The GMES department has long had an
undergraduate program in Applied Geophysics, and a Master of Science program in
Geophysics. Both programs have traditions of successfully placing graduates in
other graduate programs, or with positions in the public and private sectors.
The new PhD program in Geophysics builds on the strengths of the existing
geophysics programs. In addition to the Applied Geophysics B.S. and Geophysics
M.S., the GMES department awards B.S., M.S., and PhD degrees in both Geology
and Geological Engineering. We also offer graduate degrees in Mining
Engineering. Our new Geophysics PhD program will provide continuity across all
graduate programs within the GMES department.
3. Related programs
3.1. Related Programs
at Michigan Tech
The programs most closely related to
the new Geophysics PhD program are the Geological Engineering and Geology PhD
programs offered through the GMES department. These programs have outlined
specific criteria that have been used to assess their success: 1) upon
graduation, PhD students in geology and geological engineering have
demonstrated the ability to carry out an advanced and original research
project, including its written and oral communication; 2) their projects have
synthesized knowledge from different scientific disciplines; and 3) PhD
students gain experience as research proposal writers. The department requires
presentation and defense of a research proposal and students are expected to
participate in the preparation and writing of proposals for internal and
external funding. There are no specific coursework requirements for the PhD;
the advisory committees design a program of study tailored to each student’s
background and research interests. Additional courses may be added to the
program of study based on the result of the comprehensive (qualifying) exam.
Emphasis is placed on research and publication of research. The average student
completes the PhD in 4-5 years.
3.2. Related Programs
at Other Institutions
There are approximately 25 Geophysics
PhD programs in the United States as of 2008 [1]. We conducted an informal survey of a subset
of these programs in order to assure that our graduates will be competitive
with those from other institutions. We found that many programs have
requirements that are similar to those of our Geology and Geological
Engineering programs. They generally require some combination of oral and/or
written comprehensive examination, sometimes called a qualifying examination.
Some programs (e.g., Caltech, Princeton) have specific coursework requirements
with 45 or more credits, while other programs have no specific requirements.
Instead, they allow their students’ committees to design course schedules
tailored to students’ backgrounds and research interests. This flexibility is
especially desirable for geophysics graduate programs. Most colleges and
universities do not offer a B.S. degree in geophysics so geophysics graduate
programs are likely to attract a large number of students with undergraduate
degrees in physics, mathematics, or a related field, rather than geophysics.
3.3. Anticipated
Enrollment
There are currently four PhD students
who are being advised by geophysics faculty who would be affected by this new
degree program. As the junior faculty members build their research programs,
this number may increase to as many as 10.
4. Curriculum Design
Students entering geophysics graduate
programs come from a variety of backgrounds. They are as likely to have
bachelor degrees in physics or mathematics as geophysics or geology. Therefore
it is up to the advisory committee to design curricula for students based on
their experience and deficiencies.
As with the PhD programs in Geological
Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Geology within the GMES department, no courses
will be explicitly required for the PhD in Geophysics. Each student, in
consultation with the thesis committee, will develop an appropriate program of
study with courses that complement their research activities. A minimum of 30
semester credits beyond the master's degree or 60 semester credits past the
bachelor's degree are required. Courses may be within the GMES department and
in other departments. In addition, the committee may require additional courses
following the comprehensive examination. There is no modern language
requirement.
4.1. Course Offerings
The following is a list of existing
courses within the GMES department that demonstrates the breadth of existing
courses available to students.
GE 4050 -Advanced Structural Geology
How rocks deform on a microstructural
to hand specimen scale. Topics include dislocations, work hardening and
recovery processes, annealing and recrystallization, slip systems, preferred
orientation mechanisms, and foliation development. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab:
(3-0-0); Semesters Offered: On Demand; Pre-Requisite(s): GE 3050.
GE 4250 -Fundamentals of Remote
Sensing
This course focuses on the basic
physics behind above-surface remote sensing and remote sensing systems. Topics
covered include: properties of the atmosphere, absorption and scattering of
electromagnetic radiation, instrument design, data acquisition and processing,
validation, and basic applications. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-1-0);
Semesters Offered: Spring; Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the
following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore; Pre-Requisite(s): PH 2200 and MA
2160.
GE 4450 - Advanced Environmental
Geophysics
Covers the principles, design, and
practice of geophysical site investigation utilizing electrical and
electromagnetic techniques with emphasis on near surface application pertinent
to the environmental consulting industry. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-3);
Semesters Offered: Fall; Pre-Requisite(s): GE 3040
GE 4500 - Plate Tectonics and Global Geophysics
Plate tectonics and the internal
structure of the earth using information from seismology, geomagnetism,
gravity, and heat flow. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0); Semesters Offered:
Fall, Spring; Pre-Requisite(s): MA 3160 and PH 2200 and GE 2000.
GE 4550 - Gravity and Magnetic
Interpretation Methods
Interpretation of gravity and magnetic
anomalies based on forward modeling techniques, including space filtering to
enhance anomalies of importance. Emphasis will also be given to the design of the
gravity/magnetic survey based on cost, implementation, and interpretation
methods used. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0); Semesters Offered: Fall,
Spring -Offered alternate years beginning with the 2004-2005 academic year; PreRequisite(s):
GE 3040.
GE 4560 - Earthquake Seismology
Physics of earthquakes and seismic
energy propagation including stress and strain, elastic wave equation, body and
surface waves, anelasticity, anisotropy, earthquake location, earthquake
sources, passive seismic imaging. Homework will require computer skills in
Matlab or similar. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0); Semesters Offered: Fall;
Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman,
Sophomore; PreRequisite(s): GE 3050 and PH 2100 and MA 3160.
GE 4600 - Reflection Seismology
Principles of reflection seismic
techniques, including theoretical background and application, and hands-on
computer projects. Included are acquisition, data processing, and 2D/3D data
interpretation. Students conduct projects using actual commercial-quality
seismic data. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-1-0); Semesters Offered: Spring;
PreRequisite(s): GE 3040.
GE 4610 - Formation Evaluation and
Petroleum Engineering
Principles and practice of formation
evaluation, primarily through analysis of well logs and the principles and
practice of petroleum engineering. Emphasizes reservoir engineering and
simulation. Students conduct projects using actual field data. A three-day
field trip is required. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-1-0); Semesters Offered:
Fall.
GE 5195 - Volcano Seismology
Will prepare students, including those
with no seismology background, to interpret seismic and acoustic signals from
volcanoes. Topics: basic seismology, monitoring techniques, tectonic and
volcanic earthquakes, infrasound, deformation over a range of time scales.
Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-1); Semesters Offered: Spring;
Pre-Requisite(s): (MA 1160 or MA 1161 or MA 1135) and GE 2000 and PH 2100.
GE 5250 - Advanced Computational Geosciences
Introduction to quantitative analysis
and display of geologic data using Matlab and Excel, covering basic Matlab
syntax and programming, and analysis of one-dimensional (e.g. time series) and
two-dimensional datasets (e.g. spatial data). Techniques are applied to
geological datasets. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-1); Semesters Offered:
Spring; Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Graduate.
GE 5400 - Global Geophysics and
Geotectonics
Plate tectonics and the internal
structure of the earth using information from seismology, geomagnetism gravity,
and heat flow. A term project/report is required. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab:
(0-3-0); Semesters Offered: On Demand; Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of
the following Level(s): Graduate; Pre-Requisite(s): MA 3160 and PH 2200 and GE
2000.
GE 5405 - Geophysics for Archaeology
Principles and practice of
non-invasive archaeological geophysics (remote sensing) such as magnetometry,
ground penetrating radar and resistivity. Data interpretation will involve
basic computation, contouring, three-dimensional visualization programs,
interpretation and archaeological significance. Activities include fieldwork,
data analysis and presentation, and short reports. The mathematical content of
the class will be minimal.
Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-1);
Semesters Offered: Fall -Offered alternate years beginning with the 2003-2004
academic year.
GE 5450 - Potential Field Theory in
Gravity and Magnetic Applications
The fundamentals of potential theory
and the application to gravity and magnetic studies of the crust and
lithosphere. Topics include Newtonian & magnetic potential, magnetization,
regional gravity fields, the geomagnetic field, forward & inverse modeling.
Fourier-domain modeling and transformations. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab:
(0-3-0); Semesters Offered: On Demand; Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of
the following Level(s): Graduate; Pre-Requisite(s): MA 3160 and PH 2200 and GE
3040.
GE 5500 - Paleomagnetism and
Environmental Magnetism
Origin and interpretation of the
natural remanent magnetism in rocks and its use in deciphering the geologic
past. Applications studied are plate tectonic movements, environmental change,
stratigraphic correlation, and the earth's magnetic field. Credits: 3.0;
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0); Semesters Offered: On Demand; Restrictions: Must be
enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate; Pre-Requisite(s): GE 2000.
GE 5600 - Advanced Reflection
Seismology
Principles and application of
reflection seismic techniques. Includes acquisition, data processing, and 2D/3D
data interpretation. Project and report required. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab:
(2-1-0) ; Semesters Offered: On Demand; Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one
of the following Level(s): Graduate.
GE 5610 - Quantitative Reservoir
Characterization
Develop and integrate several aspects
of reservoir characterization using data from actual oil and gas fields. The
various aspects include well logs, seismic data, production data, and
geologic/outcrop inference. Geostatistical routines and integrated software
suites. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-2-0); Semesters Offered: On Demand;
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate.
GE 5650 - Special Topics in Petroleum
Geology
The study of current topics in
petroleum geology. Research papers and reports are required. Credits: variable
to 4.0; Repeatable to a Max of 8; Semesters Offered: Spring Restrictions: Must
be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate.
GE 5785 - Seismic Petrophysics
Seismic petrophysics describes the use
of rock physics information and logging data in the interpretation of
reflection seismic data. The theories and empirical models relating seismic
properties to other properties of rocks will be reviewed, and the logging
techniques responsible for identifying those properties discussed. Various
approaches to the quantitative interpretation of seismic data are covered. For
varying course credit, projects with real data will be conducted by students.
Credits: variable to 3.0; Semesters Offered: On Demand; Restrictions: Must be
enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate.
GE 5800 - Mathematical Modeling of
Earth Systems
Introduction to numerical techniques
for mathematical modeling of various earth-system phenomena, including
groundwater flow, heat transfer, and atmospheric transport. Numerical
techniques covered include finite-difference, finite-element, collocation, and
characteristic methods. Students write their own mathematical models.
Prerequisite: experience in programming computer languages such as FORTRAN.
Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0); Semesters Offered: On Demand; Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate.
GE 5810 - Flow and Transport in
Subsurface Systems
Analysis of fluid flow in geologic
materials, including groundwater flow, solute and contaminant transport, heat
flow, and petroleum movement. Develops fundamental transport equations and
numerical methods for solving these equations. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab:
(3-0-0); Semesters Offered: On Demand; Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of
the following Level(s): Graduate.
Students will be encouraged to enroll
in relevant courses within other departments. The following list of courses is
intended to provide examples of extradepartmental courses available to meet the
interests and eliminate deficiencies of individual students. The list is not
intended to include all courses that could be used to meet degree requirements.
SU 4100 - Geodetic Positioning
Introduces the instruments and
procedures used in surveying projects that require a high order of accuracy.
Discusses some conventional instruments and techniques but the greater emphasis
is on GPS techniques. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-2-3); Semesters Offered:
Fall; Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Junior,
Senior; PreRequisite(s): SU 4060(C).
EE 4252 - Digital Signal Processing
and its Applications
Digital signal processing techniques
with emphasis on applications. Includes sampling, the Z-transform, digital
filters and discrete Fourier transforms. Emphasizes techniques for design and
analysis of digital filters. Special topics may include the FFT, windowing
techniques, quantization effects, physical limitations, image processing
basics, image enhancement, image restoration and image coding. Credits: 4.0;
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-2); Semesters Offered: Fall; Pre-Requisite(s): EE 2150 and EE
3160.
MA 4620 - Finite Difference Methods
for PDEs
Derivation, analysis, and
implementation of finite difference methods; applications to fluid mechanics,
elasticity, heat conduction, acoustics, or electromagnetism. Difference
equations, Taylor series, stability, and convergence. Finite difference methods
for partial differential equations; alternate methods (spectral, finite
element, or particle) for discretizing space. Credits: 3.0; Lec-Rec-Lab:
(0-3-0); Semesters Offered: Fall; Pre-Requisite(s): (MA 3520 or MA 3521 or MA
3530 or MA 3560) and MA 3160.
PH 5110 - Classical Mechanics
Lagrangian methods, symmetries and
conservation laws, variational formulation, small oscillations, Hamilton's
equations, contact transformations, Poisson brackets, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, Lorentz-invariant
formulation. Credits: 2.0; Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-0); Semesters Offered: Fall,
Spring -Offered alternate years beginning with the 2002-2003 academic year;
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate.
4.2. Additional
Requirements.
We plan to follow the model of the
Geology and Geological Engineering PhD programs for the design of written
comprehensive exams, public proposal presentation and defense, and final oral
exam.
4.2.1. Comprehensive exam
The comprehensive exam will be a
written examination of fundamental and advanced topics in geophysics. The
thesis committee chair will be responsible for soliciting the committee members
for content and judging the exam.
4.2.2. Research proposal
Following successful passage of the
comprehensive exam, students will be required to present and defend a research
proposal. The proposal is intended to provide focus for research. The
presentation is open to the public. Following the presentation, the student has
an opportunity to defend the plan before both a public audience and audience
made up of only the advisory committee.
4.2.3. Written
dissertation
The dissertation will be written and
prepared under the supervision of the chair of the advisory committee according
to the requirements of the Graduate School. Students are expected to produce at
least three quality journal publications from their PhD research. The
dissertation may be comprised in part by journal articles.
4.2.4. Final oral examination
The final requirement is a public oral
presentation. As with the Research proposal (4.2.2), the presentation is public
and followed by a public examination. Following the public examination, the
advisory committee may further question the student in order to better assess
the validity of the methods and conclusions contained in the dissertation.
5. New Course
Descriptions
No new courses are required
specifically for this degree.
6. Computing Access
Fee
Students enrolled in the Geophysics
PhD program will be charged the same Computing Access Fee as other graduate
students in the department. For the 2009-2010 academic year, the fee is $340.
7. Additional
Resources Required
No new resources are required
specifically for this degree.
8. Accreditation
Requirements
There are no specific accreditation
requirements.
9. Planned
Implementation Date
We would like to make this degree
available as soon as possible (Fall 2010). One student who is close to
graduation would be affected in the short term.
10. Core Geophysics
Faculty
The GMES department has six geophysics
faculty members including one Research Professor (R. Turpening). The curricula
vitae of these faculty members are available online as Appendix A:
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~gpwaite/GeophysicsPhD/AppendixA.pdf.
11. Affiliated
Faculty
In addition to the six core geophysics
faculty members, several other members of the GMES graduate faculty are likely
to assist in educating the Geophysics PhD students. They are listed in the
table below. The expertise of faculty members from other departments (e.g.,
Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, School of Technology) and other
institutions will be sought as necessary on a case-by-case basis. In addition,
the GMES department is conducting two faculty searches. We anticipate the new
faculty members, who will have expertise in the related disciplines of
Atmospheric Science and Geological Engineering, will provide additional
assistance to train some of the Geophysics PhD students as well.
GMES faculty with research interests
in fields closely related to geophysics.
Name Position
Specialty
Carn, Simon Assistant Professor Remote
sensing, volcanology
Gierke, John Professor Hydrology,
near-surface geophysics
Mayer, Alex Professor Hydrology
Rose, William Professor Remote
sensing, volcanology
Shannon, Jeremy Lecturer Remote
sensing, volcanology
Shuchman, Robert Adjunct Professor Remote sensing
Viton, Stanley Adjunct Associate Professor Geomechanics
Watson, Matthew Adjunct Assistant Professor Remote sensing, volcanology
Wood, James Professor Remote
sensing, subsurface visualization
Wu, Shiliang Assistant Professor Atmospheric
chemistry
[1]
http://www.gradschools.com accessed 30 January 2009
Adopted by Senate: 31 March 2010
Approved by Administration: 13 April 2010
Approved by Board of Control: 19 July 2010