OCEANS-PHD - Oceans (PhD)
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Program Overview
Graduate studies in the Department of Oceans involve academic coursework and independent research. The PhD is conferred upon candidates who have demonstrated substantial scholarship, high attainment in a particular field of knowledge, and the ability to conduct independent research.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
Graduate Degrees specifies the university’s general requirements for the PhD.
The PhD degree is awarded after completing a minimum of 135 units of graduate work, satisfactory completion of any additional university requirements, and the following departmental requirements.
All students in the PhD program are required to register autumn, winter, spring and summer quarters. All students must register for exactly 10 units in autumn, winter and spring quarters and exactly 3 units in summer quarter until they advance to Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR) status (135 units), unless otherwise instructed by the department; for instance, those with specific fellowships, will need to be enrolled in 10 units all four quarters. Completing each year’s general requirements listed below is required for satisfactory progress toward the degree. Students not making satisfactory degree progress are subject to departmental academic review and/or dismissal.
The university requires all PhD students to complete at least three units of work with each of four Stanford faculty; the Oceans department requires that at least two of these courses be taken for a letter grade. These units of work can include lectures, labs, seminars, teaching, research, directed readings and independent study. In order to advance to candidacy, coursework must be completed by the end of the second year of graduate study.
The Oceans Department Graduate Handbook contains further information on PhD requirements and policies.
Minimum Grade Requirement
If offered, any course that satisfies the PhD degree requirements must be taken for a letter grade. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above is required for all courses. An overall grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 must be maintained.
Degree milestones indicate progress toward a degree. They are listed on unofficial transcripts and document satisfactory and timely completion of various events, such as candidacy examinations, submission of completed degree progress forms, dates of reading committee meetings, and assisting with teaching Oceans courses.
Doctoral candidates should submit forms as appropriate to departmental student services. Students approaching a milestone should be aware of intradepartmental communications and support, and students with questions or concerns should discuss them with student services staff.
Students in the PhD program are required to complete 135 units of unduplicated coursework. In addition to the program requirements listed above, this total may be satisfied by:
seminar units (e.g., OCEANS 214H)
research units (e.g., OCEANS 300)
additional lecture/lab courses taken for a letter grade, if offered
approved non-departmental units in nontechnical areas
Teaching experience and training, and service are a core part of the Oceans graduate curriculum. PhD students in the Oceans Department must complete at least one TA appointment at a rate of at least 25% throughout their study. Students then have the option to complete a second TAship or a quarter-long service commitment, either by serving on departmental committees or participating in external service opportunities.
Detailed information regarding a student’s research requirement is included in the Oceans Handbook.
Admission to a doctoral degree program is preliminary to, and distinct from, admission to candidacy. Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is a judgment by the faculty in the degree program of the student’s potential to complete the degree program’s requirements successfully. University policy requires all PhD students to complete their department’s degree program qualifying procedures, apply for candidacy by the end of their second year of graduate study, excluding summers, and remain in good standing in the PhD program. Candidacy is valid for five years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.
Written dissertation proposal that outlines the student’s projected dissertation research, which the candidate’s Reading Committee must approve
Oral defense of the dissertation proposal
After passing the qualifying exams, students file for PhD candidacy, a university milestone. The Application to Candidacy form must be submitted by the final study list deadline in spring quarter of the second year. Candidacy is valid for five years, during which students are expected to complete their degree.
The doctoral dissertation is defended in a university Oral Examination. The oral examination defense is a public seminar followed by a closed session with the student’s Oral Examination committee comprised of at least five faculty members. The committee must meet university requirements for doctoral committee membership. A substantial dissertation draft must be submitted to the student’s Oral Examination committee at least one month before the oral exam occurs.
At least four weeks before a proposed date for the university oral examination, submit the University Oral Examination form and evidence of approval for the final draft of the dissertation by the dissertation reading committee to the department.
Once the university Oral Examination has been passed, students may submit a final draft of the dissertation to the university Registrar by requesting to graduate and receiving a conferral of the doctoral degree in Oceans.
Under the supervision of the research reading committee that includes the faculty advisor, the candidate must prepare a doctoral dissertation that contributes to knowledge and is the result of independent research. The student is strongly urged to prepare dissertation chapters that, in scientific content and format, are readily publishable. The format of the dissertation must meet university dissertation guidelines. In addition, the final written dissertation must be approved by the student’s reading committee (a minimum of three approved faculty) and submitted to the Registrar’s Office. Upon completing this final requirement, a student is eligible for degree conferral.
If you have questions, please review resources available via Student Services or submit a help request.