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Department of Earth Sciences
7201 Technology and Science Complex 1, 778.782.5387 Tel, 778.782.4198 Fax,
Chair
D.J. Thorkelson BSc, MSc (Br Col), PhD (Car)
Graduate Program Chair
H.D. Gibson BA (Colgate), MSc, PhD (Car)
Faculty and Areas of Research
See “Department of Earth Sciences” on page 192 for a complete list of faculty.
D.M. Allen – hydrogeology
A.J. Calvert – geophysics, exploration seismology
J.J. Clague – geologic hazards and quaternary geology
S. Dashtgard – petroleum geology, sedimentology, straigraphy, ichnology
G. Flowers – glaciology
H.D. Gibson – structural geology, geochronology, tectonics
D. Kirste – aqueous geochemistry, isotope geochemistry, hydrology
J.A. MacEachern – ichnology and sedimentology
D. Marshall – ore deposits, metamorphism, geochemistry
D. Stead – engineering geology, rock mechanics, forestry geoscience
D.J. Thorkelson – cordilleran tectonics and volcanology
B.C. Ward – quaternary and environmental geology and forestry geoscience
G. Williams-Jones – volcanology and geological hazards
Adjunct Faculty
K.L. Bann – ichnology, ichnofacies, sequence stratigraphy, shallow marine environments
P. Bobrowsky – quaternary geology and hazards
B. Coffey – petroleum geology, carbonate sedimentology, carbonate sequence stratigraphy
M. Colpron – cordilleran tectonics, bedrock mapping
R. Couture – landslides, slope stability
R. Enkin – paleomagnetism
D. Froese – quaternary geology, tephrochronology, natural hazards
L. Godin – structural geology, continental tectonics
L. Jackson – quaternary stratigraphy, debris flow hazards
O. Lian – quaternary stratigraphy, post-glacial sedimentary geology
J. Monger – geology of the North American cordillera
J. Moore – evolution of deformed belts, volcanis processes
B. Rabus – remote sensing, natural hazards
K. Simpson – volcanology, hazard assessment, economic geology
L.C. Struik – bedrock geology, central BC, hazards policy
P. Whitfield – hydrology
A master of science is offered with emphasis on earth surface processes and environmental geoscience, surficial and Quaternary geology and sedimentology.
Admission Requirements
See “Graduate General Regulations” on page 219. Students should normally have a BSc or equivalent with honors with at least a good second class standing (3.0 GPA) in the earth sciences (geology, geological engineering, geophysics, geomorphology, soil science or physical geography).
Degree Requirements
Course Work
All students complete EASC 600 and 12 units minimum composed of at least four EASC graduate courses, or with the graduate chair’s approval, from related graduate courses in other departments such as geography, chemistry, physics, biological sciences, and resource and environmental management. Course selections will include no more than six units from 700 division EASC courses. In addition, a thesis is required. The actual course selection will be a reflection of the student’s research interest and guidance from the senior supervisor.
Research
Graduates will be required to conduct original research and report their results in a thesis.
Applicants normally have completed a master's degree in science or engineering. Admission is governed by the minimum University requirements (see “1.3.4 Admission to a Doctoral Program” on page 220). For students entering without a master's degree, the following additional requirements apply.
Entry with a BSc or Equivalent Degree
• a 3.67 cumulative grade point average or equivalent first class standing
• completion of a thesis or other scholarly work
Transfer from MSc to PhD Program
• at least 12 months in the MSc program
• a 3.67 cumulative grade point average
• completion of a thesis or other scholarly work
• approval of the student’s supervisory committee and departmental graduate program committee.
Course Work
For those with a BSc or equivalent, 15 graduate units in addition to EASC 600, 900, 901 and 998 is required. For those with a master’s, six units of graduate courses in addition to EASC 600, 900, 901 and 998 is required. Graduate courses are chosen from the Course Catalogue (page 354), or with the graduate chair’s approval, from related graduate courses in other departments/programs including physical geography, chemistry, physics, biological sciences, and the resource and environmental management. Course selections will include no more than six units from 700 division EASC courses.
Students must maintain a 3.0 CGPA in course work (see “1.5.1 Normal Grading System” on page 221). Failure to do so is evidence of unsatisfactory progress (see “1.5.4 CGPA Required For Continuation and Graduation” on page 221).
With advance approval, a PhD student may complete up to one half of the above course requirements at another university. Additional course work may be assigned by the supervisory committee, based on the results of the oral candidacy examination.
In addition to normal course work, PhD students present two research seminars (EASC 900 and 901); at least one should be based on completed or nearly completed thesis work. One seminar may address any earth sciences topic approved by the supervisory committee. PhD students are expected to attend all the research seminars in the department.
Oral Candidacy Examination
PhD students must complete an oral candidacy exam prior to the end of the fourth term of enrolment, or in the first term after transferring from the MSc program.
The candidate must submit a written thesis proposal to the supervisory committee and present it at the beginning of the oral candidacy exam, which is followed by an oral exam. The student demonstrates an ability to conduct independent research, and have a sufficient command of the studied discipline to explain the research proposal and defend it. The examination must be successfully completed prior to undertaking any significant thesis research.
The exam concentrates on major and two minor research areas, as agreed by the supervisory committee and student, and is graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory by an examining committee of the supervisory committee and one external member. Students with an unsatisfactory grade must pass a second exam within six months; a second unsatisfactory rating results in withdrawal.
Thesis
Students define and undertake original research, the results of which are reported in a thesis and defended before an examining committee (see “1.9.3 Examining Committee for Doctoral Thesis” on page 224). Students must conform to residence requirements (see “1.7.3 Residence Requirement for the Doctoral Degree” on page 223).
The program will normally be completed in 12 terms (four years) and not more than 15 terms (five years).
The student’s progress is reviewed every 12 months by a supervisory committee of three or more faculty (see “1.8.1 Progress Evaluation” on page 223). The senior supervisor will be an earth sciences faculty member approved by the graduate program committee. At each review, the student presents a summary of work to date, with the first review being the oral candidacy exam when the thesis proposal is to be presented. Students with unsatisfactory research progress, or failing to demonstrate satisfactory knowledge and understanding of recent publications in their research area, or failing to have their revised research proposal approved by the supervisory committee within 18 months of admission may be required to withdraw (see “1.8.2 Review of Unsatisfactory Progress” on page 223).
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