Earth and Planetary Sciences

About the Program

Learn More About the Program

Students gain advanced knowledge of plate tectonics, structural geology, geophysics, geochemistry, petrology, rheology, stratigraphy, and geomorphology, in relation to evolution of the earth and planets; paleoecology, phylogeny reconstruction, and functional morphology in relation to biological evolution and paleoenvironments; environmental geology, geomorphology, ocean chemistry, paleoclimatology, and sedimentology in relation to modern/paleo climate change. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching of earth structure and evolution; resource geology; paleobiology; paleoenvironments; modern/paleo climate change. The campus is well situated to provide access to field areas exhibiting diverse geologic and tectonic phenomena, to the Bodega Marine Laboratory, and to other UC research stations.

Degree Type
Departmentally-Based Graduate Program
Degrees Offered
M.S. Plan I
Ph.D. Plan C
Lead Dean

College of Letters and Science

Major Code
GEPS

Admissions and Fellowship Information

Admission Deadlines
General: Jan 5, 2025
Space Available: May 1, 2025
Internal Fellowship Deadlines
Prospective Student Fellowship: Jan 5, 2025
Continuing Student Fellowship: Jan 15, 2025

Program Contact Information

Primary Program Contacts

Graduate Program Coordinator

Program Coordinator
Mandy Rousseau
(530) 752-9100 | mlrousseau@ucdavis.edu

Graduate Program Chair

Department Chair
Magali Billen
mibillen@ucdavis.edu

Graduate Program Chair
Michael Oskin
(530) 752-3993 | meoskin@ucdavis.edu

Additional Contacts

Program Contacts

Advisor: General
Christen Grettenberger
Earth and Planetary Sciences
clgrettenberger@ucdavis.edu

Advisor: Primary Contact
Michael Oskin
Earth and Planetary Sciences
(530) 752-3993 | meoskin@ucdavis.edu

Advisor: General
Barbara Ratschbacher
Earth and Planetary Sciences
bratschbacher@ucdavis.edu

Graduate Studies Contacts

Senior Academic Advisor
Samantha Duesdieker
(530) 752-4928 | samdues@ucdavis.edu