CPG

Ph.D. in Geophysics

The Ph.D. program in Geophysics is the latest of programs offered by the Department of Geosciences.

The Ph.D. program in geophysics in the Department of Geosciences at KFUPM was commenced in September 2017. The program is based on a balanced approach and combines excellence in education with basic and applied research relevant to the discovery and recovery of hydrocarbon.

 

  • An M.Sc. degree from an Institution whose graduate programs are equivalent to those of KFUPM, with a major in the proposed field or in a relevant filed
  • A minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00 in the M.S. degree and a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00 in the B.S. degree
  • Extracurricular activities, publications, teaching experience, short courses, and experience relevant to the proposed field
  • At least 2 letters of recommendation from faculty members who taught the applicant university-level courses (we specifically look for their research capabilities)
  • Statement of purpose
  • Availability of faculty members to supervise the student
  • An interview report by the graduate committee
  • If necessary, the student may be required to take an Entrance Exam to evaluate his background and deficiencies
  • Before starting doctoral studies, the remedial courses must be completed
  • In case of part-time students, there is an altogether one full year residency requirement, with a full release from work duties. The applicant should obtain from his employer a Letter of No Objection at the start of his year of residency.
(A) Geophysics Core Courses (9 credit hours):
CourseCodeCredit Hours
Geophysical wave propagation GEOP 6023
Numerical modeling in geophysics GEOP 6033
Geophysical signal analysis GEOP 6043
TOTAL9
(B) Dissertation Courses (18 credit hours):
CourseCodeCredit Hours
Ph.D. Seminar GEOP 6990
Directed research I GEOP 7013
Directed research II GEOP 7023
Pre-dissertation GEOP 7113
Dissertation GEOP 7129
TOTAL18
(C) Electives (21 credit hours):
CourseCodeCredit Hours
Two Elective Courses from the list below (in addition to existing graduate Geophysics courses 5XX):6
• Multi-scale rock physics GEOP 6133
• Microseismic geophysics GEOP 6183
• Advanced electromagnetic fields GEOP 6213
• Advanced petrophysics GEOP 6253
• Computing in geosciences GEOP 6293
• Integrative geoscience GEOP 6303
• Geomechanics and fluid flow GEOP 6333
• Near-surface field geophysics GEOP 6423
• Geophysical laboratory techniques GEOP 6453
•Seismic imaging GEOP 6473
• Special topic in geophysics I GEOP 6903
• Special topic in geophysics II GEOP 6913
One Math Elective Course from the following courses:3
• Advanced partial differential equations I MATH 5683
• Numerical analysis of partial differential equations MATH 5723
• Matrix computations and optimization algorithms MATH 5733
• Numerical methods of partial differential equations MATH 5743
• Wavelets and fractals MATH 5793
• Advanced applied regression MATH 5873
• Asymptotic expansions and perturbation methods MATH 6053
• Inverse and ill-posed problems MATH 6073
Two Free Electives (any KFUPM graduate course from the Science and Engineering disciplines provided that he has not taken it or an equivalent course before)XXX xxx 3
XXX xxx 3
TOTAL15

The students in the Geophysics Ph.D. program have to complete 42 credit hours during the 4-years program. 24 credits are courses work and 18 credits are research credits.

COURSETITLELTLBCRCOURSETITLELTLBCR
First Year
GEOP 602Geophysical wave propagation303GEOP 604Geophysical signal analysis303
GEOP 603Numerical modeling in geophysics303MATH xxxMathematics elective303
XXX xxxFree elective I303GEOP xxxGeophysics elective I303
909909
Second Year
XXX xxxFree elective II303GEOP 702Directed research II003
GEOP xxxGeophysics elective II303GEOP 711Ph.D. Pre-Dissertation003
GEOP 701Directed research I003
GEOP 699Seminar100
709006
Third Year
GEOP 712Ph.D. Dissertation00IPGEOP 712Ph.D. Dissertation00IP
000000
Fourth Year
GEOP 712Ph.D. Dissertation00IPGEOP 712Ph.D. Dissertation009
000009
Total credit hours required for Ph.D. degree: 42
  • An M.Sc. degree from an Institution whose graduate programs are equivalent to those of KFUPM, with a major in the proposed field or in a relevant filed
  • A minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00 in the M.S. degree and a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00 in the B.S. degree
  • Extracurricular activities, publications, teaching experience, short courses, and experience relevant to the proposed field
  • At least 2 letters of recommendation from faculty members who taught the applicant university-level courses (we specifically look for their research capabilities)
  • Statement of purpose
  • Availability of faculty members to supervise the student
  • An interview report by the graduate committee
  • If necessary, the student may be required to take an Entrance Exam to evaluate his background and deficiencies
  • Before starting doctoral studies, the remedial courses must be completed
  • In case of part-time students, there is an altogether one full year residency requirement, with a full release from work duties. The applicant should obtain from his employer a Letter of No Objection at the start of his year of residency.
(A) Geophysics Core Courses (9 credit hours):
CourseCodeCredit Hours
Geophysical wave propagation GEOP 6023
Numerical modeling in geophysics GEOP 6033
Geophysical signal analysis GEOP 6043
TOTAL9
(B) Dissertation Courses (18 credit hours):
CourseCodeCredit Hours
Ph.D. Seminar GEOP 6990
Directed research I GEOP 7013
Directed research II GEOP 7023
Pre-dissertation GEOP 7113
Dissertation GEOP 7129
TOTAL18
(C) Electives (21 credit hours):
CourseCodeCredit Hours
Two Elective Courses from the list below (in addition to existing graduate Geophysics courses 5XX):6
• Multi-scale rock physics GEOP 6133
• Microseismic geophysics GEOP 6183
• Advanced electromagnetic fields GEOP 6213
• Advanced petrophysics GEOP 6253
• Computing in geosciences GEOP 6293
• Integrative geoscience GEOP 6303
• Geomechanics and fluid flow GEOP 6333
• Near-surface field geophysics GEOP 6423
• Geophysical laboratory techniques GEOP 6453
•Seismic imaging GEOP 6473
• Special topic in geophysics I GEOP 6903
• Special topic in geophysics II GEOP 6913
One Math Elective Course from the following courses:3
• Advanced partial differential equations I MATH 5683
• Numerical analysis of partial differential equations MATH 5723
• Matrix computations and optimization algorithms MATH 5733
• Numerical methods of partial differential equations MATH 5743
• Wavelets and fractals MATH 5793
• Advanced applied regression MATH 5873
• Asymptotic expansions and perturbation methods MATH 6053
• Inverse and ill-posed problems MATH 6073
Two Free Electives (any KFUPM graduate course from the Science and Engineering disciplines provided that he has not taken it or an equivalent course before)XXX xxx 3
XXX xxx 3
TOTAL15

The students in the Geophysics Ph.D. program have to complete 42 credit hours during the 4-years program. 24 credits are courses work and 18 credits are research credits.

COURSETITLELTLBCRCOURSETITLELTLBCR
First Year
GEOP 602Geophysical wave propagation303GEOP 604Geophysical signal analysis303
GEOP 603Numerical modeling in geophysics303MATH xxxMathematics elective303
XXX xxxFree elective I303GEOP xxxGeophysics elective I303
909909
Second Year
XXX xxxFree elective II303GEOP 702Directed research II003
GEOP xxxGeophysics elective II303GEOP 711Ph.D. Pre-Dissertation003
GEOP 701Directed research I003
GEOP 699Seminar100
709006
Third Year
GEOP 712Ph.D. Dissertation00IPGEOP 712Ph.D. Dissertation00IP
000000
Fourth Year
GEOP 712Ph.D. Dissertation00IPGEOP 712Ph.D. Dissertation009
000009
Total credit hours required for Ph.D. degree: 42
X