The department offers multidisciplinary programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in planetary sciences. Areas of specialization include, but are not restricted to, the experimental, observational, and theoretical study of planetary atmospheres; the interiors of planets and planetary... Show Full Description

The department offers multidisciplinary programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in planetary sciences. Areas of specialization include, but are not restricted to, the experimental, observational, and theoretical study of planetary atmospheres; the interiors of planets and planetary satellites; asteroid and cometary astronomy and physics; meteoritics; problems of plasma physics associated with cosmic rays; the solar wind and its interaction with solar system bodies; celestial dynamics; solar physics; and investigations of the formation of the solar system and other planetary systems.

Applicants should have completed an undergraduate major in a physical science such as astronomy, atmospheric sciences, chemistry, geology, mathematics, or physics. However, admission is based on the overall demonstrated capability and preparation of the applicant. For full consideration, applicants must submit applications, including scores on the general test of the Graduate Record Examination, as well as the names of at least three references. Personal or telephone interviews are desirable in aiding the deliberations of the admissions committee.

Information about the academic requirements is available here: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/graduate/forms.php

The planetary sciences minor option: Graduate students from other departments in the university may obtain credit for a minor in planetary sciences by achieving a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher in a minimum of 9 units of 500- or 600-level planetary sciences courses (as approved by the minor advisor). The proposed curriculum of each student must be approved by a minor committee established by the student in consultation with the department Graduate Admissions and Advising Committee, which will also designate a chair. 

The Department of Planetary Sciences' degree program is conducted in collaboration with the research programs of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL). Together, the department and laboratory form an institute that is uncommonly broad and complete approach to planetary science education and research. The department and laboratory participate in many NASA space science missions. The PHOENIX Mars Lander mission was led by the department. In May 2011, LPL was selected by NASA to lead the OSIRIS-REx mission to 1999 RQ36. Faculty and students have participated in other missions, such as Voyager, Galileo, Cassini/Huygens, Mars Odyssey, NEAR, NASA Space Shuttle missions, the Ulysses Heliospheric Probe, Deep Impact, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. In addition, LPL scientists make use of Earth orbiting observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the Infrared Space Observatory, and the Ultraviolet Explorer. The laboratory's Space Imagery Center contains one of the most extensive collections of planetary images in the world, beginning with those obtained from the earliest space projects and continuing to most current missions. LPL's Planetary Imaging Research Laboratory is a modern image processing facility for the analysis of planetary and astronomical data. Also available for student research are cosmochemistry and geochemistry laboratories, including a scanning electron microscope and microprobe facility, an experimental petrology laboratory, a noble gas mass spectrometry laboratory, and an inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry laboratory (ICP-MS). The numerous telescopes of The University of Arizona Observatories are available for research projects, including instruments on Kitt Peak, Mt. Graham, and in the Santa Catalina Mountains, as well as the Multiple Mirror Telescope on Mt. Hopkins; all are within easy reach of the University campus. Laboratory staff and students also make use of major observatories around the world, including the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The department participates in interdepartmental programs in theoretical astrophysics and in applied mathematics. The University's computer center, including a supercomputer, is available to support educational and research activities. The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory maintains a variety of networked computers and workstations in support of the research and educational programs.