The policy is that students write papers for publication in premier journals. Typically they write and more senior people make suggestions for improvement. There are lots of drafts. Usually the student travels to an international conference to present the papers. The papers also become chapters in the students' theses.
Course work is part of the degree program.
The curriculum is designed with advice from the student's advisor. Students can take classes offered by several departments of the university, including Geological Sciences , Geography and Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science . There are many opportunities for field work, but there is a great many applicants. Graduate students in the GDG have an advantage in being selected, and nearly all get plenty of field experience. We welcome inquiries from motivated students interested in graduate work.