Graduate Programs in Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences
Geochemistry
The Geochemistry program offers study in biogeochemistry, cosmochemistry, crystal chemistry, experimental petrology, isotopic studies of stable and radioactive elements, marine geochemistry, meteorite research, planetology, and lunar geochemistry. Many of our faculty are interdisciplinary in their research. These faculty below have research interests in the disciplines covered in our graduate program in Geochemistry. Although our Geochemistry emeriti faculty do not directly advise graduate students, they provide a valuable resource in student research.
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Geology
The Geology program offers study in geomorphology, micropaleontology, mineralogy, organic geochemistry, paleobiology, petrology, paleontology, remote sensing, sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology, and tectonophysics. Many of our faculty are interdisciplinary in their research. These faculty below have research interests in the disciplines covered in our graduate program in Geology. Although our Geology emeriti faculty do not directly advise graduate students, they provide a valuable resource in student research.
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Geophysics and Space Physics
The Geophysics and Space Physics program offers study in Earth's interior (seismology, gravity, thermal regime, geomagnetism, tectonics), geophysical fluid dynamics (turbulence, rotating systems, stability, hydromagnetism), nonlinear dynamics, planetology (orbital dynamics, planetary interiors, surfaces and atmospheres, solar-system origin), and space physics (magnetosphere, radiation belts, solar wind, magnetic fields, cosmic rays). Many of our faculty are interdisciplinary in their research. These faculty below have research interests in the disciplines covered in our graduate program in Geophysics and Space Physics (G&SP). Although our Geophysics and Space Physics emeriti faculty do not directly advise graduate students, they provide a valuable resource in student research.
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Planetary Science
UCLA's graduate program in Planetary Science is focused on training the next generation of planetary scientists by providing a curriculum of graduate-level courses as well as opportunities to conduct research at the forefront of knowledge in the field. Planetary Science encapsulates the scientific study of planetary bodies, a class of celestial objects that generally orbit stars but are distinct from stars in that their internal energy is not (and never was) derived from nuclear fusion. The 8 planets that orbit the Sun, their satellites, dwarf planets such as Ceres and Pluto, and minor planets such as asteroids and comets are all considered planetary bodies. Similar bodies orbiting other stars and those that have been ejected from their parent planetary system are also considered planetary bodies. Planetary Science addresses the formation and evolution of planetary bodies, their physical and chemical properties, their dynamical interactions, their geology, their climate, and their habitability. Components of interest include the interiors, surfaces, atmospheres, and magnetospheres of planetary bodies. Processes of interest include accretion, differentiation, heat production and transport including radioactivity, conduction, convection, and radiative transfer, dynamos, impact cratering, volcanism, tectonism, erosion, atmospheric dynamics and climates, tidal interactions, interactions between planetary layers, interactions with the host star. The field complements and overlaps with some aspects of Astronomy, Meteoritics, Geochemistry, Geology, Geophysics, Mineral Physics, and Plasma Physics, and employs a range of research approaches including theory, numerical modeling, experimental and observational studies using Earth and space-based telescopes and planetary spacecraft missions.
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