Duration: 3-5 years

Fee Paying: No

The programme, which is intended to be a professional minor, offers courses in one of the most useful areas of applied physics. Much emphasis is laid on the practical applications and gadgets currently of use in society. It is hoped that at the end of the programme students should have acquired enough professional training that can enable them find employment in the electronics industry or set up on their own. The programme would be ideal for those majoring in physics, or computer science.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the PhD programme are as prescribed by the University. However, intending Ph.D. students should have completed an M.Sc. programme (with thesis) and have a proven research capability. A student may be required to take some undergraduate and/or M.Sc. courses to ameliorate any deficiency in his/her previous training. Students are expected to complete the PhD programme in three (3) to five (5) years.

Objectives

The Department of Geology and Environmental Science offers postgraduate studies and research leading to Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Applied Geology. The programme is aimed at training high level manpower for the fast growing opportunities in industries, (oil, mineral, raw materials, water and environmental studies) government and academics. The programme offers theoretical and practical training (field and laboratory) and encourages the students to develop numerical skills in project design and in evaluating scientific observations and inferences. The courses are designed to equip the candidates with relevant skills in analyzing scientific literature and to place the rows of their own research within the context of existing scientific knowledge. Research carried out by the PhD candidates must make recognizable contribution to knowledge and candidates are encouraged to publish in the course of the programme. {slider=,char(34),"Elective Courses",char(34)," class=",char(34),"icon",char(34)," open=",char(34),"false",CHAR(34),"}"," in the Ph.D. programme allow students to select a combination of courses in order to specialise in one of the following fields

  • Environmental Geology - Hydrogeology - Engineering Geology.
  • Petrology - Mineral Exploration - Structural Geology.
  • Sedimentology - Stratigraphy - Petroleum Geology

Graduation Requirements

To qualify for the award of the PhD degree in Applied Geology, the candidate must have satisfied the usual requirements set out by the University of Buea and the Department of Geology and Environmental Science which include:

  • The satisfactory completion of a minimum of 60 credits of course work. These should include the {slider=,char(34),"Compulsory Courses",char(34)," class=",char(34),"icon",char(34)," open=",char(34),"false",CHAR(34),"}"," and other electives taken by the candidate to enhance his/her knowledge in his/her field of specialisation.
  • The student must also pass in the three seminars outlined below totalling 18 credits and earn 4 credits in a comprehensive examination.
  • The PhD candidate shall also conduct original research, write and successfully defend a doctoral thesis before an approved panel. The thesis research has a total of 98 credits spread over various semesters as indicated on the table below.
  • Candidates may be exempted from all or part of the course work provided they have taken similar courses at other recognized institutions. These waivers shall be governed by the laws in force as set by the Senate of the University of Buea.

Employment Opportunities

They exist in industries (oil, mineral, raw materials, water and environmental studies) in government and in academics.

Courses