Doctoral study programme: Mineralogy and petrology
Degree, form of study: 3.rd degree, internal/external form
Awarded academic degree: doctor – PhD.
Garant: prof. RNDr. Monika Huraiová, PhD.
Doctoral study programme Mineralogy and Petrology is a new study programme which combines two existing and successful doctoral degree study programmes with long tradition – Mineralogy and Petrology. The reason for the combination of the two programmes is the considerable content affinity of the two existing programmes of the third level of education, since petrology is based on the study of minerals, of which each rock is composed. As part of the submitted, combined mineralogy and petrology programme, there remains space for the future graduate to focus himself/herself in the dissertation to a more mineralogically or petrologically oriented topic. Graduate of the doctoral study programme Mineralogy and Petrology can analyze and classify rocks, determine their mineral and chemical composition on the basis of field and laboratory results and interpret the conditions of their formation in the lithosphere, which includes the crust and the upper, rigid part of the mantle. The graduate can apply the latest mineralogical-petrological and geochemical methods of research, creatively applying the results of experimental and thermodynamic modelling to the genetic interpretation of rocks in various geotectonic environments and geodynamic settings. The basis of this study programme is profiled by compulsory and compulsory elective courses: Magmatic Petrology, Metamorphic Petrology, Sedimentary Petrology, Mineralogy of rocks, Geochemistry of rocks, Crystal chemistry of silicate and non-silicate minerals and Professional English. For the interpretation of the genesis of rocks, a detailed analysis of their mineral composition is necessary. Therefore, a graduate of doctoral studies Mineralogy and Petrology can identify minerals, determine their chemical composition, set their compositions in classification schemes, characterize isomorphic minerals, or reveal the substitution mechanisms of elements. Based on the detailed mineralogical characteristics, he/she can infer the genesis of rocks and minerals. Other elective courses serve to acquire this knowledge: Genetic mineralogy and petrology and Isotope geology and geochemistry. The graduate is able to design basic research projects aimed to identification of chemical composition, structure, age and origin of minerals and rocks of terrestrial and extra-terrestrial origin. An integral part of a graduate’s profile is his/her ability to put the results of basic research into practice, including environmental quality sustainability, technological processes in the production of geomaterials and reconstruction of building objects. The graduate has experience in metamorphic and metasomatic transformations of rocks as important indicators of accumulations of natural resources. He/she can make a significant contribution to the search for and verification of mineral resources. He/she is able to solve complex tasks of minerogenesis and petrogenesis in both basic and applied research. The graduate is able to carry out research with a high degree of creativity and autonomy, formulate and validate hypotheses based on an analysis of the data obtained. The graduate is led to manage working teams, lead projects independently and take responsibility for complex solutions also in interdisciplinary fields (geochemistry, economic geology, petrophysics, geotechnics, etc.) in the state institutions and private enterprises.
Graduate of the doctoral study programme Mineralogy and Petrology can be employed in basic and applied research institutions, in estate as well as private sector, organisations focused on geological exploration and research, as well as companies and institutions dealing with the construction, technical, environmental activities and territorial design. Skills in mineralogy and petrology will also allow graduates to work in state and private organisations dealing with the exploration, exploitation and processing of mineral resources. Graduates can also find their fulfilment in the following sectors:
- state and private geological and technical research organisations concerned with testing the quality of raw materials and technical geomaterials
- higher education institutions and universities, Slovak Academy of Sciences and other research organisations
- geological and geotechnical enterprises at national and transnational levels dealing with the search and exploration of natural raw materials
- mining companies
- private business activities in national and transnational geological and related technical organisations (geotechnology, water management)
- environmental organisations and firms
- institutions and private firms active in identifying, processing and determining the quality and authenticity of gemstones and semi-precious stones
- nature conservation organisations
- ministries and regional and local governmental organisations
- natural museums
- geotourism, geoparks
- organizations aimed at protecting and preserving historical objects, monuments and artworks
Download the List of Course Information Sheets and Study programme.