A NEW COURSE FRAMEWORK TO DEMYSTIFY THE HIDDEN CURRICULUM OF GEOSCIENCE GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Graduate school education in geosciences commonly focuses on formal skill and knowledge development that directly supports student research and teaching (e.g., data collection and analysis, literature review, and publishing). However, training and support for navigating the “hidden curriculum” of graduate school, which stretches far beyond these traditional topics, is largely missing from the geosciences graduate school curriculum. The hidden curriculum covers the unspoken and implicit academic, social, and cultural expectations of students that are critical to student success in graduate school and beyond. Here we present a new course framework for integrating and training students on three themes central to the hidden curriculum that can be used as a template for similar classes in other geosciences graduate school programs. In the course, we focus on topics that fall under: developing research habits and direction, cultivating relationships and networks, and strengthening the geoscience community. This course is intended to generate learning outcomes that encourage students to (1) reflect on and share experiences in academia that acknowledge and validate personal and research struggles/successes, (2) develop individualized skill sets that prioritize a healthy academic climate and better prepare graduate students for future research careers, and (3) to improve the geosciences community through discussions on the role of the individual in building a better academic climate. By incorporating this content into formal graduate education, we seek to make STEM accessible to all.