Requirements

For the Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Science, the student must complete a minimum of 28 course credits (12 credits 500/level or above), including two seminar credits, 15 course credits in her/his primary subject division area and six credits in a minor subject division area, selected from one of the four subject division areas:

1. Physical Sciences,

2. Biological Sciences,

3. Chemical Sciences, and

4. Natural Resource Policy and Management.

In addition, the student must complete 15 credits of thesis research. It is also expected that every student will demonstrate a competency in statistical methods or include a statistics course in her/his program of study. Students may select (with advisory committee consent) an area of concentration which will be listed on the diploma. For further information about concentrations, refer to the Ecology and Environmental Science Handbook.

The student is expected to form a graduate advisory committee and to submit a fully signed program of study to the Graduate School and the Ecology and Environmental Science Program Director by the end of the second semester of study. The student's graduate advisory committee will be comprised of a minimum of five faculty from at least two of the subject division areas.

To be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D., the student must successfully complete a comprehensive examination consisting of written and oral questions prepared by her/his graduate advisory committee. The examination will consist of five units, three from the primary division area and two from at least one of the other subject divisions. For students with an M.S. degree in Ecology and Environmental Science or an equivalent degree as determined by the Ecology and Environmental Science Curriculum Committee, the written component will be taken at the end of the first year of the Ph.D. program of study. Other students are expected to take the written component of the comprehensive examination by the end of the second year of study. The oral examination should be completed within one month following the written component. The written and oral exams will be graded Pass/Fail. At the discretion of the graduate advisory committee, the written and oral exams may be repeated once, if necessary. A passing grade is required to continue as a student in this program.

Prior to initiation of the dissertation research, each student must prepare a written thesis proposal and present a thesis-proposal seminar to her/his graduate advisory committee. The seminar outlining the objectives, hypotheses, and methods of the proposed research investigation, may be open to a broader audience at the discretion of the graduate advisory committee. In the early part of the fourth semester all students will be required to submit written a synopsis to their graduate committee that describes progress and presents an updated time-table for completion of the degree.

After the doctoral candidate has completed the research dissertation, she or he must undergo a thesis defense administered by her/his graduate advisory committee. This defense will consist of a public seminar and open question session followed by a separate session of questioning by the student's graduate advisory committee. Upon successful completion of the thesis defense and final revision of the dissertation, the student will be awarded the Ph.D. degree. It is expected that the student will complete the Ph.D. within three to five years.

Students will be expected to meet all general requirements of the Graduate School not explicitly indicated here. Students wishing to petition for modification of any of the degree requirements specific to the program of Ecology and Environmental Science must make a formal written request to her/his graduate advisory committee and the Ecology and Environmental Science Curriculum Committee for approval.