Ph.D. Program

The Environmental Sciences and Policy Ph.D. program was launched in 2002/2003. Each year the department admits 3-5 full-time Ph.D. students; it also accepts applications from students who wish to study part-time. Full-time students are offered a 3-year scholarship and are expected to complete their studies within that time, while part-time students have up to 6 years to complete.

The Ph.D. program aims to deliver a curriculum appropriate to the interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues - inculcating analytical thinking and research skills, along with the ability to analyze across disciplines, including making the necessary linkages between policy and the social and natural sciences. The doctoral program is registered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York (US) for and on behalf of the New York State Education Department.

Ph.D. Program Structure

The first year of the program is designed both to deliver a core body of knowledge and skills and to be flexible and sensitive to the particular needs of students. Students must complete the following in the first year:

1. Mandatory courses in research methods, environmental topics, and academic writing in English.

2. Research proposal and initial research, culminating in a thesis prospectus defence at the end of the year.

3. Teaching practicum. Students assist in delivering the Master's program.

4. Participation in the regular staff-student seminar.

5. Comprehensive examination.

Additionally, students may be required to take certain Master's courses during the year should their curricular history indicate gaps in core areas of environmental sciences and policy.

At the end of the first year, students who have performed satisfactorily on the program (passing the comprehensive exam and the thesis prospectus defence) will be granted doctoral candidate status and move to full-time concentration on their dissertation research. In the second and subsequent years, students granted candidate status will work on their Ph.D. research and dissertation. The program concludes when students have submitted and successfully defended their Ph.D. thesis.