Prepared by
Emily Tector, MA
Presented by
Marilyn Scott
Among existing PhD programs in “environment”
which ones were:
- were most exciting
- had intriguing components
Reasons Why
Certain
PhD Programs
Stood Out
Programs of Interest (Canada, NZ, Aust)
Intriguing to GAC Members
UQAM - Sciences de l'environnement
UBC - Resource Mgmt & Environmental Studies
Northern BC - Nat Resources & Environmental Studies
Univ Manitoba - Natural Resources & Env Mgmt
York – Environmental Studies
Dalhousie - Interdisplinary PhD
Massey, NZ - Resource & Environmental Planning
Murdoch, AU – Environmental Science
Auckland, NZ - Environmental Management
US Programs of Interest
Intriguing to GAC Members
Columbia - Sustainainable Development
Antioch – Environmental Studies
University of Arizona – Global Change
Georgia Institute of Technology – Public Policy
Purdue - Natural Resource Social Science
Delaware – Urban Affairs & Public Policy; Energy & Env Policy
Yale - Joint PhD: Anthro/Forest & Environmental Studies
UC Berkeley - Environmental Science, Policy and Management
Ohio - Environmental Science
Duke - Environment
U Virginia - Environmental Sciences
UC Santa Cruz – Environmental Studies
Arkansas State - Environmental Science
University of Michigan - Natural Resources and Environment
EXAMPLES OF
VISION
STATEMENTS
Integrate the socioeconomic (political) and
biophysical (ecological) approaches to
resource and environmental issues.
[Uni. Northern BC - Resource Management and Environmental Studies]
Integration of various
disciplines and
approaches, multiperspectival mandate
If "environment" is defined as everything
that surrounds us, then environmental
studies is not only about natural
environments, but also about built
environments, social environments,
organizational environments and all of the
sets of relationships between them
[York – Enviro. Studies ]
VISION cont’d
Collaborate with private sector, communities and
government
[Uni. Calgary – Enviro. Design]
Links b/t
sectors:
Integrate the job market and do something relevant
[State Uni. New-York – Enviro. Science]
Productive interactions between the scientific
community, and government, business, nongovernmental organizations, and affected publics
[State Uni. New-York – Enviro. Science]
VISION cont’d
Predicting and managing human effects, and
developing approaches to study the
interactions between environmental processes
and human behavior
[Duke – Nicholas School of Environment and
Earth Sciences]
Attitudes
Investigate awareness, attitudes and behaviors
of individuals and groups as these relate to
natural resource management
[Purdue – Natural Resource Social Science]
EXAMPLES OF STATED SPECIALIZATIONS
Meet with faculty to discuss research
/course trajectory

Johns Hopkins
 Human Geography

Univ California Santa Barbara (Bren School)
 Environmental Science and Management

Univ Michigan
 Natural Resources and Environment

Majority of Australian and NZ PhDs
UBC – Resource Management and Environmental Studies
History & Philosophy of Env Thought; Transdisciplinary
Sustainable Research; Prelim Exam; Comprehensive Exam
Yale – Forest and Environmental Sciences
Doctoral Student Seminar
4 semesters of 3-4 courses (depending on background)
York University – Environmental Studies
PhD Seminar and Plan
Univ Toronto – Environmental Studies
Environmental Decision Making; Half-course elective
Univ Manitoba – Natural Resources and Environmental
Management
12- 21 credits in selected courses (6 at Nat Res Inst)
Research seminar focused on interdisplinary research
methods
George Mason Univ – Environmental Science & Public Policy
Natural Sciences (min 12 credits)
Public Policy (min 12 credits)
Research Methods and Technology (min 9 credits)
Doctoral Seminar for 2 years
Oregon State - Environmental Sciences
Env Perspectives, Analysis, Profiles Core (10-12 credits)
Methods and Numerical Skills (9 credits)
Track-Specific Courses (~30 credits)
Electives (3-23 credits)
Univ Colorado (Boulder) – Environmental Studies
Science, Policy, Philosophy Core (9 credits)
Secondary Core (12-18 credits substantive methodological
expertise)
INTRIGUING COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Recommended training abroad and internships/stages in
management
[Laval - Aménagement du territoire et développement régional]
Comprehensive exams: traditional exams, research papers,
selected case studies, the preparation of a course outline,
an art exhibit, a video project or a mixture of these and
other models. [York – Enviro. Studies]
Field-work done on or off campus counted as credit
[Uni. Of Calgary – Environmental Design]
Curriculum Discussions at Univ Washington
PhD - Conservation of Living Systems
1-2 courses (3-5 credits each)
 integration of all disciplines relevant to conservation
 healthy dose of readings
 team approach
 basic concepts but with flexible syllabus
 1 course (3-5 credits) problem-based case studies
 Real-world problems posed by env groups, industry,
agencies
 Team designs a “solution”
 Presentation to convince the client of the merits of
the approach
 Real-world (Professional )Writing
 Electives

Unique Course Requirements

Two-wk summer session every year for four years.

Weekend seminars monthly during the first two
years of the program and bimonthly thereafter.

Weekly online conferences for specific classes.
Examples of Service Project
•
Organizing local conservation biology research for
community concerned about ecotourism
•
Writing a series of newspaper articles about
important public issue not amply covered
•
Planning a conference, or developing a public service
video on an issue of local and regional importance
Phase 4
Dissertation
Research
How can we best
combine these
components to
achieve a PhD
program that
meets the needs
of prospective
students, our
faculty, the
workforce and
the environment?