Degree Requirements
Minimum Total Credits
Doctoral degrees generally require 30 academic credits beyond a master’s degree or 60 academic credits beyond a bachelor’s degree. The credit amounts are determined by the approved Program of Study.
Course requirements leading to Ph.D. degrees are developed jointly by the student and the student’s supervisory committee. Each student must have a Program of Study approved by their supervisory committee.
The following are required:
- Ph.D. (post-master’s):
- 15 credits minimum of committee-approved 6000-7000 level courses
- including 2 credits of Plants, Soils and Climate Graduate seminar (PSC 7890 )
- Ph.D. (post-baccalaureate):
- 30 credits minimum of committee-approved 6000-7000 level courses
- including 2 credits of Plants, Soils and Climate Graduate seminar (PSC 7890 )
(5000 level courses are considered upper-division and may be used in a graduate program if approved by the supervisory committee)
- Thesis Research credits (PSC 7970 ):
- If student has master’s degree - minimum of 12 credits
- If student has a bachelor’s degree - minimum of 18 credits
Course selections reflect areas of specialization. Designation of a specialization is optional. Official specializations will appear on transcript. There are additional specific departmental requirements regarding physical sciences, biological sciences, and mathematics courses, which differ depending on the program and area of specialization.
All Ph.D. students write a dissertation under the guidance of their advisor and supervisory committee. The doctoral dissertation must be successfully defended before the supervisory committee and submitted to the library.
Required of all programs and degree types
Degree Verification
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.
Overall Graduate GPA at least 3.0 and no grades of C- or lower; Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.
Course Number Acceptability
The Program of Study for a doctoral degree, if the student has a master’s degree, must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above. If the student does not have a master’s degree, the Program of Study must include at least 30 credits at the level of 6000 or above.
Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 3000.
Matriculation Start Semester
A doctorate must be completed within eight years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.
Coursework Validity
Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is re-validated.
USU Residency Requirement
At least 33 semester credits for a doctoral (Ph.D.) must be taken from Utah State University and be part of an committee-approved and a School of Graduate Studies-approved Program of Study. At least three semesters, two of which must be consecutive, of full-time registration in residence at Utah State University, is required.
Thesis Research Credits 7970
A minimum of 12 dissertation credits (7970) is required if the student has a master’s degree, and a minimum of 18 is required if the student has a bachelor’s degree.
