Ecology (Environment and Society) - PhD

Interdepartmental Program in Ecology

Director: Nancy Huntly
Location: Natural Resources 314
Phone: (435) 797-2555
FAX: (435) 797-3872
E-mail: nancy.huntly@usu.edu
WWW: http://www.usu.edu/ecology/

Degrees offered: Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the following departments: Biology; Environment and Society; Plants, Soils, and Climate; Watershed Sciences; and Wildland Resources

Graduate Program

The ecology program at Utah State University is administered by the interdepartmental Ecology Center. Its goals are to promote research and graduate education in the science of ecology and to provide expert, professional information and advice for decision-makers. The research carried out by the center’s associates covers the full spectrum of ecology.

Students earn their degrees in ecology while maintaining residence in one of the participating departments; the Center itself does not grant degrees. The candidate selects a major professor from the department appropriate to his or her interests.

Ecology MS and PhD Degree Course Requirements

Requirements for graduate degrees in ecology include the university and departmental degree requirements, as well as the Ecology Center requirements outlined below.

The ecology MS and PhD are research degrees requiring a research thesis or dissertation. Students receiving graduate degrees in ecology are expected to have some breadth and sophistication in modern science as well as depth in ecology.

A. Required Departmental Core (4 Credits)

• ENVS 7800 - Environment and Society Departmental Seminar 1 credit(s)
• ENVS 7840 - Graduate Introductory Seminar for Environment and Society 1 credit(s)
• ENVS 7841 - The Socio-Environmental Research Process 1 credit(s)
• ENVS 7842 - Methodology for Socio-Environmental Research 1 credit(s)

B. Committee-Approved Plan of Study (26 additional credits with an approved MS and 56 additional credits without an approved MS) that includes:

1. All Interdepartmental Program in Ecology Requirements (12 credits)
2. Dissertation/Thesis Research (ENVS 7970 ) (12 credits with approved MS or 18 credits without an approved MS)
3. Elective courses (2 credits with an approved MS or 26 credits without and approved MS)

C. Complete the Following Graduation Requirements:

1. Responsible Conduct of Research training (ideally by end of first semester)
2. Approved supervisory committee
3. Approved plan of study
4. Presentation at the Department’s Pre-Project Graduate Research Symposium
5. Approved proposal for the dissertation
6. Successful dissertation defense
7. Submission of the dissertation
8. GPA of 3.0 or higher

D. School of Graduate Studies General Graduation Guidelines

Required for all programs and plan 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 master’s degree or 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.

For a doctoral degree, 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 master’s degree must be completed within six 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.

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 revalidated.

• USU Residency Requirement
• Doctoral

At least 33 semester credits for a doctoral (Ph.D.) or audiology (AUD) degree must be taken from Utah State University and be part of an 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.

• Master’s

At least 24-semester credits for a master’s degree must be from a committee-approved and a School of Graduate Studies-approved Program of Study from Utah State University.

Required depending on program and plan types:

• Thesis/Dissertation Research Credits 6970/7970
• Doctoral students:

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.

• ​Plan A students:

The Plan A option for a master’s degree requires the preparation and defense of a thesis. Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 semester credits of thesis research (6970) with a maximum of 15 thesis credits applied toward a Program of Study.

• ​Plan B students:

A Plan B option requires the production and defense of a paper or project, depending on the department and program. A minimum of two credits of thesis research (6970) are required, but no more than three thesis research credits can be included in an approved Program of Study. Some degree programs require creative project credits in addition to or in place of research.

• Professional/Plan C students cannot use any thesis/dissertation credits

Required for all defense degrees:

Successful defense and submission of the thesis or dissertation to the library.

• Master’s forms:
  • Recommended General statement:
    • Approval of academic forms required for master’s students by the School of Graduate Studies
  • List of specific forms required, depending on plan type:
    • Supervisory Committee
    • Program of Study
    • Thesis/Project Approval
    • Appointment for Examination
    • Record of Examination
    • SGS and library review and approval

• Doctoral forms:
  • Recommended General statement:
    • Approval of academic forms required for doctoral students by the School of Graduate Studies.
  • List of specific forms, depending on plan type:
    • Supervisory Committee
    • Program of Study
    • Application for Candidacy
    • Appointment for Examination
    • Record of Examination
    • SGS and library review and approval

• Language Requirement Status for Master of Arts (if required by department)