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Natural Resources and Earth Systems
Science
Ph.D. Program
Rudman Hall, G19
Durham, NH 03824
(603) 862 - 2227
Email:
Web Address:
http://www.unh.edu/nressphd/index.html
Degree Offered (PHD):
The graduate program in Natural Resources and Earth Systems Science is an
interdepartmental program offering only the Ph.D. degree for interdisciplinary
work in areas related to the understanding and management of the environment in
the broadest context. Areas of study include, but are not limited to, ecosystem
science, biogeochemical cycling, geochemical systems, atmospheric science,
environmental philosophy, forestry, geologic science, hydrology, marine science,
oceanography, social science, environmental policy and ethics, environmental
education, and multidisciplinary natural resources management.
Two degrees are offered under the NRESS Program:
• Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (NRES)
• Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Science (EES)
Students within the program will choose the degree that best suits their area of
study. Formal requirements for both degrees are identical.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the NRESS Program come from a wide range of undergraduate majors
and masters degree concentrations. Individuals are judged as to the quality of
their work and its relevance to the particular area of study they propose to
pursue.
Students are expected to have completed a master’s degree before entering the
program, although this is not a requirement. Many students will first complete a
master’s degree in a related department and then continue on in the NRESS
Program.
All applicants must identify an adviser before being admitted, and this faculty
member must agree to serve as the applicant’s adviser. Certain applicants may be
admitted with deficiencies identified by their adviser and/or by the executive
committee. These deficiencies normally must be corrected in the first year of
the program. Applicants whose bachelor’s degree is from a non-U.S. university
must submit GRE scores. Please see the
program website
for details on applying to the program.
Degree Requirements
The requirements of the doctoral program are flexible to accommodate the diverse
interests and needs of students. All students in the NRESS program must meet the
requirements listed below.
Committees and Coursework
The Ph.D. guidance and dissertation committees must be interdisciplinary, and
must consist of at least five members, three of whom are usually NRESS faculty
or members of the UNH Graduate School faculty. The committee chair must be a
member of the NRESS faculty. Committee members must be from more than one
department, and students are encouraged to include at least one off-campus
member. Off-campus committee members must be approved by the student’s adviser,
the program chair, and the dean of the Graduate School. Students should select
their guidance committee and submit a Committee Nomination Form in a timely
manner, within one year of matriculation for full-time students and two years
for part-time students.
Core Area Course Requirements
All students will take one pre-approved course in each of three core areas while
enrolled in the program: natural sciences, ethics/policy/law, and seminar. Any
course used to satisfy the natural sciences and ethics/policy/law core areas
must be a classroom course of at least 3 credits. The seminar course must be
interactive and must be at least 1 credit. Independent study courses may not be
used to satisfy core requirements. Students must complete a Coursework Approval
Form, which summarizes all courses to be taken, and obtain signatures from their
adviser, committee members, and the NRESS program chair once the coursework is
completed.
Students Entering the Program without a Masters Degree
Students entering the program without a master’s degree are expected to complete
a minimum of 36 credit hours. There is not a specific credit requirement beyond
the required three core courses for students who have completed a M.S. or M.A.
degree in a related field. Students enter the NRESS program with diverse
backgrounds and preparation in their particular area of study. Therefore, final
credit requirements are determined by the guidance committee and may include
additional coursework necessary to enhance the student’s selected field of study
and/or correct any deficiencies in the student’s previous program. Students may
apply a maximum of 12 credits of independent study and/or seminar courses to
their total course requirement.
Transfer Credits
Graduate-level courses taken prior to admission may be transferred into the
program and applied to the total only if they were not taken while matriculated
in another degree program. These courses may not be used to meet the core course
requirements. The graduate school allows 12 credits from UNH or 8 credits from
other institutions. Transfer of credits must be approved by the adviser, the
guidance committee, and the graduate school. Please consult the Graduate School
catalog for more information on the regulations governing transfer of credits
and other regulations applicable to Ph.D. students.
Language Proficiency
Language proficiency may be required at the discretion of the student’s
adviser/committee. If required, a student will need to show proficiency in one
foreign language or one computer language.
Examinations
Each student is required to pass three examinations, each of which has both a
written and oral component. Additional preliminary examinations may be
administered before the three required exams as the committee deems necessary.
Performance on such an exam will determine areas where the student needs
additional coursework or could result in the student’s removal from the program.
Comprehensive exam: The student must prepare an extensive written answer to one
question from each committee member that covers the concepts and factual
material deemed essential for the student’s program. Three weeks are allowed for
completion of the exam, after which the student gives an oral presentation to
the committee. This exam is taken within three years of initiation of graduate
study in the program. The committee may require a student to repeat part or all
of the comprehensive exam if the student’s performance is deemed unsatisfactory.
Proposal exam: The student must present to the committee a written proposal on
the dissertation research topic. Once the proposal is written, the student will
complete a public oral presentation of the proposed research followed by an oral
examination by the committee.
Final exam: The student must complete a written Ph.D. dissertation prior to the
final exam. Once written, the student is required to complete an oral defense of
the dissertation, which will include both a public presentation and oral
examination by the committee.
A student may be required to take additional courses following either the
comprehensive or proposal exam, or may be removed from the program following
failure of any of the required exams. Students are advanced to candidacy after
successfully completing the comprehensive exam, proposal exam, and all
coursework required by the guidance committee as summarized on the Coursework
Approval Form.
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