Ph.D. in Environmental Science and ManagementThe Bren School’s Ph.D. program is designed to develop the broad knowledge, analytical powers, technical skills, and creative thinking demanded of leaders in environmental science and management. The program is also designed to accommodate a wide range of research interests, from those highly focused in a particular discipline to strongly interdisciplinary. What distinguishes Bren Ph.D. training from that of a conventional disciplinary department?
The Ph.D. program at Bren is a mentoring program, with each Ph.D. student working closely with one or more Bren professors in his or her area of expertise. Applications to the Ph.D. program require the support of a Bren professor who agrees to be your sponsor. Each new Ph.D. student enters the program with a faculty advisor - in most cases, the particular professor who has agreed to sponsor them. Because of the large number of areas in which a Ph.D. student can specialize, no required core curriculum has been established. The student plans her/his academic program in consultation with the sponsor and, eventually, their Ph.D. committee. All courses offered by the Bren School are open to Ph.D. students. Courses are also available in other departments such as Geography, Earth Science, Economics, Political Science, and Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology, as well as others. Bren faculty engage in research that crosses traditional boundaries, and students are encouraged to do so as well. While we encourage broadening disciplinary perspectives, we expect that each student will become an expert in one field - whether that field has an interdisciplinary or disciplinary focus. We uphold the traditional requirements that the Ph.D. dissertation be of exceptional quality and an original contribution to knowledge. Students who wish to obtain a stronger multidisciplinary background before focusing on one research area should consider enrolling in our MESM program and applying to the Ph.D. program in the second year. A master's degree is not required for admission to the Ph.D. program, although some professors prefer that applicants have a master's. Please see Ph.D. Admissions Requirements for more detail. For more information, please complete our online request form.
Ph.D. Program RequirementsThe Ph.D. program requirements are highly individualized as detailed in the At the end of the second year but no later than the end of the third year, the Ph.D. committee prepares a written examination that tests the student’s knowledge of his/her specialization in the context of environmental science and management as well as research skills, problem solving skills, and ability to do academic work. After passing the written exam, the student prepares a written dissertation proposal, and the Ph.D. committee conducts an oral examination. The oral examination is based on the dissertation proposal, readiness to do the required research, and preparation and aptitude for completion of the Ph.D. program. Upon successful completion of the oral examination, the student is eligible to advance to candidacy. Advancement normally occurs in the third year, but must occur no later than the end of the fourth year in the program. For the Ph.D. degree, students must present a dissertation demonstrating the ability to conduct significant, independent, and original research in their major field. Upon completion of the dissertation, a public lecture on the research must be presented, followed by a closed-door defense before the Ph.D. committee. In summary, the guidelines require that Ph.D. students:
Other Training Opportunities for Ph.D. StudentsEconomics and Environmental Science (EES) Training ProgramThe EES training program is a joint undertaking of the UCSB Department of Economics and the Bren School, administered through the Bren School and funded by the National Science Foundation IGERT program. The goal of the EES Program is to provide a new model for doctoral training in environmental and resource economics. EES students receive Ph.D.-level training in economics and a companion area of natural science (climate, hydrology, applied ecology, or marine science). Please see the Economics and Environmental Science web site for more detailed information. Certificate in College and University Teaching (CCUT) The UCSB Certificate in College and University Teaching (CCUT) is designed for students who wish to demonstrate superior competence and experience in preparation for teaching at the university or college level. Certificates are awarded in conjunction with a Ph.D. degree. For further information please see: http://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/academic/ccut/
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MESM