The Earth, Environment, & Society (EES) doctoral program provides an opportunity for the student to engage in relevant research while acquiring advanced academic training in Environmental Science and Management, Geography, or Geology. One of the goals of the program is to provide a broadly based understanding of one of the above the fields coupled with scientific training in one or more specialty areas. The student will follow a program of study and research approved by the EES program. The graduating student will be awarded a degree in Earth, Environment, & Society.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission to the Earth, Environment, & Society (EES) doctoral program normally will be expected to have completed a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a related field that will have prepared them to become engaged in state-of-the-art research. A list of individual faculty research expertise and research groups is available on the School of the Environment website: http://www.pdx.edu/environment.
Degree requirements
In addition to the requirements listed above, each student must complete the following.
At least 81 credits past the bachelor's degree and the following courses:
Course requirements
| ESR 507/607 | 500/600-level seminars 6 terms | 6 |
| ESR 630 | Introduction to Transdisciplinary Modes of Critical Inquiry and Science in Environmental Research | 3 |
| ESR 655/ESM 555 | Science Communication | 1 |
| ESR 656/ESM 556 | Advanced Communication Skills for Doctoral Students | 1 |
| ESR 657/ESM 557 | Science, Media and the Public: Working with the Media to Create Effective Scientific Messages | 1 |
| Soc 694 | Analysis of the Impacts of Social and Management Practices on Ecosystem Services | 4 |
| ESR 603 | Departmental Dissertation | 27 |
Substitutions for the courses listed above may be granted by petitioning the SOE director.
Total Credit Hours: 43
Additional Requirements
In addition to the general requirements, each student will be required to complete that coursework necessary to indicate competence in environmental science and management at the graduate level. These courses will be recommended by the student’s Dissertation Committee and approved by the director of the School of the Environment.
Other requirements
Prior to advancement to candidacy, a student must take an Advisory Committee-approved course in statistics such as ESM 566, ESM 567, G 523, Geog 597 or other similar course subject to approval by the SOE director.
Dissertation
The student must submit a prospectus outlining a proposed research project suitable for the doctoral dissertation in Earth, Environment, & Society. This is done under the guidance of the student’s adviser and is approved by the Dissertation Committee and the Director of the School of the Environment. The research for the dissertation is conducted under the guidance of the student’s dissertation committee. After the dissertation is complete and after advancement to candidacy (see below), a final oral defense will be conducted, open to the public, within the subject area of the dissertation.
Advancement to candidacy
As soon as the student has successfully completed the course and comprehensive examination requirements and has had the dissertation prospectus approved, the student is recommended for advancement to candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. This recommendation is approved by the dean of Graduate Studies.
Financial support
There are a limited number of teaching assistantships and research assistantships available that are offered through the School of the Environment and through the constituent departments (ESM, Geography, Geology). For more information, please see www.pdx.edu/environment.
Withdrawal
Any student who ceases to be enrolled for more than one academic term without formal leave of absence will be assumed to have withdrawn from the degree program and will be formally dropped from it. Students who fail to make satisfactory progress toward the degree may be dropped from the program.
The student can be readmitted only by formal application, subject to all current admission requirements. In addition, completion of the degree will be subject to the student’s meeting all current degree requirements.
Leave of absence
Under special circumstances, requests for a leave of absence may be approved.