Ph.D. in Natural Resources Program Information
The doctoral program with a major in Natural Resources emphasizes interdisciplinary
research approaches toward the understanding and management of natural resources
in a broad context. Areas of study include forest, wildlife, and fisheries
biology; ecosystem function and structure; natural resource economics and
policy; human dimensions of natural resource management; natural resource
organization administration and management; wood sciences; and multidisciplinary
natural resources management.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the Ph.D. program normally should have completed a master's degree prior to beginning the doctoral program. Specific admission requirements include:
1. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
2. A minimum composite score from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections of 1650, with a minimum of 1100 on the verbal and quantitative sections.
3. A statement of professional goals, natural resource management philosophy, and reasons for applying to the program.
4. Three letters of reference from individuals capable of evaluating the applicant's potential for graduate work in interdisciplinary natural resource management.
Admission to the department is competitive. If applicants meet the minimum requirements for consideration (3.0 GPA and 1100 V+Q or 1650 all three sections) their files are circulated to potential major professors (graduate advisors). They can be admitted only if a professor agrees to advise them. As a consequence, we deny admission to many basically qualified students, especially in terrestrial wildlife which is most competitive, due to a lack of an advisor. Because of this, students are advised not to formally apply unless they have contacted a professor and have been encouraged to do so. This saves the student time, money and disappointment.
Degree Requirements
A candidate for the doctoral degree must complete 72 semester hours of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree. Forty-eight hours must be in graduate coursework approved by the student's doctoral committee. Up to 24 hours of master's-level coursework may be applied to the 48-hour requirement. A minimum of 6 hours must be taken in UT courses at the 600-level, exclusive of dissertation hours. View a listing of the departmental graduate courses here.
Specific requirements are:
1. Research Methods and Analysis (9 credits in at least two of the subject areas)
Research/Experimental Design
Statistics/Econometrics/Biometrics
GIS/Remote Sensing
2. Core Subject areas (33 credits to be determined by Doctoral Committee)3. Professional Development (6 credits)
Teaching - All students will be expected to complete FWF 601 and assist in teaching a course during their tenure in the program.
Problem Solving _ FWF 610 will be required of all doctoral students that will include participation in an interdisciplinary team to address a significant national or regional natural resource issue.
Professional Communications _ all students will be required to complete FWF 612 as part of their program of study. Part of the seminar requirement will consist of assisting in the development and conduct of FWF 512.
4. FWF 600 Doctoral Research and Dissertation (24 credits)A doctoral committee consisting of at least four faculty members must be identified by the student and major professor. At least two of the committee members must be from the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries and one member must be from an academic unit other than Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. Three of the committee members, including the major professor, must be approved by the Graduate School to direct doctoral research. The committee should be formed during the first year of the student's program.
All students are required to successfully complete an oral and written examination on all coursework completed as part of the Ph.D. requirements. The exam is scheduled when the student has completed all or nearly all of the coursework. The Ph.D. committee will determine the content, nature, and schedule of the comprehensive exam and certify the results.
During the first year, the student should develop a research prospectus that outlines the research problem to be addressed as part of his/her doctoral research. The prospectus is presented to the student's committee and the committee will approve the research topic and approach.
All students are required to complete, present, and defend a dissertation. The student should provide each member of the committee a copy of the dissertation at least two weeks prior to the scheduled defense. All students are required to present a seminar on their dissertation as part of the degree requirements. The seminar can be part of the dissertation defense or presented before the formal defense.
Minor in Environmental Policy
The department participates in a program designed to give graduate students an opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary specialization in environmental policy. See Economics for program description.