PhD Requirements
Core Sequence
The first year PhD core courses introduce students to the diverse theories, analytical tools, and methods required for interdisciplinary research.
- ENVRES 301: Navigating your PhD in E-IPER
- ENVRES 310: Introduction to Interdisciplinary Environmental Research and Practice
- ENVRES 320: Designing Environmental Research*
- ENVRES 330: Research Approaches for Environmental Problem Solving**
- ENVRES 340: E-IPER PhD Writing Seminar (offered winter quarter of second year)
*Co-requisite with ENVRES 320 - ENVRES 315: Environmental Research Design Seminar
**Co-requisite with ENVRES 330 - ENVRES 398: Directed Reading in Environment and Resources. Must be taken with the faculty member chosen to conduct a literature review on a potential dissertation topic.
Fields of Inquiry
Fields of Inquiry are the central focus of a student’s dissertation research. Students have the freedom to define and choose the Fields of Inquiry in which they would like to develop depth of understanding and which are distinct enough to ensure that the student’s research is interdisciplinary. The student’s Fields of Inquiry define the two sub-disciplines in which the student gains expertise through the course of their PhD. These fields are similar to journal titles or definitions of expertise in which one might expect to receive an academic job (e.g., not “economics” but “agricultural economics,” not “ecology” but “terrestrial ecosystem ecology with a focus on modeling”). They can be informed by previously accepted Fields of Inquiry, or newly developed by each student. Students should work closely with their Lead Advisors and other committee members to define and refine their Fields of Inquiry leading up to the Oral Qualifying Exam.
The definition of Fields of Inquiry is an evolving process with three distinct stages. First, a working definition of the two Fields of Inquiry is applied in the 1st year core course informing the student’s literature review, research design, and course selection. Then, students identify their two Fields of Inquiry—and corresponding Lead Advisors who have expertise in these defined Fields of Inquiry—on a preliminary basis for discussion during their Second Year Pre-qualifying Meeting (formerly Meeting of the Minds). Final certification of the Fields of Inquiry, including coursework taken to demonstrate mastery of these two distinct sub-disciplines occurs during the Qualifying Exam.
Breadth
In addition to achieving depth in two Fields of Inquiry, students are expected to demonstrate breadth of knowledge related to environment and resources. Students should work with their Lead Advisors to determine a strategy to gain a general understanding in relevant topic areas including culture and institutions, economics and policy analysis, engineering and technology, and natural sciences.