Environmental Science Ph.D.

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Georgia Southern University’s College of Science and Mathematics offers an interdisciplinary PhD program in Environmental Science that 1) addresses the growing statewide and national demand for professionals trained in interdisciplinary STEM fields such as environmental science, 2) produces graduates who are qualified to manage and protect the abundant natural resources that fuel vibrant industrial, agricultural, and business economies throughout Georgia and the world, and 3) aligns with the institution’s focus on environmental sustainability and support of coastal natural resources.

Degree Requirements: 78 Credit Hours

Admission

Students are selected for the Doctorate of Philosophy in Environmental Science degree program on a competitive basis. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Applications for graduate assistantships must be received by April 1 to receive full consideration for fall, and are reviewed each semester. Students must comply with the College of Graduate Studies degree completion timeline. A student who has not matriculated for three or more consecutive semesters must re-apply and meet all admission requirements in effect at the time of the new application for admission.

Admission Requirements

For potential admission to the College of Graduate Studies to pursue graduate work leading to the Doctorate of Philosophy in Environmental Science, the applicant:

Must have completed requirements for the bachelors or masters degree at a college or university accredited by an appropriate institutional accreditor.
Must complete the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) (scores must be sent to the College of Graduate Studies) with a combined verbal and quantitative score typically at 300 or above..
Must submit IELTS or TOEFL exam score if a Non-Native English Speakers.
Must submit a statement of research interests and career goals as pertains to pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science.
Must submit three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional experience.
Must have a minimum GPA of 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher on all undergraduate coursework and a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) on all graduate work if applicable.

Program of Study

The graduate student and the graduate committee shall jointly develop a Program of Study that includes 78 credits in graduate course work including the required courses listed below.

Core Requirements: 15 Credit Hours

Select one data/computational course from the following:

Electives: 12 Credit Hours

Other graduate level courses 6000-level and above approved by the Graduate Director and Department Chair

Other Requirements: 51 Credit Hours

Additional coursework (seminars, and/or research tailored to the student’s need): 15 Credit Hours. Note that a maximum of 9 credit hours of ENVS 7890: Directed Individual Study may be applied to this total.
ENVS 7610 - Graduate Seminar (1 Credit Hour) Take a combined total of 4 credit hours
ENVS 7900 - Research (1-3 Credit Hours) Take a combined total of 26 credit hours
ENVS 9999 - Dissertation (1-6 Credit Hours) Take a combined total of 6 credit hours

Total Credit Hours: 78

Other Program Requirements

1. Each candidate for the Doctorate of Philosophy in Environmental Science must have accomplished the following by the end of their second term in order to maintain their eligibility for a graduate assistantship:

Identified an adviser approved by the Graduate Director of the Environmental Science Program.
Received approval from the Graduate Director of the Environmental Science Graduate Program to take courses that are taught outside of the Ph.D. Environmental Science degree.

2. Each candidate for the Doctorate of Philosophy in Environmental Science must have accomplished the following by the end of their fourth term (excluding summers) to earn or maintain their eligibility for a graduate assistantship:

Established a doctoral committee consisting of four graduate faculty, including the primary advisor.
Successfully passed written preliminary exams administered and evaluated by the student’s doctoral committee.
Submitted, defended orally, and had approved by the student’s doctoral committee a novel research proposal.

3. Each candidate for the Doctorate of Philosophy in Environmental Science must complete a dissertation on a subject approved by his/her doctoral committee.

This dissertation must be defended before the doctoral committee.
The dissertation defense is a comprehensive examination that may include questions on the dissertation, subject matter related to the dissertation, and course work.
In addition to the dissertation, the student must provide the adviser (if requested) with all forms of the data that were collected, including electronic files, and a written document detailing the contents of the data files (or other forms).

The degree is conferred at the end of the semester during which the student has passed the dissertation defense and the final written version of the dissertation has been approved by the doctoral committee.

Advisement

Graduate students are advised by their program. Graduate students should reach out to their graduate program director for information regarding the structures in place to facilitate advisement. For more information visit Graduate Academic Advisement

Graduate students can also contact the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies for more information about their program director.
Phone: 912-478-COGS (2647)
Email: gradschool@georgiasouthern.edu