Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

Students completing the master’s degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst or elsewhere may be accepted into the Environmental Conservation doctoral program but are formally admitted to candidacy only after completing a successful written and oral preliminary comprehensive examination as governed by the graduate program.  Specific course requirements are determined by the student’s committee to complete the comprehensive examination in the core topic areas. Doctoral candidates must complete a dissertation specific to the degree concentration, successfully defend a dissertation, produce a minimum of three publishable scientific papers resulting from professional projects, and teach or assist in teaching for at least one semester. The degree usually requires at least three years of study beyond the master’s degree but typically takes 4-5 years to complete.

Additional information is available on the program website: http://eco.umass.edu/degree-programs/graduate-programs/