2012-2013
Forest Science, Doctor of Philosophy
Forestry
College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences
This is the terminal degree in the profession of forestry, and it prepares you for a career in research and/or education. We offer three concentrations within this doctoral plan-ecosystem science, forest management sciences and economics, and forest social science.
For this plan, which involves completing a dissertation, we expect you to demonstrate your skill in generating original ideas; your considerable command of the literature; your skill at designing, analyzing, and interpreting research; your skill in scientific writing, including publication of research results in major professional refereed journals; and your basic skills in teaching. We expect you to be self-motivated and to largely direct your own research program with advice and counsel from your major professor and dissertation committee. We evaluate your work on the basis of the originality and quality of the new knowledge you generate.
For this plan, which involves completing a dissertation, we expect you to demonstrate your skill in generating original ideas; your considerable command of the literature; your skill at designing, analyzing, and interpreting research; your skill in scientific writing, including publication of research results in major professional refereed journals; and your basic skills in teaching. We expect you to be self-motivated and to largely direct your own research program with advice and counsel from your major professor and dissertation committee. We evaluate your work on the basis of the originality and quality of the new knowledge you generate.
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To receive a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses, from one or more disciplines, ranging from at least 60 - 109 units of graduate-level courses. Most plans require research, a dissertation, and comprehensive exams. All plans have residency requirements regarding time spent on the Flagstaff campus engaged in full-time study.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
- Attend the seminar series in the School of Forestry and present two seminars
- Complete some teaching experience, regardless of the type of your financial support
- Fulfill Northern Arizona University's residency requirements (for more information about residency and other requirements that pertain to this plan, see Doctoral Requirements)
- Pass the oral exam on your dissertation (Dissertation Defense)
- Complete Coursework
| Minimum Units for Completion | 63 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Dissertation | Dissertation is required. |
| Comprehensive Exam | Comprehensive Exam is required. |
| Oral Defense | Oral Defense is required. |
| Research | Individualized research is required. |
| Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching | Required |
Additional Admission Requirements
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Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Doctoral Requirements
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Take the following 63 units:Select from the following (6 units):
- BIO 682
- CCJ 614
- SOC 655
- STA 570, STA 571, STA 572, STA 574, STA 676 or other graduate-level courses with significant content in statistics
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Please note that you must take at least two of these courses at Northern Arizona University and get your dissertation committee's approval for any courses taken elsewhere.
Additionally, you can use FOR 506 and FOR 695, as well as special topics courses offered by other departments, in any of these concentrations, with approval by your dissertation committee.- Electives, with no more than 9 units of 400-level courses (19 units)
- FOR 799, for the research, writing, and oral defense of an approved dissertation (15 units)
In choosing courses, please be aware that:- At least 39 units must be 500- and 600-level courses.
- No more than 24 units from a master's plan can be credited toward degree requirements.
- Your dissertation committee must approve all of your courses.
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Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.
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Research Requirements
In addition to completing 48 units of coursework, you must demonstrate your independence, research skill, and experience in a discipline within forestry by choosing a problem and research area in consultation with your dissertation committee and then satisfactorily completing a dissertation.
Your dissertation research meets our standards when it is soundly based in the theoretical context of the subject, proceeds with a sound design that gives due attention to statistical adequacy, and concludes with findings and inferences set forth within an appropriate theoretical context. Your dissertation must demonstrate that you have mastered your field of specialization, carried out independent scholarly work, and contributed significant new knowledge. You must successfully pass an oral defense of your dissertation.
Comprehensive Exams
We also require that you demonstrate written and oral communication skills in English at a level that will allow you to effectively communicate your ideas and knowledge to a wide range of audiences. Part of this demonstration involves comprehensive written and oral exams designed to establish your competence in a breadth and depth of subjects within the larger field of forestry.
Research Competency Requirement
Northern Arizona University policy for Ph.D. programs includes a Research Competency requirement that must be satisfied before a student can be admitted to candidacy. In most departments, this is enforced as a requirement to demonstrate an ability to translate disciplinary literature from a foreign language into English. The School of Forestry has chosen to recognize FOR 690, STA 570 (or equivalent), plus one graduate-level course with significant content in statistics, as meeting this requirement.