Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Doctor of Philosophy

In addition to University Requirements:

Student Learning Outcomes

Purpose Statement

The faculty and ESES PhD Program Committee apply a consistent suite of general learning outcomes to be obtained for each student within the ESES PhD Program.  The student will work with his/her advisor and the dissertation committee to create a program of study to achieve the following competencies:

• Obtain personal experience and expert knowledge in the entire range of activities that generate scientific knowledge, including:
  • Conceptualization of a dissertation project.
  • Research the relevant scientific literature to assess the current state of knowledge in the student’s specialized field.
  • Identify significant scientific questions and design a research project to address those questions.
  • Obtain outside funding through grant-writing activities.
  • Generate original, specialized datasets to test hypotheses and make inferences.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking skills and the broader impact of the knowledge in writing and successfully defending a dissertation in a public forum.
  • Convey the significance of specialized research at scholarly meetings.
• Broaden knowledge and skills through a professional experience tailored to advance specific career objectives.
• Acquire expert knowledge about the specific research topic specialization that includes its major theories, controversies, methods of inquiry, theoretical and methodological challenges, quantitative methodology appropriate to the area of the dissertation connections with related disciplines, and future directions.
• Obtain experience in academic settings encompassing interdisciplinary research by placing the student’s expert understanding of their individual research project into the broader context of the earth sciences and environmental issues and sustainability.
• Relate the results of the student’s individual project to the important policy and management pathways that will impact natural and human-dominated systems in the future.

• Continue the cutting edge research currently being done on the Earth and planets.

• Improve knowledge of other drivers of global-scale environmental change.

• Advance engineering analysis and applications relevant to sustainable development.

Additional Admission Requirements

• Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

• The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.
  
  Admission requirements include the following:

  • Transcripts.
  • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.

  
  Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
  
  Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

  International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

• • GRE® Revised General Test

• • Three letters of recommendation
  • A writing sample
  • A personal statement or essay

• • Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Doctoral Requirements

• Take the following 60 units,  with a minimum GPA of 3.0:

  • ENV 555 (3 units)
  • EES 605, EES 606 (2 units)
  • Professional experience: Any experience that significantly broadens knowledge and skills, and advances the student’s career objectives. The requirement can be satisfied through regular course work or through individualized study that expands the student’s skills in an area outside his/her dissertation but in a professional area related to his/her career goals, or research experiences within the context of the dissertation.  See an advisor. (6 units)
  • Select courses specific to an area of emphasis and dissertation topic, with at least 6 units in the area of emphasis chosen with approval of the student's dissertation committee. (30 units):

• • • Climate And Environmental Change Emphasis
      
      • Graduate-level courses with EES, ENV, BIO or FOR prefixes, or other courses that focus on climate or environmental change

• • • Earth And Planetary Systems Emphasis
      
      • Graduate-level courses with GLG prefix, or other courses that focus on earth or planetary systems

• • • Engineering Sustainable Systems Emphasis
      
      • Graduate-level courses with CENE or ME prefixes, or other courses that focus on engineering sustainable systems

• You may have no more than 6 units of 400-level courses. These 400-level courses cannot have been used to satisfy the requirements for any previous degree program(s). You must get your dissertation committee's approval for any courses taken outside of NAU.

• 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.

• In addition:
  
  • 698 (seminar) courses selected by student and committee (4 units)
  • EES 799, for the research, writing, and oral defense of an approved dissertation. You can only count 15 units of dissertation credit toward your degree; however, you may end up taking additional units because you must enroll for it each term while you¿re working on your dissertation. (15 units)
  In choosing courses, please be aware that:
  • At least 39 units must be 500- and 600-level courses.
  • Your dissertation committee must approve all of your courses.
  
  RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS
  
  In addition to completing 45 units of coursework, you must demonstrate your independence, research skill, and experience in a discipline within earth sciences and environmental sustainability 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 pass an oral defense of your dissertation.
  
  COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
  
  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 oral exams by the end of your 4th semester designed to establish your competence in a breadth and depth of subjects within your emphasis area and the larger field of earth sciences and environmental sustainability.
  
  RESEARCH COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT
  
  NAU policy for PhD programs includes a research competency requirement that must be satisfied before a student can be admitted to candidacy. This interdisciplinary doctoral program recognizes ENV 555, EES 605, and EES 606, plus one graduate level course with significant content in statistics and/or science/engineering research methods, as meeting this requirement.