Doctor of Philosophy

Each student must qualify for candidacy for the PhD by the end of the sixth quarter in residence, excluding summers. The following procedures must be followed in order for students to advance to candidacy:

1. Election of a faculty thesis advisor and a PhD qualifying examination committee, which in most cases will be the three-person committee that reviewed the student’s GRP. Membership of this committee must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and department chair.

2. Preparation of a written research proposal and approval of this proposal by the thesis advisor(s).

3. Completion of the requirements for the MA degree as described below, which includes coursework requirements. Students are not expected to be awarded the master’s degree unless they do not advance to candidacy. (See below for details on the master’s degree.)

4. Completion of the qualifying examination, which consists of three parts: (i) Oral presentation of the research proposal, (ii) examination on the research proposal, and (iii) examination on subject matter relevant to the proposed research. The exam should take place during the sixth quarter in residence, excluding summers (i.e., spring quarter of the second year for students who matriculate during the autumn quarter). Detailed information regarding advancement to candidacy is available under the general regulations of the University as set forth in the Graduate Degrees section of the Stanford Bulletin.

EBS subplan:

Qualifying exams will be scheduled during the sixth quarter in residence (i.e., spring quarter of the second year) on a date mutually agreed upon by the students and their advisor(s) and committee members. Students who do not pass qualifying examinations will be permitted to retake the exam once the following year. Students who do not pass the qualifying examination twice will be awarded an Environmental Social Sciences Masters of Arts (MA) in Environmental Behavioral Sciences, but will not be permitted to advance to candidacy.

GEP subplan:

All qualifying exams will be administered annually during the week after Commencement (June). The schedule of oral exams will be assigned on the Monday following Commencement (June). The qualifying exam will test the student’s competency on course material and a reading list compiled from committee members. Ideally, the reading list should be finalized by the end of the preceding Fall quarter. Students who do not pass qualifying exams will be permitted to retake the exam once the following year. Students who do not pass qualifying exams will be awarded an Environmental Social Sciences Masters of Arts (MA) in Global Environmental Policy (GEP), but will not be permitted to advance to candidacy. Students who pass the qualifying exam will prepare a dissertation proposal to be presented to their committee one year from the date of their qualifying exam.

The doctoral dissertation is defended in the University Oral Examination. The department must approve the selection of readers of the draft dissertation, which should include the candidate’s research advisor or co-advisors and two other members of their dissertation committee. The readers are charged to read the draft and certify in writing to the department that the draft is adequate to serve as a basis for the University Oral Examination. Upon obtaining this written certification, the student is permitted to proceed with the University Oral Examination.

Under supervision of the doctoral committee, the candidate must prepare a dissertation that contributes to the fundamental knowledge of a specific area and is the result of independent research. The curriculum for this research is developed in collaboration with the advisor or co-advisors and advising committee through the ongoing GRP process. The format of the dissertation must meet University guidelines. The likely form of the dissertation is a collection of discrete chapters that, in scientific content and format, are readily publishable. The doctoral dissertation is defended in the University Oral Examination. The department must approve the selection of readers of the draft dissertation, which should include the candidate’s research advisor or co-advisors and two other members of their dissertation committee. The readers are charged to read the draft and certify in writing to the department that it is adequate to serve as a basis for the University Oral Examination. Upon obtaining this written certification, the student is permitted to proceed with the University Oral Examination.

In the first year, PhD students are required to complete the three Theory Core courses and the two Methods Core (Qualitative and Quantitative) courses. Within the first two years, PhD students are required to complete four Advanced Theory courses, one Data course, one Ecology course, and one Advanced Methods course. In the first two years, PhD students are required to participate in the weekly Workshop in Environmental Behavioral Sciences (WEBS).

Complete at least 4 courses and at least 10 units from any EBS 200+-level course and/or any course from the following list:

If a course is not pre-approved, a student may petition EBS, via the Director of Graduate Studies, to allow the course to count toward the requirements. To be eligible for consideration:

• the course must have a course number of 200 or higher

• the course must be a minimum of 3 units (2 units may be considered)

• the course must be taken for a letter grade.

Once this information is provided, the DGS will inform the student of approval of the course as counting toward degree requirements.

PhD students in the EBS subplan are required to register in EBS 300 - Workshop in Environmental Behavioral Sciences (WEBS) in Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters of the first two years, and are required to attend EBS Research Seminars. To accompany WEBS, first- and second-year PhD students must register for a 1-unit directed reading credit in Spring Quarter to support development of their GRP (first year) and Qualifying Proposal (second year).  Attendance in WEBS and at the EBS Research Seminars is strongly encouraged for PhD students throughout all years  of the PhD program.

PhD students in the EBS subplan are required to complete at least one TA appointment at a rate of at least 25% beginning in their second year. They then have the option to complete a second TAship or a quarter-long service commitment, either by serving on a departmental committee or participating in external service opportunities, as approved by the DGS and their advisor(s).

The major product of the PhD student’s first year is the Graduate Research Plan (GRP), a foundational document created by the student with support from their advising team. At the start of the Spring Quarter of the first year, the student will meet with their advisor(s) to begin drafting their GRP. After incorporating feedback from their advisor(s) and committee, the student will present their GRP by the end of the Spring Quarter of their first year. 

The written GRP, and the oral presentation of it by the student at the end of the first year, will be evaluated by the three-person committee (advisor or co-advisors and one-to-two committee members). The GRP allows the student to craft an individualized program of study with faculty guidance and approval. 

The GRP is not merely a “to-do” list but, rather, is an intellectual statement. Sections may include: Intellectual Aims, Proposed Methods, Preparation, Schedule, and Potential Problems, with the first two sections being written in the style of a professional review paper or grant proposal (with literature citations). The GRP allows graduate students to focus on the most important issues--what do I want to do and how will I do it---and facilitates faculty input and approval on these crucial parameters. In the first two quarters of the PhD, the DGS will provide more details to the PhD students on the parameters of the GRP, and the students will discuss GRP requirements in WEBS.

With the first-year GRP serving as a foundation, the GRP is updated each year as part of the annual report to ensure timely progress toward completion of the PhD. In addition to the updated GRP, the annual review will include a record of accomplishments presented by the student, written evaluations by the faculty advisor(s) of the student’s progress, and feedback from the committee on the student’s academic and research progress. The student should have no 'I' grades in core courses, must maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average, and must demonstrate evidence of productive and sustained research progress, with no conflict of interest or commitment. Possible outcomes of the annual review include: (1) continuation of the student in good standing, or (2) placing the student on probation, with specific written guidelines of the period of probation and the necessary steps for reinstatement to good standing.

Through coursework, students will develop expertise in key quantitative disciplines which they integrate in research that addresses unsolved global challenges, such as the management of climate change, biodiversity loss, food systems, pollution, global health, natural disasters, energy resources, use of outer space, water resources, and ecosystems. Students will be educated in GEP courses as well as in courses taught by Stanford’s leading departments of economics, computer science, environmental science, law, and political science.

Complete a 2-3 course graduate sequence in one area of natural science or engineering, as determined with student's advisor. Can be a 2 course sequence if the student opts for a 3 course Policy Elective Sequence.

• Energy systems

• Food systems 

• Ecology

• Climate

• Hydrology & Water resource engineering

• Oceans

• Land management

• Health 

• Chemistry

• Other

Students in the GEP subplan are required to register in GEP 300 throughout all years that they are in the PhD program.

PhD students in the GEP subplan are required to complete at least (2) TA appointments at a rate of at least 25% after their first year.

Students will work with their advisor, dissertation committee, and Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for GEP to develop a program of study that aligns with their objectives.

Students will review their progress annually with their primary advisor and Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to ensure they are making adequate progress in their program of study.