Doctor of Philosophy - Forest and Conservation Sciences

Degree Specific Credits: 60

Required Cumulative GPA: 3.0

The primary emphasis in the Ph.D. program is on professional development, stimulation of intellectual curiosity, and competency in science, rather than on a specified set of courses. However, a general set of coursework requirements must be completed successfully.

Core Requirements

• At least 60 credits beyond the Bachelor’s degree; more may be required by the dissertation committee depending on the student’s background. Specific courses determined by the student’s graduate committee.
• At least 40 credits in coursework (not including thesis or research credits), with at least half (minimum 20 credits) of the 40 coursework credits at the 500-level or above. 400-level courses used to fulfill this requirement must be approved to be offered for graduate credit.
• At least 30 semester graduate credits at the University of Montana.
• At least one credit of graduate seminar per semester (FORS, NRSM, PTRM, or WILD 594).

Other Requirements

• Research Statement – a short written description of preliminary research ideas.
• Research Proposal – a formal research proposal presenting the conceptual and empirical framework of the research.
• Comprehensive exam – 5 days of written questions, 3-hour oral exam.
• Defense – written dissertation, seminar, and defense.