Doctor of Philosophy

E-IPER updates the PhD requirements annually, laying out the structure of advising meetings, core courses, program activities, and milestones that guide students' progress. Each student works with a faculty advising team from different research areas to design a course of study that allows the student to develop and exhibit:  

• Understanding of research approaches and analytical tools for interdisciplinary problem solving and proficiency in those approaches and tools is central to the student's thesis work  

• Depth of knowledge in at least two distinct areas of concentration  

In the first year, complete of the PhD core course sequence.

Complete a minimum of 135 units for the PhD. At least 90 units must be taken at Stanford to complete the 135 residency units for the PhD. The 135 units will be comprised of the required core courses - ENVRES 310, ENVRES 315, ENVRES 320, ENVRES 330, ENVRES 340, and ENVRES 398. The remaining units should come from coursework taken to fulfill the research electives needed in the student’s two Areas of Concentration - 25 units of which must be letter-graded courses numbered 200 and above, and passed with a minimum B (3.0) average. Students should consult their co-advisors about which courses to take. 

On an ongoing basis, submit grant proposals for external funding, defined as fellowship and/or research funds provided by a government agency, a private foundation, or a university entity other than E-IPER or the Doerr School of Sustainability.

Students must meet with their co-advisors together at least once per quarter during Autumn and Winter Quarters throughout their five years. 

Students must submit their Annual Review to the E-IPER Academic Guidance Committee (AGC) each year. A written report must be submitted by the end of Spring Quarter, which summarizes the student’s progress and discussion with their Co-Advisors.

All E-IPER PhD students are required to complete at least one quarter of teaching assistantship (TA). This can be fulfilled by serving as a TA in one of E-IPER's core courses or in any course outside of E-IPER that offers an opportunity to lecture in at least one class session and/or lead a discussion session. Students who create their own course can use it to satisfy the teaching requirement, with approval from the E-IPER program. The TA requirement must be met before Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR).

Admission to a doctoral degree program is preliminary to, and distinct from, admission to candidacy. Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is a judgment by the faculty in the student's degree program regarding the student's potential to complete the program's requirements successfully. University policy requires all PhD students to complete their department's degree program qualifying procedures, apply for candidacy by the end of their second year of graduate study, and remain in good standing in the PhD program. Candidacy is valid for five years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.

1. A written dissertation proposal that outlines the student's projected dissertation research

   1. The dissertation proposal includes the Areas of Concentration Essay (see more information here opens in a new tab)

2. Oral defense of the dissertation proposal

The two-part qualifying exam must be approved by the candidate's University oral examination committee, as defined here.

After passing the qualifying exam, students file for PhD candidacy, a university milestone. 

Students must submit the following documents to the Assistant Director of Student Services after passing their Qualifying Examination: 

1. A Candidacy Plan that documents how the student has fulfilled the program requirements to date

   1. E-IPER requires the Areas of Concentration Essay to be submitted as part of the Candidacy Plan.

2. A Dissertation Proposal. Candidacy is valid for five years, during which students are expected to complete their degree.  

3. A signed Oral Qualifying Examination Form

See GAP 4.6.1 opens in a new tab and the E-IPER Handbook for further details.

The doctoral dissertation is defended in a University Oral Examination. The oral examination defense is a public seminar followed by a closed session with the student’s Oral Examination committee opens in a new tab comprised of at least five faculty members. The committee must meet university requirements for doctoral committee membership opens in a new tab. A substantial dissertation draft must be submitted to the student’s Oral Examination committee at least one month before the oral exam occurs.

Once the University Oral Examination has been passed, students may submit a final draft of the dissertation to the University Registrar by requesting to graduate and receiving a conferral of the doctoral degree in Environment & Resources.

Under the supervision of the research reading committee that includes the faculty Co-Advisors, the candidate must prepare a doctoral dissertation that contributes to knowledge and is the result of independent research. The student is strongly urged to prepare dissertation chapters that, in scientific content and format, are readily publishable. The format of the dissertation must meet university dissertation guidelines opens in a new tab. In addition, the final written dissertation must be approved by the student’s reading committee opens in a new tab (a minimum of three approved faculty) and submitted to the Registrar’s Office. Upon completing this final requirement, a student is eligible for degree conferral.