¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

Resource and Environmental Management Doctor of Philosophy Program

School of Resource and Environmental Management | Faculty of Environment
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar 2013 Spring

In this doctor of philosophy (PhD) program students gain exposure in three core areas: environmental sciences, resource and environmental policy and planning, and ecological and environmental economics. Research will integrate elements of two of these three areas.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements

To qualify for admission, an applicant will satisfy all university admission requirements as outlined in the graduate general regulations and have

• the ability to carry out innovative, independent and original PhD level research in their field
• high academic standing in previous university work
• a master’s degree in a related discipline

All applicants will submit the following with their application.

• all post-secondary school transcripts
• a short curriculum vitae providing evidence of awards, academic performance, publications and relevant research and work experience
• a 500-1,000 word statement of interest describing how this program fits into the applicant’s research and career objectives
• three letters of reference (using the form provided in the application package) from respected academics/researchers who have first-hand knowledge of the applicant’s research capabilities and academic training
• results from the GRE Test and
• official results of the TOEFL and TWE or IELTS exams (for applicants whose first language is not English and whose previous education has been conducted in another language)

Applicants will be accepted by an identified senior supervisor (REM faculty member) prior to admittance. PhD applicants are strongly advised to visit the University for an interview prior to February 1 of the year of requested admission.

Transfer from the Master’s Program to the PhD Program

A master of resource management (MRM) student who shows exceptional ability may apply to transfer to the PhD program only if the student has the ability to carry out innovative, independent and original PhD level research in that field, has obtained high academic standing in previous university work, and has the support of their master's research supervisor. All university regulations governing transfers must be met. Transfers are only permitted when the student has been in the master’s program for two but not more than four terms.

Transfer applications must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee, the REM graduate studies committee, and the senate graduate studies committee. Students transferring from the master's program will be eligible to earn only the PhD degree.

Supervisory Committee

With guidance from the senior supervisor, upon admission, each student will be assigned an initial supervisory committee (the supervisor and at least one additional REM faculty member). The initial supervisory committee must be either modified or confirmed as the student's supervisory committee by the beginning of the second term (at the latest when starting in REM 802). The supervisory committee shall reflect the student's evolving research direction and consist of the supervisory committee and at least one other ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV faculty member. Both the initial and the subsequent regular supervisory committees must include representation from two of the three REM core research areas.

Program Requirements

Students will complete a total of 25 units (five REM courses), and maintain a minimum A- average in all courses, including both of

• REM 698-3 Field Resource Management Workshop*
• REM 802-5 Research Approaches for REM PhD Students†

*normally completed in the first fall term
†normally completed in the second term

Students will also complete at least one course in each of the three core areas (environmental sciences, resource and environmental policy and plannjng, and environmental economics). Although it is strongly recommended that students complete all three core courses in their first fall term, the timing will be determined by the student and the senior supervisor in conjunction with the initial or continuing supervisory committees. The recommended courses to fulfill this requirement are normally

• REM 611-5 Population and Community Ecology
• REM 621-5 Ecological Economics
• REM 644-5 Public Policy Analysis and Administration

One of these REM core courses may be waived on the basis of substantial prior experience, with agreement from the supervisory committee, the course instructor, and the graduate studies committee. If a student receives a course waiver, the student is not required to replace the course for which the waiver was received.

Course selection must be approved by the senior supervisor or the supervisory committee, who may recommend additional courses to be completed during the first year to strengthen the student's background in areas directly related to their thesis research. Elective courses may be completed outside of the School of Resource Management (REM). Students who transfer from the REM master's program into the REM PhD program are not required to complete REM 611, 621, 644 and 698 a second time if they have completed these courses with a minimum grade of A- average in all of these courses.

The student's progress will be evaluated annually in accordance with the graduate general regulations.

Comprehensive Examinations

Students complete

• REM 802-5 Research Approaches for REM PhD Students

This course emphasizes the preparation of PhD students for completing the comprehensive examination and defense of their thesis proposal. The student must complete the course successfully in their second term, except in exceptional circumstances.

REM 802's requirements include a draft thesis research proposal containing a strong interdisciplinary direction, and an oral examination of the draft research proposal with the REM 802 course instructor and the supervisory committee.

No later than at the end of their fourth term, each student will successfully defend their thesis research proposal during a comprehensive exam before an approved oral examination committee comprised of the student's supervisory committee and additional REM faculty as needed to provide coverage for the three core research areas. The thesis research proposal must show how at least two of the core areas will be incorporated into the student's research. Through the thesis proposal and oral defense, the student will demonstrate

• their general preparedness in disciplines related to their research
• their specific readiness to conduct the proposed research
• and that the proposed research is feasible, has merit, and could form the basis of a thesis if completed adequately.

If a student requires further background in either general or specific preparation, the examining committee may recommend further courses of study and/or background preparation after the proposal defense. If the candidate fails this examination and this assessment is approved by the REM Graduate Studies Committee, the student will be required to withdraw from the PhD program. Detailed information about the examination procedures, dates and deadlines are provided in the REM PhD Handbook.

Thesis

A written thesis is based on the candidate's original research, and must meet the requirements of interdisciplinarity outlined above. When the thesis is substantially complete, the student must first present it at a REM colloquium prior to the formal thesis defence. This presentation forms the basis of the supervisory committee's final recommendation about whether the student is ready for the final defence readiness. All PhD candidates must then pass the formal thesis defence, which is conducted in accordance with University regulations. All other PhD general requirements are as outlined in the graduate general regulations.

Residency Requirement

A candidate must be enrolled and in residence at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV for the minimum number of terms as described in the graduate general regulations.

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.

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