Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology
PhD Program at Miami University
Requirements
Entrance Requirements
Incoming students are expected to have completed a bachelor's or master's degree, and have appropriate academic background in science and mathematics.
Successful candidates often have completed courses in general biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, calculus, statistics, and one or more system specific courses that focus on particular organisms (e.g., mammals or vascular plants) or ecosystems (e.g., coral reefs, streams). Successful candidates typically have professional experience, completed an M.S. in a related field, or completed an undergraduate research project.
Program Requirements
A formal plan of study, including courses to be taken to satisfy the following requirements, must be approved by the student's committee. Equivalent courses taken in another graduate program may satisfy course requirements, at the discretion of the student's dissertation committee. In the event that a student has not yet formed a committee, s/he can seek approval from the EEEB Program Executive Committee.
The faculty have developed very general guidelines that are used to help us quantify the quality of our program by evaluating students at two milestones in their graduate careers: the defense of their research proposal (usually written in the second year) and the defense of their dissertation (at end of their program). We use these rubrics [PDF] to evaluate the success of our program (and the performance of students).
A. Formal Course Requirements
Students must earn at least 12 credit hours of formal coursework, including:
- Two core courses, from the following:
- Evolution and Biosystematics (ZOO 522)
- Population and Community Ecology (BOT/MBI/ZOO 671)
- Ecosystem and Global Ecology (BOT/MBI/ZOO 672)
- One course focused on the application of ecology or evolution to environmental problem solving, such as Conservation Biology (BOT/ZOO 467), GIScience Techniques in Landscape Ecology (GEO 544), or other course approved by the EEEB Executive Committee.
- One additional graduate course, approved by the student's dissertation committee. See this partial list of EEEB-related courses typically offered by the participating departments.
B. Seminars
Students must take the two-semester introductory graduate seminar sequence in EEEB, consisting of ZOO 601 (1cr., Fall) and BOT 720E (1 cr., Spring).
ZOO 601 is offered in the Fall and provides an introduction to presentation skills, and writing a research proposal.
BOT 720E is offered in the Spring and provides an introduction to the breadth of scientific disciplines in EEEB in a journal-club style forum. Students must also take three more 1-credit graduate seminars.
C. Comprehensive Exams
Students must pass a comprehensive written and oral exam, given by the student's dissertation committee.
D. Dissertation
Students must complete a dissertation. The dissertation committee must include at least five faculty members; at least three must be EEEB Program Faculty Associates.
For more detailed information about requirements and a timeline, please see:
Additional Training
In addition to program requirements, EEEB students may complete a graduate minor or certificate program. In particular, students may be interested in: