PhD Program

The PhD program in Environmental Studies (ENVS) at CU Boulder offers students a research-based degree that emphasizes cross-disciplinary perspectives and problem-oriented scholarship. Our program prepares students to become independent researchers, working closely with faculty advisors and committee members. PhD students complete coursework in the natural and social sciences, values and ethics, and policy, developing an independent line of research through their dissertation and collaborations.

Program RequirementsÌý

Â鶹ÒùÔº pursuing a PhD Degree in the Environmental Studies program must complete 30 hours of coursework and 30 hours of Dissertation Credits.Ìý

Required courses (9 hours)Ìý

  • ENVS 5000 – Policy, Science and the EnvironmentÌý
  • ENVS 5003 – Conceptual Foundations of Environmental StudiesÌý
  • ENVS 5004 – Research Design in Environmental StudiesÌý

Dissertation Credit Hours (30 hours)Ìý

  • Â鶹ÒùÔº should sign up for 30 dissertation credit hours prior to completing their degree. Â鶹ÒùÔº must sign up for at least 5 dissertation credit hours per semester after passing their dissertation prospectus defense.Ìý

Remaining 21 hoursÌý

  • Â鶹ÒùÔº should use the remaining 21 hours to complete courses recommended by their first-year guidance committee.Ìý

Major Milestones

  1. Guidance Committee Meeting:ÌýWithin the first six weeks of the first semester, aÌýcommittee of at least three faculty members reviews the student's past academic record and devises a personalized coursework program.

  2. Preliminary Examination:ÌýIn the fourth or fifth semester, students take a written exam testing knowledge from core ENVS classes and the student’s chosen fields of inquiry.

  3. Prospectus Defense:ÌýIn the fifth or sixth semester, the committee review coursework completion from previous meetings and evaluates the student's dissertation research plan.Ìý

  4. Dissertation Defense: By the end, the student will writeÌýa dissertation based on original research demonstrating mature scholarship and critical judgment, This includes a public presentation and a closed-door meeting with the committee.

Career Opportunities with a PhD in Environmental Studies

Graduates of our PhD program often pursue research-focused careers. About two-thirds of our recent PhD graduates have secured academic positions in teaching or research. Others have found roles in museums, state and federal government, higher education administration, and consulting.