Yale F&ES Doctoral Studies

Doctoral Programs

Currently 75 students are pursuing doctoral degrees within the School, creating a vibrant and dynamic intellectual community. Research is being conducted on almost every continent. Most students pursue questions that often span disciplinary boundaries, and have both social and natural science dimensions.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Rebecca Ashley interviewing women farmers in Kabale, Uganda.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is administered jointly between the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

An application to the Ph.D. program can be obtained by visiting the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' web site: http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool Applicants are encouraged to identify and contact ladder faculty members they would wish to work with if accepted to the program. The Students page includes advisors by subject area. Or click here for a list of the School's faculty and their research interests.

Joint Degrees

Department of Anthropology

The School of Forestry & Environmental Studies offers a combined doctoral degree with Yale's Department of Anthropology. The purpose of this program is threefold:

(1) it combines the interdisciplinary character and possibilities of F&ES, especially in terms of bridging the social and natural sciences, with the disciplinary identity and strengths of the Anthropology department.
(2) it combines the strengths in ecological and environmental studies of F&ES with the social science strengths of the anthropology department.
(3) it combines the emphasis within F&ES on linking theory with policy and practice with the Anthropology department's strengths in theory.

The combined doctoral degree offers its graduates great flexibility when entering the marketplace. They can represent themselves as anthropologists and/or environmental scientists, as theoreticians and/or practitioners.

New York Botanical Garden

The School of Forestry & Environmental Studies has entered into an agreement with the New York Botanical Garden to offer a joint degree. The objective is to train biological scientists to use an interdisciplinary approach to solving problems associated with tropical environments. Areas of study include: Agroforestry and Forest Management, Ecosystem Analysis, Economic Botany, Economic Evaluation of Tropical Resources, Ethnobotany, Plant Biodiversity and Conservation, Social Processes Affecting Management of Natural Resources, Tropical Field Studies, and Tropical Silviculture. This program has three goals:

(1) Produce professionals with a research knowledge base in forestry and botany.
(2) Train scientists to address the problems of ecosystem management in complex tropical environments.
(3) Develop institutional ties with non-governmental organizations, government, industry, and other entities to foster environmentally sound policy decisions.

Application Procedures

Individuals interested in applying to the joint program must complete and submit an application to Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies by January 1st. A seperate application must be submitted to the New York Botanical Garden.

For further information or applications please contact:

Elisabeth Barsa
Doctoral Program Administrator
Yale University
School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
205 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Phone: (203)432-5146
Fax: (203)432-3817
E-mail: elisabeth.barsa@yale.edu

Dr. Lawrence Kelly
Director of Graduate Studies
The New York Botanical Garden
Southern Boulevard & 200th Street
Bronx, NY 10458

Phone: (718)817-8171
Fax: (718)220-8799
E-mail: lkelly@nybg.org
URL: http://www.nybg.org

Schedule of Doctoral Studies

Here is the basic structure within which students design their doctoral studies.

When What

First Semester Designate major advisor.
Outline tentative course schedule.

First Year Determine dissertation committee.

First and Second Year Take 3+ courses per semester until semester of qualifying examination.
Complete at least 12 courses, with at least 2 honor grades.
Decide on format of written qualifying exam (2 questions with one week each to prepare written answer, or 16 questions in 2 4-hour sittings on 2 consecutive days.)

By beginning of 4^th semester Schedule qualifying exam.

By end of 4^th semester Before written qualifying exam, write thesis proposal with one page abstract.
Take written and oral qualifying exams.

After 4^th semester Research. Continue to register.

After 6^th year DDS written approval required for registration.

For Current Students:

School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Procedures and Practices Relating to Doctoral Work of Students 2005-2006 (pdf)

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Programs and Policies 2005-2006