Environmental Sciences PhD
The PhD curriculum in Environmental Sciences is designed so students will work in
a primary specialization area, while developing breadth of knowledge in three priority
areas. They will conduct original research on an important environmental topic culminating
in a publishable dissertation.
All students are encouraged to reach out to faculty whose research interests align with their own to discuss potential funding and advising. We ask that students do not submit an application until funding and an advisor has been identified.
Admissions Requirements
In order to be accepted into our PhD program, you will need to have taken the following courses:
- Biology (C or higher)
- Chemistry (C or higher)
- Statistics (C or higher)
- GRE Score preferably above 300 OR a Master's degree
- 3.0 GPA or higher
Required Coursework
Students entering with a Bachelor’s Degree are required to take a total of 60 credit hours, at least half of which are at or above the 7000 level. Of the 60 hours, nine are for dissertation research (ENVS 9000).
The curricular requirements for these students include:
- ENVS 7700 – Integrated Environmental Issues (three hours)
- ENVS 7995 – Environmental Seminar (one hour)
- Six hours from each of the three priority areas (18 hours)
- Three hours from a priority area of choice (three hours)
- The remaining hours will be chosen in consultation with the student’s major advisor
Students entering with a Master’s Degree are required to take a total of 30 credit hours, at least half of which are at or above the 7000 level. Of the 30 hours, nine are for dissertation research (ENVS 7000).
The curricular requirements for these students include:
- ENVS 7700 – Integrated Environmental Issues (three hours)
- ENVS 7995 – Environmental Seminar (one hour)
- Three hours from each of the three priority areas (nine hours)
- Three hours from a priority area of choice (three hours)
- The remaining hours will be chosen in consultation with the student’s major advisor
All PhD students will take a minimum of nine hours of graduate course work to establish a minor area of study outside the Department. The minor area of study will be developed in consultation with the student’s advisory committee.
Students who have received an MS in Environmental Sciences from LSU will likely have taken the requisite ENVS courses described above. For those students, the student’s advisory committee will develop an appropriate program of courses selected from courses offered by the Department of Environmental Sciences and other departments on the LSU campus or the LSU School of Public Health.