Ph.D. Degree in Ecology and Environmental Sciences (Interdisciplinary)

This cross-college doctoral degree represents a broad collaboration among departments and faculty from across MSU. It provides the opportunity for motivated students to integrate our world-class faculty research programs in diverse aspects of ecology and environmental sciences, often within the unparalleled natural laboratory that is the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Particular program strengths include terrestrial and aquatic ecology, environmental biogeochemistry, evolutionary biology, hydrology and watershed analysis, quantitative ecology, agroecology, environmental risk assessment, invasive plant ecology and management, conservation biology, land rehabilitation/restoration ecology, environmental microbiology, remote sensing and spatial sciences, chemical ecology and land-atmosphere interactions. 

Graduates will be well-trained professionals who will compete strongly in research, teaching, and related fields nationally and internationally.

Ecology and Environmental Sciences doctoral students will be affiliated with a home department that corresponds to that of their major faculty advisor.  Other specific graduate program criteria, procedures, and processes vary among departments; students will follow those of their home department, which are also consistent with policies set forth by The Graduate School.

Core Curriculum

Because of the substantial diversity in disciplinary and multidisciplinary foci within the Ecology and Environmental Sciences doctoral program, EES Ph.D. students are required to take a cohort-building course, LRES 593, which is focused on the principles and foundations of Ecology and Environmental Sciences. The course is required for each new EES Ph.D. student during the first year they are in residence on the MSU campus, but also open to other interested Ph.D. students in appropriate disciplines. The Program of Study for each EES student will also require any other requirements of the home department (i.e. LRES requires LRES 594- Seminar, for proposal presentation during the students’ first year). Additional department-specific requirements will include required exams (qualifying, comprehensive and thesis/dissertation defense), expectation of subject matter for exams, and thesis/dissertation format requirements. A minimum of 30 credits of resident coursework must be taken from MSU. 

LRES 593Grand Challenges in Ecology and Environmental Sciences1

Additionally, multiple courses relevant to EES could also be taken to meet The Graduate School requirements: http://ou.montana.edu/environmental-science/

Ecology and Environmental Sciences Oversight Committee

The EES Oversight Committee is comprised of faculty representatives from each of the Departments that train graduate students in the EES program. Doctoral credit goes to the Department of the major professor on the Program of Study. 

Current Committee Membership:

EES Oversight Committee Members

Department                                                             

Institute on Ecosystems                                             Dr. Andy Hansen, Chair, Director of IoE  

Land Resources & Environmental Sciences              Dr. Robert Peterson                      

Ecology                                                                      Dr. Diane Debinski        

Earth Sciences                                                           Dr. Dave McWethy                   

Animal and Range Science                                        Dr. Lance McNew                    

Plant Science & Plant Pathology                                Dr. Ryan Thum                     

Microbiology and Immunology                                    Dr. Deborah Keil               

Program Participants

The program is open to students and faculty mentors in several MSU departments who undertake relevant doctoral study. For more information about the Ph.D. Program in Ecology & Environmental Sciences, faculty and their areas of research, and the application requirements and procedures, visit the department by clicking on the links below.

Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences

College of Agriculture:

College of Letters & Science:

Stipend and operations funding are generally from research grants awarded to faculty members, but graduate teaching assistantships and other forms of support are also available on a limited basis.