University of South Florida

Ph.D. GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
Degree Requirements

Doctoral degree requirements established by the University of South Florida Graduate School are found in the USF Graduate Catalog that can be accessed via the internet at http://catalog.grad.usf.edu/.

The university guidelines include information related to (1) time limitations, (2) academic residency, (3) the major professor and the doctoral advisory committee, (4) the comprehensive qualifying exam, (5) admission to candidacy, (6) the written dissertation, and (7) the dissertation defense.  Additional guidelines and policies specific to the Geography and Environmental Science and Policy Doctoral Program are included below, along with other pertinent information about the degree program.

Degrees Offered

Ph.D in Geography and Environmental Science and Policy

Degree Requirements

Credit Hours. The curriculum consists of 60 semester hours past the master’s degree, or 90 hours past the bachelor’s degree, and allows distinct concentration in Geography or Environmental Science and Policy.

Specifically, the Ph.D. curriculum consists of two tracks with the following requirements:

Required Core Courses (Nine Hours)

Doctoral Dissertation Preparation - This course is designed to assist students in the development of their dissertations. It is focused on proposal preparation, presentation skills, and research methods.

Seminar in Urban Environments - Explores topics in the study of urban environments through readings, discussion, and research. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of perspectives and scientific methodologies. 

Seminar in Natural Environments - Explores topics in the study of natural environments through readings, discussion, and research. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of perspectives and scientific methodologies.

Area of Emphasis Elective Requirements (9 Nine Hours)

Upon entering the program students select one area of emphasis from the list of five current areas:

1. Economic, Social, and Planning Issues in the Urban Environment
2. Karst Science and Climate Change
3. Natural/Technological Hazards and Health
4. Landscape Ecology
5. Water Resources and Policy

New areas of emphasis can also be created that reflect student needs and desires, and additional faculty interests.  Students take 9 credit hours in his/hers area of emphasis. Course selection is determined after consultation with the student's major professor and committee. There are a wide variety of graduate courses in the areas of emphasis available in the Geography and ESP Departments, and approved coursework can also be completed in other departments to fulfill this requirement.

Other Electives and Dissertation Credits: Students must complete a minimum of 42 other hours in the form of elective, directed reading, directed research, independent study, or dissertation hours. The student’s Advisory Committee will advise students on the number of elective courses required, the selection of elective courses, and the number of dissertation hours required. A minimum of 18 dissertation hours is completed as part of the degree program, and no more than 50% of the required dissertation hours can be taken as directed reading, directed research, and/or independent study hours. Graduate hours can be completed outside of the Geography and ESP Departments to support the elective requirements for the degree.

Note: Students entering the Ph.D. program directly from the bachelor’s degree must take the courses required for the masters in either the Department of Geography or the Environmental Science and Policy Program, and/or other courses designated by the Graduate Director of the program before taking core courses toward the Ph.D.

POLICY FOR TAKING GRADUATE COURSES AT USF ST. PETE

Graduate courses offered at the USF St. Pete campus can have a different focus than those offered on the USF Tampa campus. Therefore, a student must get approval from his/her advisor and the Geography Graduate Program Director prior to taking any courses at the USF St. Pete campus to verify that these courses will count toward the degree. Additionally, only faculty on the USF Tampa campus can serve as thesis advisor for graduate students enrolled on the Tampa campus.