Community Sustainability - Doctor of Philosophy

A minimum of 60 credits is required for the degree. The student’s program of study must be developed in cooperation with and approved by the student’s guidance committee and must include the requirements specified below.
All of the following courses (9 credits):
Foundations of Community Sustainability I
Foundations of Community Sustainability II
Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry
If a student already has credit in any of these courses, these credits must be replaced by another 3 credits of research chosen in consultation with their advisor.
Complete a minimum of 9 credits of course work in advanced research methods, to be selected in consultation with the student’s guidance committee, including at least 3 credits respectively in quantitative and qualitative methods, statistics, or other advanced research methods.
Complete a minimum of 18 credits in course work grouped in two focus areas each of which must have a minimum of 9 credits. Of these, at least 3 credits in each focus area must be selected from Community Sustainability (CSUS) courses.
Prepare a comprehensive examination program statement that presents the student’s learning and professional background and goals, and provides a rationale for the student’s declared focus areas integrating and summarizing the related research literature. This statement is prepared in consultation with the student’s guidance committee and is presented to the full faculty for review.
Pass a comprehensive examination based on the student’s comprehensive examination program statement.
Complete 24 credits of doctoral dissertation research and successfully defend the dissertation. Present the results of the research in a public seminar during the final oral examination.
All students are encouraged to prepare at least one paper from the dissertation research suitable for submission to a professional and/or refereed academic journal.