Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology

Study in this program emphasizes environmental and evolutionary biology. Students enrolled in the program are expected to concentrate their dissertation work in an area of active faculty research.  Admission to the program is highly competitive and is dependent on both student credentials and the ability of our department to provide stipend support.  This degree is most suitable for applicants  pursuing careers in research or higher education. Applicants to the doctoral program that who not have a MS degree are expected to have substantial research experience. 

• Admission
  An acceptable grade-point average (3.0 minimum during the most recent 60 semester hours), a satisfactory score on the General Record Examination, and 3 supportive letters of recommendation are required for regular admission. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit scores from the Biology subject GRE.

• Advisory Committee 
  This committee is constituted during the student's first year in the residence in the program. It includes a minimum of five doctoral-level scientists, at least three of whom are regular members of the UL Lafayette Biology Graduate Faculty. One member must be from outside the Department of Biology and may be from outside the University. The student's advisor is a member of the committee and serves as the chair.

• General Requirements 
  A minimum of 72 semester hours of credit beyond the bachelor's degree is required; at least 48 of these hours must be in non-dissertation course work. Students entering the program with a master's degree must complete at least 24 hours of non-dissertation course work. At least 9 credits must be in environmental biology and 9 in evolutionary biology, and a minimum of 12 hours must be at the 500 level. 

• Special Requirement 
  The student (as first author) must submit a manuscript to an appropriate peer-reviewed journal prior to the final examination.

• Comprehensive Examination 
  The comprehensive examination will include an oral and a written component.

• Dissertation 
  A specific research project must be completed and a formal dissertation must be submitted to and approved by the student's Advisory Committee, and by an appropriate scientist from outside the University.

• Final Examination  
  The final examination is an oral defense of the dissertation and may include related scientific topics.

The following links will provide additional information about applying to the program:

Information about admission and funding

Potential applicants from the United States 

Potential applicants from outside the United States

Report on career paths of past graduate students