Requirements

Primary emphasis in the Ph.D. program is on professional development, stimulation of intellectual curiosity, and competency in science, rather than on a specified set of courses. However, a general set of coursework requirements must be completed successfully:

  • The student must obtain a minimum of 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. A dissertation committee may require more depending on the student’s background for the proposed research program.
  • Of the 60 credits, a minimum of 40 must be in coursework exclusive of thesis or research and of those, at least half should be at the 500-level or above.
  • At least 30 semester graduate credits must be taken at the University of Montana.
  • Up to 30 semester credits from a Master's degree may be applied to the 60 credit requirement.  On the recommendation of the department and approval of the Graduate Dean, credits may be transferred (including an entire Master's Degree and/or credits from a Master's Degree program) from other institutions after one semester in residence.

Note: The College of Forestry and Conservation has no foreign language requirement.

* Please review the Graduate Handbook for more information on student supervision and degree requirements.