Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Renewable Resources

Graduate studies in the Department of Renewable Resources encompass a broad spectrum of scientific and management applications in natural and managed landscapes. Graduate studies in the Department of Renewable Resources fall within the four major research themes of the Department briefly defined as: Biodiversity Conservation, which aims at understanding how biological diversity is affected by land use practices and human actions; Enhanced Forest Management, which focuses on intensive and ecological management practices to promote wood production and other non-timber values from forests; Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture, which evaluates and develops agricultural and forestry practices that ensure the sustainability of soil and water resources; Land Reclamation, Remediation, and Restoration, which focuses on the impact of a variety of land use activities on ecosystem function and techniques to return landscapes to a functional use. Thesis research is conducted within the four major research themes, however, the following eight fields of study are the approved specializations for the thesis-based programs: 1) Agroforestry 2) Conservation Biology 3) Forest Biology and Management 4) Land Reclamation and Remediation 5) Protected Areas and Wildland Management 6) Soil Science 7) Water and Land Resources 8) Wildlife Ecology and Management. Inquiries should be directed to the Associate Chair (Graduate Programs), Department of Renewable Resources. Program Requirements Course requirements for the PhD will be based on the student’s previous training and anticipated needs in the student’s area of specialization, the total course load being at the discretion of the student’s supervisory committee. All students in the PhD program must take REN R 603 and either REN R 604 or REN R 605. Otherwise there is no fixed minimum course requirement for students who hold a master’s degree. Students entering the PhD program, who do not have a master’s degree, will be expected to fulfil the MSc coursework requirement (see above), in addition to REN R 603 and either REN R 604 or REN R 605. Students in the PhD program must pass an oral candidacy exam, supervised by a committee formed according to Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research regulations within two years of initial registration. All candidates for the PhD must prepare an acceptable thesis presenting the results of their research. Candidates will be examined orally on their thesis results by committees formed according to Supervision and Examination. There is no language requirement other than English for the PhD. The minimum residence requirements are three academic years of study and research for a student with a bachelor’s degree, and two academic years of study and research for those with a master’s degree. Length of Program The time required to complete the PhD will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; however, a minimum of three years is normally required.