Program Overview

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Environmental Social Science (Complex Adaptive Systems Science), PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy program in environmental social science is one of the few doctoral degree programs in the U.S. that draws on the premise that reducing human impacts and developing more sustainable environmental practices is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve without a focus on the social dynamics of environmental issues using critical social science perspectives.

Program Description

The program is organized around theoretically based conceptual domains:

• culture and the environment
• environmental hazards and vulnerability
• environmental justice
• human environment impacts
• political ecology
• science and technology studies

These are the bases for addressing various topical foci, including urban environments, technologies and their consequences, landscapes, institutions, and health and the environment.

Faculty Expertise

Students work with faculty members who have expertise in a broad range of fields, including:

• archaeology
• community resources
• cultural and medical anthropology
• demography
• environmental history
• geographic information systems
• human and physical geography
• planning
• public affairs
• science and technology studies
• sociology

Coursework

Coursework for the degree is focused on developing practical skills and a solid grasp of complex social science approaches to environmental issues. Students work closely with their committee to develop a curriculum appropriate to their chosen interests and career goals.

Complex Adaptive Systems Science Concentration

The complex adaptive systems science doctoral concentration trains the next generation of scientists in advanced concepts and methods needed for approaching diverse phenomena in the social and life sciences. The program is tightly integrated with diverse, ongoing, university-wide research on complex adaptive systems science and emphasizes the value of a complex adaptive systems perspective to give students better insight and a more active role in seeking solutions to a broad array of critical issues facing society today. Students become fluent in the common language of complexity while also receiving a solid foundation in the domain knowledge of existing academic disciplines.

STEM-OPT for International Students

This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S.

At a Glance

• College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes

Degree Requirements

• 84 credit hours
• a written comprehensive exam
• a prospectus
• a dissertation

Required Core

• ASB 530/ESS 530/SOS 553 Changing Human-nature Relationships (3)

Concentration

• ASM 570 Fundamentals of CAS Science (3)
• one course in mathematics of CASS (3)
• one course in modeling of CASS (3)
• one course in application of CASS (3)

Electives or Research

• ESS 792 Research (12)

Culminating Experience

• ESS 799 Dissertation (12)

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program
• Official transcripts
• Personal statement outlining educational and professional goals
• Current curriculum vitae or resume
• Three letters of recommendation
• Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

Tuition information can be found on the university's website.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: December 1

Career Opportunities

The program trains students to move into teaching and research positions or to assume leadership roles in government, industry, and nongovernmental organizations. Career opportunities include:

• analyzing and proposing policies
• conducting postgraduate academic research
• consulting for private and public organizations
• curating cultural resources
• directing nonprofit organizations
• directing programs in the private or public sector
• managing culture or heritage resources in private or public sectors
• planning communities
• teaching

Additional Information

• The program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree.
• Students entering the program without a master's degree must earn an additional 30 hours of graduate credit, produce a research portfolio that is formally evaluated by a faculty committee, and present that research in a public forum before continuing in the later stage of the doctoral program.
• All students must maintain an average GPA of 3.20 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in their courses and complete degree requirements per the program's satisfactory progress policy.