ENVSS-PHD - Environmental Social Sciences (PhD)
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Program Overview
Environmental Social Sciences is a new department at Stanford. The program guidelines set forth below are a starting point for the new department. Iterations on this foundation will be forthcoming.
The PhD is a research degree. Teaching students to conduct high-quality independent research is thus a primary objective of the Environmental Social Sciences (ESoS) graduate program. Carrying out and publishing such research as a graduate student, in addition to its central pedagogical role, has also become a prerequisite for obtaining professional positions. As such, our graduate program is structured to encourage research, and the development of research skills, to the maximum extent possible.
The ESoS PhD program follows a cohort model, admitting students to the department and not tying student funding to a specific faculty member. This approach allows students and faculty to find advisor matches that work for both, and to transfer advisors if necessary.
The ESoS department has two faculty groups within it: Environmental Behavioral Sciences (EBS) and Global Environmental Policy (GEP). The ESoS PhD program runs with independent EBS and GEP subplans. Students apply and are admitted to a specific subplan. EBS and GEP subplanss have different course requirements, advisors, and subplan-specific expectations.
Admissions Information
For admission to the PhD program in the department of Environmental Social Sciences, minimum expectations include: completion of an undergraduate degree, demonstration of potential for independent research, provision of a personal statement, and submission of three letters of recommendation.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional for both subplans but the GEP subplan strongly encourages the GRE submission for full consideration.
Applicants whose first language is not English must submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores from a test taken within the last 18 months, with a minimum score of 100. Individuals who have completed a BS degree or two-year master’s program in the United States and/or other English-speaking country and/or universities are not required to submit TOEFL scores.
Both the EBS and GEP subplans are accepting PhD applications in Fall 2025 for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
A minimum of 135 units of graduate study at Stanford must be satisfactorily completed
All courses taken for the program must be completed with a letter grade, if offered. PhD students registered for 8-10 units must pass at least 6 units per quarter. EBS subplan graduate students can take up to 18 units during Autumn or Winter quarter of their first year to complete their first-year degree requirement courses.
Students must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average
Each student must qualify for candidacy for the PhD by the end of the sixth quarter in residence, excluding summers. The following procedures must be followed in order for students to advance to candidacy:
Election of a faculty thesis adviser and a PhD qualifying examination committee, which in most cases will simply be the three-person committee that reviewed the student’s GRP. Membership of this committee must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and department chair.
Preparation of a written research proposal and approval of this proposal by the thesis advisor.
Completion of the requirements for the MA degree as described below, which includes coursework requirements. Students are not expected to be awarded the master’s degree unless they do not advance to candidacy. (see below for details on the master’s degree).
Qualifying examination, consisting of three parts: (i) Oral presentation of the research proposal, (ii) examination on the research proposal, and (iii) examination on subject matter relevant to the proposed research. The exam should take place during the sixth quarter in 5 residence, excluding summers (i.e., spring quarter of the second year for students matriculating during the autumn quarter). Detailed information regarding advancement to candidacy is available under the general regulations of the University as set forth in the Graduate Degrees section of the Stanford Bulletin.
EBS subplan:
Qualifying exams will be scheduled during the sixth quarter in residence (i.e., spring quarter of the second year) on a date mutually agreed upon by the students and their (co)advisors and committee members. Students who do not pass qualifying examinations will be permitted to retake the exam once the following year. Students who do not pass the qualifying examination twice will be awarded a Master’s Degree, but will not be permitted to advance to Candidacy.
GEP subplan:
All qualifying exams will be administered annually during the week after Commencement (June). The schedule of oral exams will be randomly assigned on the Monday following Commencement (June). Students who do not pass qualifying exams will be permitted to retake the exam once the following year. Students who do not pass qualifying exams will be awarded an Environmental Social Sciences Masters of Science (M.S.) in Global Environmental Policy (GEP) but will not be permitted to advance to Candidacy.
The doctoral dissertation is defended in the University Oral Examination. The department must approve the selection of readers of the draft dissertation, which should include the candidate’s research advisor or co-advisors and two other members of their dissertation committee. The readers are charged to read the draft and to certify in writing to the department that it is adequate to serve as a basis for the University Oral Examination. Upon obtaining this written certification, the student is permitted to schedule the University Oral Examination.
Under supervision of the doctoral committee, the candidate must prepare a dissertation that contributes to the fundamental knowledge of a specific area and is the result of independent research. The curriculum for this research is developed in collaboration with the advisor or co-advisors and advising committee through the ongoing GRP process. The format of the dissertation must meet University guidelines. The likely form of the dissertation is a collection of discrete chapters that, in scientific content and format, are readily publishable. The doctoral dissertation is defended in the University Oral Examination. The department must approve the selection of readers of the draft dissertation, which should include the candidate’s research advisor or co-advisors and two other members of their dissertation committee. The readers are charged to read the draft and to certify in writing to the department that it is adequate to serve as a basis for the University Oral Examination. Upon obtaining this written certification, the student is permitted to schedule the University Oral Examination.
In the first year, students are required to complete the PhD Theory Core courses, Methods Core (Qualitative and Quantitative) courses, and 2 Advanced Theory courses. In the second year, students are required to complete the Data course, Ecology course, Advanced Methods course, and 2 additional Advanced Theory courses.
At the beginning of each academic year, the EBS subplan will specify the approved list of courses that meet these requirements. The updated list will be available on the Bulletin and circulated to students and advisors. Note that offerings rotate and that not all approved courses are offered yearly. Students should consult with the DGS and their advising team to ensure that the combination of courses they select meets their programmatic, educational, and research needs. The requirement of these courses is typically completed by the end of the second year of residency and must be met by the end of the third year.
At least four from approved list. Two courses must be taken in Year One, and the other two courses must be taken in Year Two.
Complete at least one 200+-level course from the approved Methods Core - Quantitative courses listed above, or
If a course is not pre-approved, a student may petition EBS, via the Director of Graduate Studies, to allow the course to count toward the requirements. To be eligible for consideration:
the course must have a course number of 200 or higher
the course must be a minimum of 3 units (2 units may be considered)
the course must be taken for a letter grade, and
the course must be approved by the EBS Director of Graduate Studies
Students in the EBS subplan are required to participate in the EBS Workshop (EBS 300) and attend EBS Research Seminars during the first and second years of the PhD program; attendance is strongly encouraged throughout all years students are in the PhD program.
PhD students in the EBS subplan are required to complete at least (1) TA appointment at a rate of at least 25% over the course of study. They then have the option to complete a second TAship or a quarter-long service commitment, either by serving on departmental committees or participating in external service opportunities.
The major product of the PhD student’s first year is the Graduate Research Plan (GRP), a foundational document co-created by the student with support from their advising team. At the start of the Spring Quarter of the first year, the student will meet with their advisor(s) to begin drafting their GRP. After incorporating feedback from their advisor(s) and committee, the student will present their GRP by the end of the Spring Quarter of their first year.
The written GRP, and the oral presentation of it by the student at the end of the first year, will be evaluated by the three-person committee (advisor or co-advisors and one-to-two committee members). The GRP allows students to craft individualized programs of study with faculty guidance and approval.
The GRP is not merely a “to-do” list, but rather is an intellectual statement. Sections may include: Intellectual Aims, Proposed Methods, Preparation, Schedule, and Potential Problems, with the first two sections being written in the style of a professional review paper or grant proposal (with literature citations). The GRP allows graduate students to focus on the most important issues--what do I want to do and how will I do it---and facilitates faculty input and approval on these crucial parameters.
With the first-year GRP serving as a foundation, the GRP is updated each year as part of the annual report to ensure timely progress toward completion of the PhD. In addition to the updated GRP, the annual review will include a record of accomplishments presented by the student, written evaluations by the faculty advisor(s) of the student’s progress, and feedback from the committee on the student’s academic and research progress. The student should have no 'I' grades in core courses and must maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average, and demonstrate evidence of productive and sustained research progress, with no conflict of interest or commitment. Possible outcomes of the annual review include: (1) continuation of the student in good standing, or (2) placing the student on probation, with specific written guidelines of the period of probation and the necessary steps for reinstatement to good standing.
Through coursework, students will develop expertise in key quantitative disciplines which they integrate in research that addresses unsolved global challenges, such as the management of climate change, biodiversity loss, food systems, pollution, global health, natural disasters, energy resources, use of outer space, water resources, and ecosystems. Students will be educated in GEP courses as well as in courses taught by Stanford’s leading departments of economics, computer science, environmental science, law, and political science.
Complete one causal inference sequence (ECON or POLISCI)
Complete one CS 200 level course in deep learning (i.e. CS 231N)
Complete a 2 course graduate sequence in one area of natural science or engineering, as determined with student's advisor.
Energy systems
Food systems
Ecology
Climate
Hydrology & Water resource engineering
Oceans
Land management
Health
Chemistry
Other
Choose 3 open elective courses (may be in other departments or GEP) to be determined with student's advisor:
Political economy
Industrial organization
Development
Urban economics
Urban planning
Public finance
Health policy
International relations
Comparative politics
Trade
Management science
Up to one course in natural science or engineering
Students in the GEP subplan are required to participate in both the GEP Research Seminar and GEP Research Workshop throughout all years that they are in the PhD program.
PhD students in the GEP subplan are required to complete at least (2) TA appointments at a rate of at least 25% over the course of study.
Students will work with their advisor, dissertation committee, and Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for GEP to develop a program of study that aligns with their objectives.
Students will review their progress annually with their primary advisor and Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to ensure they are making adequate progress in their program of study. The student must maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average.