ENVSS-PHD - Environmental Social Sciences (PhD)

Students may receive credit for previous courses subject to approval by the DGS in their subplan.

EBS Subplan:

Upon admission to the Environmental Behavioral Sciences (EBS) subplan in the Environmental Social Sciences PhD program, students initially will be supported by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC). In a matching process completed by the end of Winter Quarter first year, students will work with the DGS and GSC to identify their advising team: an advisor or co-advisors and one or two additional faculty members from EBS. At that point, the advisory relationship is passed from the DGS/GSC to the advisor(s) and committee member(s), who will work with the student to develop the Graduate Research Plan, as well as provide ongoing guidance in course selection and research. Mentored research should begin in June, after completion of the first year of coursework. 

Throughout the PhD program, students will continue to receive ongoing support from the DGS and the GSC, including an annual meeting to review programmatic progress. Additionally, students will be encouraged to develop mentoring and working relationships across the EBS faculty through formal and informal pathways including, but not limited to courses, the EBS workshop and seminar, and participation in lab/faculty groups.

GEP Subplan:

Throughout the Global Environmental Policy (GEP) subplan in the Environmental Social Sciences PhD program, students will receive advising from: 

• a primary academic advisor within GEP

• an optional secondary academic advisor within GEP or other appropriate department 

• a non-academic mentor within GEP (not a committee member)

• students are encouraged to obtain a committee member from outside GEP in natural sciences, engineering, or related non-social-science field

Students will develop their academic and research plans in coordination with their academic advisors and the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The non-academic mentor is not involved with the student’s research and is designated to support a student’s career development as well as their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Students will meet with the DGS annually to review their progress in the program.

Advisor assignment and selection: After students are admitted to the GEP subplan but before beginning the program in fall quarter, they will be assigned two initial advisors by the DGS. Students will select a primary and possible secondary academic advisor within GEP during their first year. Students will inform the DGS when they have identified a permanent GEP advisor(s) and will transition to developing a research plan with their permanent advisor(s). Mentored research should begin in June, after completion of their first year of coursework. 

Time to Completion of Degree

The departmental PhD should be accomplished within 5 years. To achieve this, students, together with their advisor(s) and committee members, need to set realistic milestones throughout a student’s graduate program. Extension to a sixth year will be considered, but only due to extenuating or special circumstances.

Residency Requirements

Per university regulations, graduate students are expected to maintain a significant physical presence on the campus where their main advisor(s) is based, unless the degree program has granted an exception, for example to conduct field work. This applies to each quarter a student is enrolled.

Funding

PhD students in good standing will be funded for five academic years, consistent with the funding policies of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability (SDSS). Funding past five years is not guaranteed.

Professional Development

Environmental Social Sciences students will be offered occasional seminars and workshops to help navigate their time in graduate school and prepare for careers beyond it. These will include, but not be limited to: orientation to Stanford and departmental resources, professionalism, scholarship, scientific ethics, well-being and mental health, service, career paths, navigating interpersonal relationships in academia and other professional environments, working in teams, open science, leadership, and effective practices for mentor-mentee relationships.

Departmental/School Service

Graduate students in the Department of Environmental Social Sciences are expected to be active members of their communities. This includes, but is not limited to, serving on committees and dedicating time to department, SDSS, and university-wide events.

Handling Concerns/Conflicts

As part of their advising network, students are encouraged to consult departmental resources (such as department and school student services staff, the thesis committee, the EBS/GEP Director of Graduate Studies, and the department Chair), Stanford institutional resources (such as VPGE, the Office of Graduate Life, CAPS, and the campus Ombuds), as well as individuals and networks in the broader scientific community. In the event that a student has a formal concern or complaint about their advising experience, they are encouraged to contact the EBS/GEP Director of Graduate Studies, the department Chair, the SDSS Assistant Dean for Student and Postdoctoral Affairs, and/or the SDSS Associate Dean for Human Resources and Faculty Affairs. In the event that either the student or advisor feels that the advising relationship is not effective, the school process for formally evaluating student/advisor assignments may be activated.