Ph.D. in Environmental Science
Academic Advisor: Somentha Mitra
Ph.D. in Environmental Science
Independent Learning
The grounding in scientific research methodology provided by the dissertation requirement is a central focus of the PhD program. One of the primary means of education and training in the PhD program is achieved through successful completion of an original research project in close mentorship by their research adviser and the presentation and defense of the PhD dissertation. This intense research experience provides the education and training necessary for the student to substantiate his/her expertise and develop the skills necessary to become an independent professional. By the end of the second semester, students will choose a dissertation adviser. Students will conduct research either on site at NJIT or at the professional laboratories/organizations where they work. In either case, a member of the NJIT Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science faculty will serve as research adviser and approve the research topic. This research culminates in the writing and presentation of the dissertation. The student will present his/her dissertation for examination by a committee consisting of a minimum of five members including the research adviser. One of the committee members will be from outside the department. A majority of the program committee members will hold tenure-earning faculty appointments in the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science. The committee has to be approved by the director of the PhD Environmental Science graduate program, the department chair and the Office of Graduate Studies. With the exception of the outside member the other committee members need to have graduate faculty status. The dissertation must be judged worthy of publication by the dissertation committee and may not be submitted for examination until so deemed. For students performing their dissertation research off campus, the dissertation adviser will visit the student’s laboratory/organization, where their research is to be performed, before the research begins and on a regular basis until the work is complete.
Total Minimum Hours Required for PhD for students entering with Bachelor’s Degree (without MS degree) - 36 Credit Hours of 600/700-level Courses
Total Minimum Hours Required for PhD for students entering with MS degree - 12 Credit Hours of 700-level Courses
I. For Students Entering Without a MS Degree
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Students must take the following five core courses and maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher: | 15 | |
| Environmental Chemical Science | ||
| Environmental Analysis | ||
| Toxicology | ||
| Environmental Microbiology | ||
| Legal Aspects in Environmental Engineering | ||
| Elective Courses | 21 | |
| Students are required to take a minimum of seven 600- or 700-level courses (21 credit hours) with at least four (12 credit hours) of these at the 700-level. Courses are to be chosen from the departmental offerings or from outside of the department as deemed necessary. Up to six credit hours of Independent Study courses may be earned in fulfillment of the elective courses requirements. | ||
| Bioremediation | ||
| Environmental Problem Solving | ||
| Quantitative Environmental Risk Assessment | ||
| Global Environmental Problems | ||
| Special Topics in Environmental Science II | ||
| Advanced Environmental Analysis | ||
| Hazardous Substance Management | ||
| Energy and Sustainability | ||
| Independent Study I | ||
| Independent Study II | ||
| Physical Processes of Env Syst | ||
| Introduction to Solid and Hazardous Waste Problems | ||
| Environmental Microbiology | ||
| Site Remediation | ||
| Water Chemistry | ||
| Physical and Chemical Treatment | ||
| Biological Treatment | ||
| Stormwater Management | ||
| Sustainability and Life Cycle Analysis | ||
| Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Health | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Policy Studies | ||
| Environmental Economics and Management | ||
| Sustainable Politics and Policy | ||
| Physical Geography | ||
| Pharmaceutical Analysis | ||
| Nanomaterials | ||
| Advanced Analytical Chemistry | ||
| Sustainable Energy | ||
| Physical Principles of Characterization of Solids | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Dissertation Research Credits
EVSC 792B Pre-Doctoral Research (after completing qualifying exam requirements)
EVSC 790A Doctoral Dissertation (after completing research proposal requirements)
Qualifying Examination
By the end of the second year, students must pass the PhD qualifying oral examination. A student is given two chances to clear the exam. The qualifying examination consists of writing and orally defending an original research proposal to the student’s dissertation committee in which the committee conducts an oral exam of the candidate (majority vote of the committee required). The original research proposal will focus on a topic not directly related to the student’s dissertation research and must be approved by the dissertation committee prior to development of the proposal. Failure to pass the PhD qualifying exam will result in dismissal from the program.
Dissertation Research Proposal
By the end of the first year of passing the qualifying exam (excluding summers), students must successfully present a proposal of their dissertation research to their dissertation committee and gain approval by a majority vote of the committee.
Dissertation Defense
The final requirement for the PhD degree is completion of a satisfactory written dissertation of the student’s research, along with successful presentation and defense of the dissertation to the student’s dissertation committee (majority vote of the committee).
II. For Students Entering With a MS Degree
Students with a recognized MS degree in environmental, chemical and biological sciences or closely related field such as engineering may, with approval of the PhD Graduate Committee be admitted to pursue the PhD degree in Environmental Science and be required to earn a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework at the 700-level. Students entering the program without a MS in Environmental Science are required to take the core courses outlined in I along with the 700 level credits. Students with a MS in Environmental Science will be waived core requirements if they have taken similar courses before, and will complete only those among the core that they have not completed before.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Courses | 12 | |
| Students are required to take a minimum of four 700-level courses (12 credit hours). Courses are to be chosen from the departmental offerings while up to three credit hours may be selected from outside of the department. | ||
| Special Topics in Environmental Science II | ||
| Advanced Environmental Analysis | ||
| Hazardous Substance Management | ||
| Energy and Sustainability | ||
| Independent Study I | ||
| Independent Study II | ||
| Pharmaceutical Analysis | ||
| Nanomaterials | ||
| Advanced Analytical Chemistry | ||
| Principles Pharm Chemistry | ||
| Sustainable Energy | ||
| Physical Principles of Characterization of Solids | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Dissertation Research Credits
EVSC 792B Pre-Doctoral Research (after completing qualifying exam requirements)
EVSC 790A Doctoral Dissertation (after completing research proposal requirements)
Qualifying Examination
By the end of the second year, students must pass the PhD qualifying oral examination. A student is given two chances to clear the exam. The qualifying examination consists of writing and orally defending an original research proposal to the student’s dissertation committee in which the committee conducts an oral exam of the candidate (majority vote of the committee). The original research proposal will focus on a topic not directly related to the student’s dissertation research and must be approved by the adviser and advisory committee prior to development of the proposal. Failure to pass the PhD proficiency exam will result in dismissal from the program.
Dissertation Research Proposal
Within a year of passing the qualifying exam, students must successfully present a proposal of their dissertation research to their dissertation committee and gain approval by a majority vote of the committee.
Dissertation Defense
The final requirement for the PhD degree is completion of a satisfactory written dissertation of the student’s research, along with successful presentation and defense of the dissertation to the student’s dissertation committee (majority vote of the committee).
Grades
All students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0.
