Program Overview

The PhD in Marine Science & Conservation (MSC) is designed to ensure that students receive detailed training in a particular discipline of marine natural or social science, while being exposed to sufficient interdisciplinary knowledge that they are able to synthesize information from both the social and natural sciences and apply that information to policy-making. These students will be prepared for careers either in university teaching or research, or outside of the university involving the application of science to policy-making.  

Doctoral students in MSC emphasize research as the major part of their degree programs. The committee, chaired by the student’s faculty advisor, will recommend which of the program’s required courses students should take along with any additional courses, and generally help to shape the student’s research program.

Faculty

Where You'll Study

The bulk of a student's time will be spent at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, N.C. Doctoral students in Marine Science & Conservation typically spend one-two semesters taking graduate classes at Duke’s main campus before moving to the Duke Marine Lab to complete their research, although residence in Durham is not required. Some sources of funding are contingent upon having an advisor from the Marine Lab's resident faculty.

Requirements

The Division in Marine Science & Conservation at the Nicholas School of the Environment administers its own PhD program. All PhD students in the MSC program fulfill requirements in four areas: professional development, interdisciplinary seminar, theory and methods, and research seminars. The course work amounts to 8 graded and 2 non-graded units of study.

Course Requirements - For students who matriculated 2017 or earlier

Please note the requirements listed immediately below apply to students who matriculated 2017 or earlier. If you matriculated 2018 onwards, please expand the section below to view requirements.

Interdisciplinary

  • ENV 886A Current Topics in Marine Conservation – Second year seminar (2 units, graded)

Social Science
Choose (1):

  • ENV 860SA Political Ecology (3 units, graded), or
  • ENV 887A Policy Analysis of the Commons (3 units, graded)

Natural Science
Choose (1):

  • ENV 876A Data and Time Series Analysis (3 units, graded), or
  • BIO/ENV 773LA Marine Ecology (3 units, graded)

Professional Development

  • ENV 849A. Professional Development. Alternating topics, taken twice (1 unit, P/F)

Research Seminar

  • Students in years 2-4 will present a 15-minute talk on the status of their research each year. Ungraded.

Other Requirements

In addition to MSC and other course work, MSC students are required to complete a preliminary examination and complete a dissertation. The dissertation is presented in a public seminar and defended to the committee in a dissertation examination.

All students are required to serve as a TA at least once (i.e., one semester) during their PhD tenure as part of the MSC PhD training.

Students should discuss other course options and training needs with their advisor.

 

Course Requirements - For students who matriculated 2018 onwards

Please note the requirements below apply to students who matriculated 2018 onwards. If you matriculated 2017 or earlier, please refer to the section above for requirements.


Year 1

Interdisciplinary

  • ENV 886 Current Topics in Marine Conservation – First year seminar (2 units, graded)

Year 2+

Interdisciplinary

  • ENV 886A Current Topics in Marine Conservation – Second year seminar (2 units, graded)

Professional Development

Choose (1):

  • ENV 865A College Teaching & Course Design (2 units, graded), or
  • ENV849A Proposal Preparation and Evaluation (2 units, graded)

Research Seminar

  • Students in years 2-4 will present a 15-minute talk on the status of their research each year. Ungraded.

Other Requirements

In addition to MSC and other course work, MSC students are required to complete a preliminary examination and complete a dissertation. The dissertation is presented in a public seminar and defended to the committee in a dissertation examination.

All students are required to serve as a TA at least once (i.e., one semester) during their PhD tenure as part of the MSC PhD training.

Students should discuss other course options and training needs with their advisor.