Ecology and Evolution Graduate Program

-Graduate
Student Association

Programs of Study: Ph.D.

Ecology at Rutgers has a long and distinguished history. The program offers graduate education and training in microbial, plant, animal, and human ecology under the direction of an outstanding faculty on three campuses (New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden) and two marine stations ( Tuckerton and Bivalve ). In addition, graduate study can be undertaken with adjunct faculty at the Institute for Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York. The program provides a broad spectrum of courses and research opportunities to qualified students who seek careers in university teaching and research or opportunities in governmental agencies or private institutions. Members of the faculty actively pursue research in the following areas: conservation biology, ecosystem ecology, evolutionary biology, marine biology, microbial ecology, population and community ecology, population genetics, and restoration ecology.

Candidates with a baccalaureate degree may apply for the Doctor of Philosophy degree program. Applicants should note that a Master's degree is not a prerequisite for the Ph.D.. The undergraduate degree should have included the following coursework: one year of courses in each biology and chemistry, two courses of mathematics or statistics, and one course each of genetics/evolution and ecology. Students should also have an undergraduate G.P.A. of 3.0, verbal GRE scores of 500 or better and quantitative scores of 600 or better. International students must also have a TOEFFL score of 550 (paper) or 213 (computer). Due to its interdisciplinary nature, the program maintains flexibility with these requirements. The candidates' credentials will be evaluated by an admissions committee comprised of program faculty.

No student will be admitted into the program without a faculty advisor in place. It is not necssary to have an advisor in place to apply, but it is necessary to have an advisor in place to be admitted. Your application will be reviewed with or without a commitment from a professor to act as your advisor. Applicants whose credentials are found acceptable to the program will not be admitted to the program until a faculty member has agreed to act as their advisor. This agreement to advise is usually made post-application submission. A list of current Ecology and Evolution Program faculty and their research interests can be found at http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~deenr/grad/faculty.html.

Every application will be reviewed and ranked by members of an admissions committee. A promise of faculty sponsorship prior to this review and acceptance by the admissions committee does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants found to be acceptable to the graduate program will only be admitted if a member of the faculty has agreed to act as their advisor.

Detailed information regarding the program requirements for the completion of a Ph.D. can be found in the Student Handbook.