Program of study and Course Work

A student will select an Advisory Committee no later than the end of his or her second semester. This committee will consist of the major professor; at least two members of the EECB Graduate Faculty, selected by the student and major professor; one additional faculty member, selected by the student and major professor in consultation with the program director (to bring programmatic breadth to the committee); and one member having UNR Graduate Faculty status from outside of the EECB Faculty and major advisor’s home department. One or more additional qualified members (from on or off campus) also may be appointed. No committee shall have fewer than five members.

Each student, with the advice of his or her Advisory/Examining Committee, will take specialized courses that are appropriate for the student’s area of research emphasis. In addition, the EECB Program has a set of core requirements that are intended to ensure that all students enrolled in the program receive a broad education in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology, and a solid foundation in research methods and experimental design. These core requirements are:

EECB 701 and 702, Research Rotation I and II (3 credits each, or equivalent content). Rotations are intended to provide students with extensive graduate-level experiences in laboratory, field, or classroom settings, and in areas other than the students’ field of specialization. One rotation may be waved for students entering with a master’s degree. Equivalency will be determined by the student’s advisory committee.

6 credits in statistics, three of which may be undergraduate credits. Courses that satisfy this requirement are determined by the student’s advisory committee.

3 credits from:
EECB 750 Research Design (3 credits), or
ERS 715 Presentation of Scientific Data (3 credits)

4 credits from:
EECB 794 Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Colloquium
(must be taken four times for one (1) credit each time)

2 credits from:
EECB 707 Issues in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology
(may be taken twice for credit toward the degree)

Language Requirement: There will be no foreign or computer language
requirement in EECB. However, a student’s Advisory/Examining Committee
may require language study.

Teaching Requirement: All EECB graduate students are expected to participate
for two (2) semesters in the teaching of undergraduate laboratories or courses.
Teaching experience gained prior to admission to EECB may be used to meet
this requirement.

Each student must complete at least 72 graduate credits, including the EECB core curriculum, of which at least 30 credits must be in course work. A minimum of 30 credits of 700-level courses beyond the baccalaureate, exclusive of dissertation credits, is required for the doctoral degree. A maximum of 24 credits in course work with grades of B or better from a master’s degree program or previous post-baccalaureate graduate studies program may be allowed toward the Ph.D. degree, with the approval of the EECB Director, the Graduate Dean, and the Office of Admissions and Records. A maximum of 18 of these credits may be used from a master’s degree towards the 30 credits of 700-level courses.

Enrollment requirement is a minimum of six semesters of graduate study beyond the bachelor’s degree. At least two successive semesters, excluding summer sessions, must be spent in full-time residence on campus at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Other information about program requirements such as the comprehensive examination and the dissertation can be found in our By-Laws.