PhD in Anthropology and Environmental Policy

 

This new PhD Program centers on understanding human society and culture in cross-cultural perspective and their pivotal role in implementing successful environmental policy. The program engages students in a multi-disciplinary framework bridging environmental sciences and policy while focusing on the sociocultural impacts of, and responses to, local and global environmental change.

Students engage with faculty in cutting-edge research on the way social relations, human organization, cultural perceptions, and ecological behavior affect the causes and consequences of local, national, and global environmental change. Students analyze social and cultural dimensions of policy that mitigate negative environmental consequences of this change while safeguarding or promoting human well-being. Areas of environmental policy and research include:

The program core is a firm grounding in anthropological social and cultural theory, qualitative and quantitative methodology, and policy development and analysis. Students engage in methodological and specialized courses tailored to their specific environmental interests at the local, national or international scale.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Work Study positions available for qualified students. Students interested in the human dimensions of climate change should consider UMaine's IGERT program in Adaptation to Abrupt Climate Change to fund their initial training. Read More

Students in the program will normally select their main advisor from the Anthropology Department but are expected to include faculty from affiliated departments in their committees or as co-advisors.

 

PROGRAM CONTACT

Dr. V. Constanza Ocampo-Raeder
5773 South Stevens Hall
Orono, Maine 04469-5773
constanza.ocampo-raeder@umit.maine.edu

 

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COURSES OFFERED FOR SPRING 2013

PROGRAM CURRICULUM

Students may enter the program with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Anthropology, Biology, Climate Change, Economics, Marine Sciences, Forestry, or any other related field. All students take the Core Curriculum courses in Cross-Cultural Human Dimensions, with the remaining curriculum individually tailored depending on each student's background, environmental focus area, and national or international environmental policy interest. Courses in policy and basic methodology will be dependent on courses students have taken previously.

Students entering the program with a Master's degree will need to take 36 Student Credit Hours. Students entering the program with a Bachelor's degree will need to take 60 Student Credit Hours.

 

CORE CURRICULUM:

Cross-Cultural Human Dimension Courses (21 student credit hours)

Seven courses from the following list:

 

Environmental Policy Courses (students select appropriate courses):

 

Methodology Courses (students select appropriate courses):

 

Environmental Areal Courses:

The program has five environmental focus areas. Students will choose at least one of these areas in which to specialize. Courses within these areas will be chosen by the student and their faculty advisors.

Climate Change

Marine Sciences

Ecology

Forestry

Resource Economics

 

Thesis Credit Hours (taken for research and writing credit):

 

Background Courses:

The program admits students who have an anthropological/social science or an environmental science education. Depending on a student's previous training, they may need to take undergraduate background courses in other areas they have not previously covered. Additionally, language proficiency may be required given context of study. Background courses taken at the 400 level or above will count toward the Student Credit Hours needed for the Ph.D. if appropriate. Undergraduate courses at the 300 level and below will not count toward the Student Credit Hours needed for the Ph.D.

 

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