Arid Lands Resource Sciences

Programs under this Major:
Doctor of Philosophy Program (PhD)

Major Description

The Arid Lands Resource Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Program at the University of Arizona leads to the Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in Arid Lands Resource Sciences (ALRS). The program prepares students for careers in both academic and non-academic settings. Located in the heart of the Sonoran... Show Full Description

Department: Arid Lands Resource Sciences

Phone:
(520) 626-9111
Fax:
(520) 621-3618
Mailing Address:
1955 E. Sixth St., Suite 208-E
Website:
http://alrs.arizona.edu

Majors:
Arid Lands Resource Sciences

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Department Faculty

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Doctor of Philosophy Program (PhD)

Application Information

Contact Information

Application Questions

Marylou S.A. Myers
(520) 626-9111
alrsgidp@email.arizona.edu

Advising Questions

Stuart E. Marsh
(520) 621-8574
smarsh@email.arizona.edu

Financial Aid

  • Financial aid available on a competitive and case-by-case basis. Evaluation for financial awards takes place in March of each year for the subsequent academic year and only those dossiers completed by February 15 will be considered for financial assistance.
  • Graduate Registration/Tuition Scholarships and Fellowships
  • The ALRS Graduate Interdisciplinary Program receives a limited amount of funding for graduate registration/tuition scholarships and fellowships. The awards are based upon academic merit. Current students must indicate their desire to be considered for these awards on their annual report which is due on March 15th of each year. New students should submit their request for consideration for these awards in writing to the graduate coordinator by March 15th.
  • Graduate Research/Teaching Assistantships
  • Students are encouraged to contact appropriate faculty to determine if funding is available for research or teaching assistantships. The terms of these assistantships are negotiated between the faculty and student and are administered by the department that houses the funding from which the assistantship will be supported. Also, each year the Graduate Interdisciplinary Administrative Office coordinates the recruitment and placement of Tier One teaching assistantships. Again, students are encouraged to apply and participate in these teaching opportunities. Application procedures and deadline will be circulated when they are made available.
  • Miscellaneous Funding Opportunities
  • Other funding opportunities include but are not limited to Peace Corp Fellows Program, Graduate Student Research Fund, Minority Graduate Student Research Fund, Summer Research Support Program, Minority Academic Assistance Program, Minority Student Travel Fund, Graduate and Professional Student Travel Grant Fund, Travel Incentive Program, the Dean\\'s Fellowship Program in the Graduate College, Michael A. Cusanovich Research Fellowship, the Herbert E. Carter Graduate Fellowship in Interdisciplinary Programs and the William E. McGinnies Fellowship. All awards are competitive.

Application Requirements

Minimum GPA
3.00
Minimum TOEFL (Internet-based) Score
79
Minimum TOEFL (Paper-based) Score
550
Minimum IELTS (overall band score)
7.0

Standardized Test Requirements

Required Standardized Test(s)
GRE

Other Application Requirements

  • Official transcripts of all previous college or university work.
  • Graduate Records Examination scores. GRE should be no more than five years old.
  • TOEFL score for foreign language applicants whose native language is not English. TOEFL should be no more than two years old.
  • A list of publications and special papers (whether published or not). Reprints of journal articles are helpful but not necessary.
  • A minimum of three letters of reference, from academic advisors as well as from professional supervisors.
  • A curriculum vitae which includes: date and place of birth, resume of professional work with dates of employment and identification of all previous and present employers, membership in professional organizations, academic awards, professional honors, and any other pertinent information that may be useful to the committee in evaluating your qualifications for the degree program.
  • A brief statement, submitted separately or as part of your curriculum vitae, setting forth your long range professional plans, such as the type of work you plan to pursue upon completion of the doctoral program.
  • A proposed graduate program which should include: A general statement showing the relationship of course work you wish to pursue from the various disciplines that would encompass your interdisciplinary program. While not necessary, you may list specific courses by title and number. A brief description of the type of research you plan to undertake for your dissertation.
  • Applicants should specify one or more faculty members with whom they may wish to work. Applicants may learn more about the interests and research programs of ALRS faculty by (1) consulting the ALRS website (http://www.alrsgidp.arizona.edu/), (2) consulting the home pages of the faculty members\\' home departments, or (3) contacting faculty members directly (e-mail addresses provided on the ALRS website). Applicants who have contacted potential mentors are more likely to be admitted to the program, while otherwise well-qualified applicants may not be accepted if there is no mentor to match the applicant\\'s stated interests.

Application Deadline(s)

Domestic Applicants
Fall
February 1
Spring
August 1
Summer I
No admissions
Summer II
No admissions
International Applicants
Fall
January 15
Spring
July 15
Summer I
No admissions
Summer II
No admissions

Program Codes

GRE Institution Code (University of Arizona)
4832

Program Requirements

Satisfactory Academic Progress Website

http://alrs.arizona.edu/gidp-guidelines-satisfactory-academic-progress

Core Courses

The common core curriculum provides a base from which all students can proceed to more detailed studies in their selected areas of research interests. The core curriculum required of all students consists of 16 (sixteen) units in the following courses. NOTE: A grade of A, B, S or P must be received in all core curriculum.

Course # Title Units
ARL 564 The Arid and Semiarid Lands 3
ARL 565 Physical Aspects of Arid Lands 3
ARL 595a Arid Lands Current Research 1 X 4**
ARL 641 Natural & Human Impacts on Arid Lands 3
ARL 642 Use and Management of Arid Lands 3

**1 (one) unit per semester for a minimum of 4 (four) semesters.

Language Requirement(s)

Students are required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. This may be demonstrated by:

1. By passing a departmental proficiency examination.
2. Student may also present a transcript showing a grade of \\"B\\" or better in a fourth semester (undergraduate) course in a foreign language taken at an accredited college or university.

A student whose native language is not English may offer English to satisfy the foreign language requirements.

Other Requirements for Successful Completion of the Program

Research Methodology Requirement

ALRS students are required to take at least one research methodology course relevant to the student?s research. An appropriate research methodology course should be identified during the student?s Qualifying Exam.


Dissertation Units

Registration for the 18 (eighteen) required dissertation units (ARL 920) should be spread over the period actual research is being conducted. The oral and written comprehensive examinations must be successfully completed prior to registration of ARL 920 units unless prior approval has been granted by the major advisor and/or the Program Chair. Failure to successfully complete the comprehensive examinations may cause a lapse in eligibility for registration of dissertation units.
Only ARL 920 is valid for dissertation units. For those students who have completed all course requirements including the maximum 18 (eighteen) dissertation units, supplementary registration (ARL 930) may be used. Any research NOT related to the dissertation can receive credit under ARL 900.

MINOR REQUIREMENTS

To ensure fundamental grounding in more than one discipline, students in the ALRS program are required to complete a doctoral minor program in an area that is outside the discipline of their masters? degree.

Each department has its own unique minor requirements and students are responsible for understanding and obtaining approval for their planned minor coursework from the minor department chair.


Minor Requirements

Students from other disciplines can elect to complete a doctoral minor program in ALRS. The requirements for the ALRS minor degree are participation in ARL 564, 565, 641 and 642. (These requirements can be modified based upon prior experience and course work if approved by the minor advisor).

The written comprehensive examination is given by the two minor faculty members selected for the student?s graduate committee. Both members are required to participate in the written and oral comprehensive examination. The minor committee members should review the dissertation and are expected to participate in the final defense. The members of the minor should be faculty members of ALRS, but on a case-by-case basis we can substitute other tenure-track faculty with prior approval by the Chairperson in consultation with the student?s major advisor. Also, continuing eligible faculty can be permitted to serve on committees with prior approval but they cannot serve as major advisors.