ADMISSIONS GUIDELINES
Admission of students is by faculty sponsorship through the Department of Environmental Toxicology. Faculty and Research
Applications for the start of the academic year in the Fall are submitted by January 1 to the Division of Graduate Studies. Graduate Division Admissions
Criteria of admission include the general GRE's, a background in a related science, and demonstrated abilities to perform graduate level research. Generally good GPAs (>3.2) in the BA, BS or MA/MS are expected, but all criteria are taken into consideration, particularly the extent and quality of prior research experience.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program Requirements
Ph.D. STUDENTS
Coursework
Take and pass, with a grade of at least a B:
- ETOX 200
- One course from the following: ETOX 201, 202, 203, 210, 240.
- At least two additional graduate-level courses within ETOX or another department.
- Students must enroll in ETOX 292 each quarter.
Literature Review
Under direction of the student’s advisor, write a literature review of the current state of the field of the proposed dissertation research. This written review will be handed in to the student’s advisor at the end of the summer of the first year.
Departmental Seminars
Give a 25 minute departmental seminar each academic year presenting the student's proposed research.
Give a one hour departmental seminar during the spring quarter of the second year presenting the student’s proposed research.
Ph.D. Qualifying Exam (Part I - ETOX Internal)
Part I of the Qualifying Examination consists of two portions: defense of an experimental proposal and knowledge of material presented in the ETOX core courses taken by the student. Generally, this exam should be taken in late winter quarter/early spring within the second year.
For the research proposal portion, the student writes and defends a research proposal on a topic different from his/her dissertation research. The topic is chosen in consultation with the student’s ETOX Internal Qualifying Examination Committee (see below), in which the student writes up a one page summary of the proposed outside topic and submits it to the committee for final approval two months before the planned exam date. After approval by the committee, the student writes a 3-5 page (single-spaced) proposal consisting of an introduction, experimental design, expected outcomes and discussion. This written proposal should be received by the committee two weeks before the student’s exam. During the oral qualifying exam, the committee will question the student on his/her proposal.
The ETOX Internal Qualifying Examination Committee consists of at least three members: two ETOX faculty and one faculty from outside of the department. The student’s supervisor does not serve on this committee, but s/he is consulted regarding the composition of the committee. A short summary of the student’s performance, as well as any recommendations for the student, will be written by the committee and placed in the student’s file.
Ph.D. Qualifying Exam (Part II)
The student must present and defend her/his dissertation research proposal to their Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (QE) Committee (see below) no later than spring quarter of the third year. The student will submit a dissertation research proposal to their QE Committee at least 10 days before the defense, and then defend the proposal in an oral examination before the QE Committee. If the student is unsuccessful in convincing the QE Committee of the merit of the proposed research, the proposal must be modified until it is acceptable and the student passes the exam.
The Ph.D Qualifying Examination Committee is selected by the student in consultation with his/her research advisor at least one quarter prior to the exam. The QE Committee is made up of four members: at least two members must be from the ETOX faculty, and one member must be from outside of the department. The chair of the QE committee must be a tenured faculty member. The outside member should be a tenured faculty member from a different department at UCSC, another UC campus, or another institution (either University, State or Federal Agency).
Advancement to Candidacy
The student advances to candidacy after completing all coursework, completing the literature review, giving a Second Year Seminar, and passing the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination Parts I and II.
Dissertation Committee
After advancement to candidacy the student, in consultation with her/his supervisor, forms a Dissertation Committee (DC). Often this committee is the same as the QE Committee. The Dissertation Committee consists of at least three members, including two ETOX faculty (including the student’s advisor), and at least one member from a different department at UCSC, another UC campus, or another institution. The first meeting should coincide with the preparation of the student’s dissertation research proposal (if the QE and Dissertation committees are the same) or should occur no latter than one year after the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam, Part II (if the QE and Dissertation committees are different). The student should meet with their Dissertation Committee at least annually after that. The Dissertation Committee remains standing until the student has completed all requirements for the doctoral degree.
Dissertation Defense
The student must submit their doctoral dissertation to the Dissertation Committee for tentative approval at least one month before presenting a formal, public doctoral research seminar. All of the Dissertation Committee members should be in attendance at this seminar. After the seminar, the Dissertation Committee, and any other faculty wishing to do so, meet with the student to discuss her/his dissertation. The candidate must defend the work to the satisfaction of the Dissertation Committee at the post-seminar session. Objections raised or deficiencies noted in this session must be met and corrected to the satisfaction of those concerned before the Chair of the Committee signs the cover sheet signifying acceptance of the dissertation.
MASTERS STUDENTS
Coursework
Take and pass, with a grade of at least a B, two courses from the following: ETOX 201, 202, 203, 210, 240, and at least two additional graduate-level courses within ETOX or another department. Students must enroll in ETOX 292 each quarter.
Literature Review
Under direction of the student’s advisor, write a literature review of the current state of the field of the proposed dissertation research. This written review will be handed in to the student’s advisor at the end of the summer of the first year.
Departmental Seminar
Give a 25 minute departmental seminar each academic year presenting the student's proposed research.
Give a one hour departmental seminar during the spring quarter of the second year presenting the student’s Masters research to date.
Masters Comprehensive Exam
The Comprehensive Examination tests knowledge of the material presented in the ETOX core courses taken by the student, as well as general knowledge related to the student’s Master’s research. In general, this oral exam is taken in fall quarter of the second year.
The Masters Comprehensive Exam Committee consists of at least three members: two ETOX faculty and one faculty from outside of the department. The student’s supervisor does not serve on this committee, but s/he is consulted regarding the composition of the committee. A short summary of the student’s performance, as well as any recommendations for the student will be written by the committee and placed in the student’s file.
Masters Reading Committee
The student should form a Masters Reading Committee during their first year. The Masters Reading Committee consists of at least three faculty members, at least two of whom must be from the ETOX faculty (including the student’s advisor). The student will meet with their Masters Reading Committee annually throughout their tenure in the program to discuss with the committee the student's thesis plan, progress and intention to graduate. The last meeting should be approximately one quarter before the student intends to graduate. Masters students are required to complete a Reading Committee Form by the quarter in which the degree is to be granted.
Thesis
Students are required to submit a thesis for fulfillment of the degree requirements. The thesis should be submitted to their Masters Reading Committee by the second week of the final quarter of work, generally spring of the second year.
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