
	Description

	Degrees Offered

	Admission

	Doctor of Philosophy in Conservation Biology

		Applied Conservation Biology Track

		Ecology and Organismal Biology Track

	Contact Info

Description

The Conservation Biology Ph.D. program provides an interface between traditional biological sciences and the areas of economics, law, urban and rural planning, politics, communication, philosophy, and environmental engineering. The purpose of this training is to produce scientists who are not only capable of doing independent research but who can work within the broader area of environmental politics, law, and economics to communicate issues of conservation biology to policy makers, the general public, and industry. Students will choose one of two specializations: Applied Conservation Biology or Ecology and Organismal Biology. The Applied Conservation Biology Track is intended to provide the academic background necessary to begin work in industry, nongovernmental organizations, or government in a leadership role in the application of cutting-edge principles to problem solving in conservation biology. The Ecology and Organismal Biology Track embraces both applied and basic research concerning ecological questions to address current concerns in the area of conservation biology. Students taking either track would be prepared to pursue an academic career.

Degrees Offered

Applied Conservation Biology Track
Ecology and Organismal Biology Track

Admission

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).

Students entering the graduate program with regular status are normally expected to have completed course work generally required for a bachelor’s degree in biology. In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must provide:

Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (verbal and quantitative) from test taken within the last five years. The average GRE score for students admitted into the program in the last two years is 1300. For U.S. applicants GRE scores can be self reported prior by the submission deadline if the official score cannot be received in time. Admission will be conditional upon receipt of the official score.
Official transcripts showing a bachelor’s degree and all courses taken for that degree, and any postbaccalaureate education or degree. GPA should be 3.0 or higher.
Three letters of recommendation
Statement of research interest and purpose, including a summary of relevant work or research experience
Resume
For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.

A personal or telephone interview will also take place whenever possible. Admission is based on an overall assessment of qualifications documented in credentials submitted and the interview. All admissions to graduate status are competitive and based on availability of faculty for sponsoring research.

Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant's career/academic goals, and the applicant's potential for completing the degree.

Application Due Dates

All students applying for fellowships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.

U.S. Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Doctor of Philosophy in Conservation Biology Jan 15 Jan 15

Note:Note: Students applying for summer or spring admission will be considered on an ad hoc basis.

Applied Conservation Biology Track Jan 15 Jan 15

Note:Note: Students applying for summer or spring admission will be considered on an ad hoc basis.

Ecology and Organismal Biology Track Jan 15 Jan 15

International Applicants

International Transfer Applicants

Doctor of Philosophy in Conservation Biology

Total Hours Required for Ph.D. in Conservation Biology—Minimum of 72 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree; minimum of 42 credit hours beyond the master’s degree

The program is composed of 12 credit hours of required core courses, a minimum of 20 hours of elective courses, a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation research and the balance of required credit hours in additional electives and directed research. In the Applied Conservation Biology Track, professional internship hours can be substituted for directed research.

All entering students will take a core group of courses that will provide an introduction to the science of conservation biology. By the completion of nine semester hours of course work, the student will be required to establish a program of study in conjunction with their dissertation adviser and the advisory committee. Students are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of electives in consultation with their advisory committee. In addition to these selected electives, the dissertation committee may require the candidate to take any graduate course taught at UCF, if deemed appropriate for the candidate’s area of emphasis. Minor programmatic deficiencies will be addressed early in the program. Students entering with a master’s degree may request up to 30 semester credit hours of previous work be accepted toward the requirements for this degree subject to approval of the dissertation committee. Students may register for dissertation research only after passing the candidacy exam.

Applied Conservation Biology Track

The Applied Conservation Biology Track is intended to provide the academic background necessary to work in industry or government in a leadership role in the application of cutting edge principles to problem solving in conservation biology. This track is especially well suited for career employees of federal or state agencies who are looking for a nontraditional Ph.D. program.

Ecology and Organismal Biology Track

The Ecology and Organismal Biology Track embraces both applied and basic research concerning ecological questions to address current concerns in the area of conservation biology. Students taking this track would be prepared to work in either industry or government or to enter an academic career. This track incorporates more traditional research in broader biology areas that have a focus on conservation.

Sample Program of Study

YEAR 1

Fall
PCB 7047 Conservation Biology I (4 credit hours)
PCB 7052 Seminar in Conservation Biology (1 credit hour)
PCB 7090 Advanced Research Communication I (1 credit hour)*
Elective (3 credit hours)

Spring
PCB 7049C Conservation Biology Practice (4 credit hours)
PCB 7052 Seminar in Conservation Biology (1 credit hour)
PCB 7091 Advanced Research Communications II (1 credit hour)*
Elective (3 credit hours)

Summer
Written Qualifying Exam
Directed Research (6 credit hours)

YEAR 2

Fall
Elective (4 credit hours)
Elective (3 credit hours)
Directed Research and/or Elective (2 credit hours)

Spring
Elective (4 credit hours)
Directed Research and/or Elective (5 credit hours)
Oral Candidacy Exam

Summer
Directed Research and/or Elective (6 credit hours)

YEAR 3

Fall
PCB 7980 Dissertation (3 credit hours)**

Spring
PCB 7980 Dissertation (3 credit hours)**

Summer
PCB 7980 Dissertation (3 credit hours)**

YEAR 4

Fall
PCB 7980 Dissertation (3 credit hours)**

Spring
PCB 7980 Dissertation (3 credit hours)**

Summer
PCB 7980 Dissertation (3 credit hours)**

YEAR 5

Fall
PCB 7980 Dissertation (3 credit hours)**

Spring
PCB 7980 Dissertation (3 credit hours)**

Summer
PCB 7980 Dissertation and Defense (3 credit hours)**

* Advanced students, who have already completed a M.Sc., may substitute Directed Research for Research Communication.

** In the Applied Conservation Biology Track, Professional Internship hours can be substituted for Directed Research.

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee shall consist of a minimum of four members, including the dissertation adviser, with at least three members coming from the Biology Department. At least one member will be from a department other than Biology or from outside the university. The Chair, or co-Chair, must be a member of the Program Faculty of the Department of Biology.

Enrollment Requirements

Students are required to register for 9 credit hours in fall and spring, and 6 credit hours in summer, before their candidacy exam. After being admitted to candidacy, minimum enrollment is 3 credit hours of dissertation research each semester.

Qualifying Examination

The written qualifying examination will normally be administered to students at the end of their first academic year (May). The examination may be delayed until an appropriate later time as approved by the student’s Advisory Committee, but must occur no later than the end of the fall semester of the second academic year. The purpose of this examination is to determine whether the student is proficient in all subject matter related to their chosen field of Conservation Biology. While some questions may be directly related to the dissertation research proposal, in most instances questions are designed to examine general knowledge and reasoning in their field. Overall, the committee determines whether the student has a strong knowledge base in the area of Biology, understands experimental methods and design, and possesses sound scientific reasoning abilities.

At least one month prior to the examination, the candidate will meet with Advisory Committee members to discuss expectations. In cases where an outside committee member is not located on the UCF campus, e-mail or phone conversation is appropriate. Committee members must clearly articulate in writing the general areas that may be examined with a copy retained by the committee member, the candidate, and the Dissertation Adviser. The candidate will have a full day not exceeding eight hours to answer questions posed by each committee member with administration of the exam to be coordinated by the Dissertation Adviser. The examination will be taken on consecutive days until the questions of all committee members have been answered. Questions must be available to the candidate by 8 a.m. on the day of the exam unless there is prior agreement of another time. A majority vote is required to pass the examination; however, no more than one negative vote is permitted. The majority must include the Dissertation Adviser. Normally, a decision will be returned to the Dissertation Adviser and candidate within two weeks of the examination. Any student failing the examination must repeat the examination within six calendar months of the date of the first examination. Repeated portions of the examination will be limited to those submitted by committee members that failed the candidate on the first attempt. Positive votes from the second attempt will be added to positive votes recorded at the first attempt. In order to pass the second attempt there can be no more than one remaining negative vote on the Advisory Committee with the exception that the negative vote cannot be the Dissertation Adviser. A second failed attempt will result in dismissal from the program.

Candidacy Examination

No later than twelve months after passing the qualifying examination, with rare exceptions approved by the Advisory Committee, each student will be required to generate, organize, and orally defend a written proposal outlining their dissertation research to their Advisory Committee. After passing the candidacy examination the student will be deemed as having been admitted to candidacy and can register for dissertation hours. Once a student passes candidacy their focus will be on dissertation research. For most students in the program the research and writing of the dissertation will take two to three years after advancing to candidacy. During this time students should remain in close contact with the Dissertation Adviser and their Advisory Committee.

Candidacy Examination Proposal

A written dissertation proposal must be submitted to each committee member no later than two weeks prior to the examination. Typically, the proposal will be in the format described below. However, in cases where this format is not appropriate, an alternative format may be used with the approval of the Dissertation Adviser. The proposal should be approximately ten to fifteen pages in length not including references, single-spaced, and typed in 12-point font with one-inch margins on all sides. The use of figures and tables is encouraged. With rare exceptions it is expected that dissertation research will be hypothesis driven.

1. Specific Aims: Describe concisely the problem(s) to be addressed and the specific goals of the dissertation research as they relate to the problem(s), including clear statements of hypotheses to be tested.

2. Background and Significance: Review background literature relevant to the dissertation topic, indicating clearly where gaps in knowledge exist. Justify the need for the research by explaining its anticipated significance. Conclude by linking gaps in current knowledge to the proposed specific aims.

3. Methodology: Outline carefully the study design (observations, experiments, models, statistical analysis, etc.) related to, and the methodology to be used for, each specific aim. The methodology should be explained in sufficient detail to allow committee members to assess the validity of its use in the study. Potential outcomes and alternative approaches should be discussed.

4. References: References should be indicated in the main body of the proposal wherever appropriate. References in the main body of the text should follow the format of the journal Conservation Biology or Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This section should be as long as necessary.

At least one week prior to the examination, an abstract describing the proposed research will be posted in the Biological Sciences Building and circulated by e-mail among faculty and graduate students. The candidate will present the research proposal in a forum open to all faculty, students, and visitors. The oral presentation should be approximately 45-50 minutes in length to be followed by a question-and-answer period. In the presentation the candidate should focus on background information, outline specific aims, and describe how the proposed objectives fill a significant gap in knowledge in a manner that clearly demonstrates mastery of the literature in his/her chosen field. Presentation of preliminary data is neither required nor expected, but should be provided if available and relevant. With the exception of the committee and candidate, all faculty, students, and visitors will leave at the conclusion of the question-and-answer period. The committee will continue the exam with further questioning. Questions can be directed to any matter relevant to the research proposal and areas of weakness previously identified in the written (qualifying) exam. A majority vote is required to pass the examination; however, no more than one negative vote is permitted. The majority must include the Dissertation Adviser. Any student failing the examination must repeat the examination within six calendar months of the date of the first examination. A second failed attempt will result in dismissal from the program.

Dissertation Defense

Upon completion and approval of the doctoral dissertation by all appropriate faculty and university offices, the student will make a formal presentation of the research findings in seminar format to the dissertation committee and other university faculty and students who may wish to attend.

At least one week prior to the defense, an abstract describing the research conducted and conclusions reached will be posted in the Biological Sciences Building and circulated by e-mail among faculty and graduate students. The candidate will present the research in a forum open to all faculty, students, and visitors. The oral presentation should be approximately 45-50 minutes in length to be followed by a question-and-answer period. In the presentation the candidate should focus on background information, describe the research performed, and draw attention to the significance of the conclusions reached. With the exception of the committee and candidate, all faculty, students, and visitors will leave at the conclusion of the question-and-answer period. The committee will continue the defense focusing on the dissertation and the application and/or ramifications of the research to the discipline. The candidate will answer questions about the subject matter presented and defend the conclusions drawn. The committee will ask questions of the process used and assess the candidates level of competency with the research topic. A majority vote is required to pass the examination; however, no more than one negative vote is permitted. The majority must include the Dissertation Adviser.

Student Orientation

An orientation for all incoming students will be scheduled one week prior to each fall semester. The orientation will include tours of the program facilities, a session on registration, university policies and procedures, and expectations of doctoral study. Further, Environmental Health and Safety will present a program on topics such as laboratory safety, chemical and fire safety, biohazard training, and radioisotope handling. Expectations for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA) and Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) will be fully covered. In addition, students will be required to participate in the program for GTAs offered by the UCF Faculty Teaching and Learning Center and the College of Sciences.

Financial Support

Students accepted in the program are eligible for graduate fellowships, graduate teaching assistantships, or graduate research assistantships. Stipends are currently $19,000 per year. Tuition awards are provided to all students. Exceptionally qualified students become eligible for university fellowship awards. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Key points about financial support:

If you are interested in financial assistance, you are strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. University graduate fellowships are awarded based on academic merit and therefore are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application). For university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program director of your major.

Contact Info

Doctor of Philosophy in Conservation Biology

Graham A. J. Worthy, Ph.D., Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-4701
gworthy@mail.ucf.edu

Applied Conservation Biology Track

Graham A. J. Worthy, Ph.D., Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-4701
gworthy@mail.ucf.edu

Ecology and Organismal Biology Track

Graham A. J. Worthy, Ph.D., Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-4701
gworthy@mail.ucf.edu