Application Process for PhD Environmental Studies - Admissions - Antioch University New England

Application Process - PhD Environmental Studies

Admissions Criteria

As a graduate school providing doctoral level education, Antioch New England assesses an applicant’s academic experience and promise; personal and interpersonal competence; and professional experience and promise. Our aim is to attract a talented, committed student body, marked by personal, ethnic, and cultural diversity.

All doctoral students must maintain a full-time course load. Waiving required courses will be approved only in exceptional situations. Transfer course work from another accredited doctoral program will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Requirements for admission

A master’s degree either in an environmentally related field or in a field that has prepared the applicant to undertake the rigorous research required in the PhD program. Many of our students have professional experience in the environmental field, or experience in a field relevant to their proposed program of study.
The applicant should have completed at least four courses (with a B or above) at the undergraduate or graduate level in environmental science, ecology, or environmental biology, to be approved by the Doctoral Admissions Committee.
In extraordinary circumstances, when the applicant can demonstrate significant life experience, any of the aforementioned requirements may be waived by the Doctoral Admissions Committee.

Expedited Entry

Expedited Entry is an option for exceptional candidates who would like to pursue the Doctoral Program in Environmental Studies but do not currently have a master’s degree. Candidates accepted for Expedited Entry would be admitted into the Doctoral Program after completing two semesters in good standing in the Environmental Studies Master’s Program at Antioch New England.

Candidates for Expedited Entry are required to have a minimum of two to five years of significant field experience related to the general subject area they wish to pursue in graduate school, or have extensive experience working in the general area they wish to focus on for their dissertation work. They may have publications related to work they have completed in this area, and they would have extensive contacts or affiliations already established. Their application includes outstanding letters of recommendation and their strength in writing is exhibited. The Admissions Committee will be looking to determine readiness for graduate work at the doctoral level.

In exceptional circumstances, mature, seasoned professionals in the field of environmental studies may be accepted directly into the Doctoral Program, bypassing the Expedited Entry admission. Candidates without master’s level training are encouraged to speak with faculty and an admissions counselor to determine the entry option that is appropriate for them.

Combined Master’s and PhD Program

The Combined Master’s and PhD Program in Environmental Studies is an option for candidates who do not have a master’s degree or the significant field experience required for the Expedited Entry Program. Candidates accepted into the combination program would be admitted into the doctoral program after completing five semesters in good standing in the Environmental Studies Master’s Program at Antioch New England.

Application Portfolio and Deadline

The Doctoral Program in Environmental Studies requires a comprehensive application portfolio which must be received by February 6, 2009 at 5 p.m. for Summer 2009 entry. The Application Portfolio includes seven documents:

The Application Form provides the most recent information about your education, professional experience, references, and other personal data. It should be submitted along with the non-refundable application fee of $75.
Transcripts from each college or university attended, indicating courses taken and degrees earned. Both undergraduate and graduate school transcripts must arrive at the Office of Admissions in a sealed envelope. Transcripts “issued to student” are not acceptable.
Four Letters of Reference. Two of these references should be from persons who are or have been in a position to evaluate your work. Reference letters should be written on the forms provided in the catalogue and online and mailed directly to the Office of Admissions. College or University Placement Files are not acceptable.
The Annotated Resumé, which should consist of three sections:
- Educational Background
- Professional Directions and Development
- Current Interests and Activities
The Personal Statement addressing the following issues:
- What is motivating you, at this point in your career, to pursue a doctoral program in environmental studies?
- What do you expect from the Antioch New England Doctoral Program, and what do you hope to contribute to it?
- What are the core values that initially motivated you to enter environmental studies? In what ways will a doctoral research program in environmental studies allow you to integrate those values with your professional and academic goals?
- What personal, academic, and professional strengths would you bring to the Doctoral Program and the field of environmental study? Everyone has weaknesses; we ask that you discuss yours as candidly as possible.
- It can be in a form of your own design.
The Academic Plan. The Doctoral Program in Environmental Studies consists of a year of required foundation courses, followed by an individualized plan of study that includes one year of coursework, followed by a practicum, an integrated essay, and the dissertation. Each student develops what we call a Learning Domain, a clearly articulated field of study, that integrates his or her unique academic interests. Please refer to the printed catalogue for more specific information.
The Work Sample should be one piece of professional or academic work that you think is representative of your finest efforts. It might be a published essay or a chapter of a book, a curriculum, a grant proposal, a business plan, a strategic plan, a newsletter, or other types of documents. The submitted document should not exceed fifteen pages in length. If your document is longer, please excerpt the most relevant section.

Interview

An interview with an Admissions Committee is required. Only those applicants who are judged outstanding on the basis of their completed application materials will be invited for an interview. Interviews will take place between the end of February and the middle of March.

Admissions Decisions

Admissions decisions are made by a Doctoral Admissions Committee composed of faculty and admissions counselors.

Although applications are not formally reviewed until after the application deadline, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application materials as early as possible. In order for an applicant to be considered for admission for entry in June 2009, his/her completed application form, personal statement, resumé, application fee, official transcripts, and references must be on file in the Office of Admissions no later than 5:00 pm on February 6, 2009.

All completed applicant files will be evaluated, and a select group of applicants will be invited for interviews in February and March. Applicants will be notified of the final admissions decision by the first week of April. All candidates who are accepted to the program must confirm their decision to enroll by submitting a $200.00 non-refundable deposit to hold their place.

International Students