University of California, Berkeley offers the PhD of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Berkeley , United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 4 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for environmental science, policy, & management and related professional fields. The next available intake begins on August 16, 2027.

About PhD in Environmental Science, Policy, & Management

The Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM) Graduate Program provides a wealth of opportunities for students interested in careers in academia, government, and non-governmental agencies worldwide. Our faculty (opens in a new tab) are internationally recognized, and ESPM is the campus hub for connections to other renowned Berkeley programs in the environment such as the Energy and Resources Group (opens in a new tab), Agricultural and Resource Economics (opens in a new tab), the Goldman School of Public Policy (opens in a new tab), Integrative Biology (opens in a new tab), Berkeley Natural History Museums (opens in a new tab), and Berkeley Law (opens in a new tab). The Berkeley campus maintains close ties to world-class research facilities at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, U.S. Geological Survey, California Academy of Sciences, Stanford University, and many other institutions. Students admitted to our program work with their research mentor to select courses, individualize their training, and conduct research projects that meet their interests and goals. Our core graduate courses provide an introduction to the wide breadth and deep expertise of research on the environment within our department and help students apply for funding opportunities early in their graduate program.

The PhD program (opens in a new tab) is the main graduate program in ESPM for students entering with or without previous masters degrees, though we also offer limited numbers of MS degrees in our specialized Master of Range Management (opens in a new tab) and Master of Forestry (opens in a new tab) programs. The goal of the program is to provide both a strong disciplinary education and broadly based experience in cross-disciplinary communication and problem solving. To achieve this, the program leading to the PhD in environmental science, policy, and management requires that students complete three core courses and take additional coursework in the following three areas: area of specialization, research skills, and experiential breadth.

Disciplinary Emphasis

The disciplinary emphasis is the broadest academic area encompassing the student's interests. The three disciplinary emphases within the department are ecosystem sciences, organisms & environment, and society & environment. A student pursuing a strongly interdisciplinary program may study more than one of these disciplines in depth. Specific coursework within each field will be chosen by the guiding committee in conjunction with the student and approved by the graduate mentor.

Area of Specialization

The area of specialization is a narrower field within the context of the disciplinary emphasis. Some examples of these areas are microbial community ecology, ecosystem function, arthropod population and community ecology, biological control of arthropods, arthropod biodiversity science, American environmental history and policy, international forest management, biogeochemistry, Mediterranean grassland ecosystems, remote sensing, and forest management, to name a few.

Application

Prospective graduate students are encouraged to contact a potential PhD mentor directly prior to the application deadline. If possible, prospective graduate students should plan to visit the campus, department, and graduate program. As part of their application, each student will be asked to identify one of the three disciplinary emphases (ecosystem sciences, organisms & environment, and society & environment) most closely associated with her/his interests. If you have questions about which emphasis to choose, please ask your prospective mentor. It is not uncommon for students in ESPM to be co-mentored by two professors, often with different disciplinary emphases. The area of specialization is determined after entry into the program, in consultation with the guiding committee and PhD mentor.

Source: Berkeley Academic Guide (opens in a new tab)

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Environmental Science, Policy, & Management at University of California, Berkeley

Entry Requirements

A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;
A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and
Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 7
TOEFLMin 90

Tuition and Fee Information for PhD in Environmental Science, Policy, & Management at University of California, Berkeley

Application Fee 155

How to Apply for PhD in Environmental Science, Policy, & Management at University of California, Berkeley

When to do it: September to December, but as late as February depending on the program

Ready to apply? You can submit your application for Fall admission beginning in September, and the majority of deadlines are in December but check the programs list.

The online application will ask you for specific information such as your academic and professional history, transcripts, and potentially your CV, resume or links to your portfolio. You’ll also need to provide the contact information for your recommenders who will be invited to submit their recommendation.

You’ll need to have a major credit card to pay the non-refundable application fee. If you are a U.S. Citizen or current Permanent Resident, the application fee is $135 (Application Fee Waiver Information); for all others, the fee is $155.