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Degree Programs

Doctoral Degree Requirements

The QERM doctoral degree requirements are set in part by The Graduate School and in part by the QERM program. The Graduate School sets University-wide requirements for minimum scholarship, number of required credits, and continuous enrollment. QERM determines the core curriculum and requires qualifying examinations in statistical theory and applied methods at the completion of the first year of study. A dissertation and an integrated program of coursework and research are also required, during which the student learns the fundamentals of statistical inference, ecological modeling and resource management.

Graduate School Requirements

A student must satisfy the requirements for the degree that are in force at the time the degree is to be awarded. A full description of doctoral degree requirements can be found on the Graduate School web site.

The Graduate School supports all degree program requirements and will not authorize graduation unless the QERM program has indicated that the student has satisfied these requirements. All requirements, including but not limited to oral and written examinations, imposed by the QERM Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) or by the student's supervisory committee must be satisfied.

QERM Doctoral Degree Requirements

Doctoral degree coursework is divided into required and elective courses. Electives are selected with the guidance of the faculty advisor and master’s supervisory committee. A Plan of Study for Doctoral Degree form documenting the required electives must be approved by the supervisory committee and kept in the student’s permanent academic file.

The following courses are required for all doctoral students:

Course Description	Link to Course Web Site	Course Title
STAT 512		Statistical Inference I (4 credits)
STAT 513		Statistical Inference II (4 credits)
QERM 550	QERM 550	Applied Ecological Modeling and Spatial Analysis (5 credits) (click on David Ford's Teaching to access course web site)
AMATH 422	AMATH 422	Introduction to Mathematical Biology (3 credits)
QERM 514	QERM 514	Analysis of Ecological and Environmental Data (4 credits)
QERM 597 Autumn Qtr	QERM 597 Autumn Qtr	QERM Journal Club (Autumn Quarter, 2 credits) Discuss classic papers and current topics in quantitative ecology.
QERM 597 Spring Qtr	QERM 597 Spring Qtr	QERM Spring Seminar (2 credits) All students are required to register for QERM 597 each spring in residence.
QERM 800		Dissertation Credits. 27 credits minimum for doctoral degree. A maximum of 10 thesis credits may be taken in any one academic quarter.
Outside Seminar		One seminar annually in affiliated department such as Fisheries, Forestry, Statistics, Biostatistics, Applied Math, Biology, etc.

Students entering the program with little or no statistical background are advised to consider taking STAT 421 (Applied Statistics and Experimental Design) in their first year for preparation in this area.

A student’s supervisory committee may also recommend a course in scientific writing (TC 509 (Writing the Scientific Article), FISH 521 (Grant Proposal Writing for Graduate Students).

Qualifying Examinations

All students take both the statistical theory and applied methods qualifying examinations after the first year of study. In order to proceed into the QERM doctoral degree program, students must pass both qualifying examinations at the doctoral level.

Master's Degree By-Pass

Students admitted at the pre-master’s level may, under exceptional circumstances, apply to proceed directly to post-master’s study after the successful completing of the QERM qualifying examination at the doctoral level pass. A description of this option is outlined under the Master’s By-Pass section.