60 Best Environmental Science PhD Degree Programs for 2024

We offer PhD and MS degrees in 6 programs: Atmospheric Sciences, Marine Biology & Ecology, Environmental Science & Policy, Marine Geosciences, Meteorology & Physical Oceanography, and Ocean Sciences. We offer highly competitive stipend rates, tuition, and health insurance coverage for our incoming PhD students as part of a fully-funded 5-year Graduate Assistantship. Finally, as part of our revitalized connections across colleges and to take advantage of our unique research facilities, we offer an MS degree in both Ocean Engineering and Sustainable Business. Our graduate students also take advantage of nearby NOAA facilities including the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, and the National Hurricane Center. PhD Assistantships can be found here: https://graduate.earth.miami.edu/admissions/phd-assistanships/index.html GRE not required!

This UND graduate program focuses on energy engineering fundamentals, along with independent research and career preparation. You will have the flexibility to attend online or on campus and customize your doctoral program according to your greatest interests.

Geoinformatics is a field of study involving the science and technology dealing with the acquisition, storage, processing production, presentation, and dissemination of geoinformation using the theory and practical implications of geodesy within information science infrastructure. The core of geoinformatics is geospatial analytics, a branch of data science that focuses on developing cutting-edge technologies supporting processes of acquiring, analyzing, and visualizing geospatial Big Data. Advances in various location-aware technologies, (e.g., GPS, the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile sensors, remote sensing), and ever-increasing time-stamped, location-based data from sensors as diverse as satellites, drones, and smartphones have created unprecedented demand and opportunities for code-savvy geospatial professionals with the ability to automate processing, visualizing and finding patterns in both structured and unstructured data.

The purpose of this degree program is to produce graduates who are able to identify new discoveries and apply engineering analyzes to develop sustainable solutions to complex engineering problems. An additional goal is to produce graduates who conduct independent cutting-edge research in biosystems engineering and that can clearly communicate research findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

Our mission is to provide a state of the art and multidisciplinary learning environment at the undergraduate and the graduate level. We offer a variety of degrees, including B.S., Minor, M.S., M.Eng., and Ph.D. degrees, and we conduct cutting edge research in three core areas: Air Pollution and Atmospheric Processes; Contaminant Fate and Resource Recovery and Hydrogeosciences and Water Resources Management.

The interdisciplinary Environmental and Conservation Sciences program at North Dakota State University offers three tracks: Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, and Environmental Social Sciences.

The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at NDSU offers graduate study leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The program emphasizes solving engineering problems for agricultural production, food and biofuels processing, and environmental resources management.

The Department of Plant Sciences offers graduate studies leading to the M.S. degrees in Cereal Science, Plant Sciences, and Horticulture, and to a Ph.D. degree in Cereal Science or Plant Sciences, with an optional Program of Emphasis in Plant Breeding and Genetics. Specialized academic and research training in Plant Sciences is available in plant breeding and genetics, weed science, biotechnology, and field and forage crop production and management. Areas of specialization in Horticulture and Forestry include breeding and genetics, biotechnology, physiology, propagation, sports and urban turfgrass management, and production and management of horticultural crops such as woody plants, potatoes, vegetables, and herbaceous ornamentals. Areas of specialization in Cereal Science may involve research in the areas of carbohydrates, enzymes, legumes, and other northern-grown crops; barley malting and brewing; wheat milling, baking, and pasta processing. Each study area is designed to provide students with comprehension of the discipline and of relevant regional and global-community social issues. The Department of Plant Sciences is located in Loftsgard Hall, which provides a state-of-the-art facility for interdisciplinary research in plant sciences, ranging from basic studies and biotechnology to the more traditional applied areas. Facilities for cereal science research are located in Harris Hall. These facilities include analytical laboratories for grain quality research, baking, milling, malting and brewing, and pasta and noodle processing. State-of-the-art greenhouses and extensive growth chamber facilities are also available, as are 100 acres of field research land adjacent to the Plant Science Complex. An additional 500 acres of research land are located near the North Dakota State University campus. A horticultural farm only 25 miles west of campus has an extensive arboretum. Excellent supporting disciplines located nearby, or in the Plant Science Complex, include Soil Science, Botany, Food Safety, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology. The Department of Plant Sciences encourages interdisciplinary research, and students frequently tailor their research program to meet their interests by working with faculty in one or more of the supporting disciplines. Graduate student numbers per faculty member are limited, so the student gets adequate personal attention and works closely with their adviser in research. The final selection of the adviser will be made on the basis of the student's interest, availability of space in the researcher's laboratory, and a common desire of the student and professor to work together.

A practically based program that fosters innovation and creativity in solving real-world challenges within social, economic, technological, and business realms. In this inherently interdisciplinary program, you’ll become part of a network of academics from across RIT who are working to optimize sustainable systems and practices in engineering, manufacturing, energy, education, and more.

The Ph.D. in agricultural and environmental sciences program at N.C. A&T teaches students about the complexities of our global food system and how to adapt to emerging challenges around food, energy, and water. This program prepares individuals for successful careers as researchers, faculty, and entrepreneurs and to be active and effective leaders in academia and the agriculture industry in both the public and private sectors. Our doctoral graduates will confront the grand challenges of providing and sustaining a safe and healthy supply of food, fiber, and other products for a burgeoning global population.

The Ph.D. Geosciences degree program provides a curriculum that is designed to be relevant to many of today’s career prospects, as well as the opportunity to interact in a research context with faculty. The Ph.D. in Geosciences degree emphasizes research in distinct specialties in geosciences and is designed to prepare students for positions in the energy or environmental professions in industry or government, or for positions in academia.

The mission of the Ph.D. in Geospatial Information Sciences degree program is to cultivate innovative researchers capable of advancing the frontiers of knowledge in the geospatial information sciences through improved theories, new technologies, innovative methodologies, sophisticated quantitative analyses, and integrative applications.

Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at SMU has a long tradition of excellence in serving people and society. Today, we continue this tradition by developing the fundamental and applied technologies that have an impact on people’s lives.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) students initiate and drive cutting-edge research that with supporting studies, position them to be new leaders in the advancement of their field and for success in a range of careers in industries.

Providing sustainable energy for a rapidly growing world population is a grand challenge of the 21st century. Power generation and environmental emissions are a technical, social and political issue that affects economies and the environment on local, national and global scales.

Marine Science is a field which encompasses many traditional disciplines including biology, geology, chemistry, physics, and engineering.

The University's Environmental Sciences Ph.D. is a research-focused, multidisciplinary degree track with more than 35 participating faculty members from 14 departments across four institutions. The program encourages students to adapt to the course of study to their academic interests. Successful students will practice applied science that addresses real-world problems.

The goal of the PhD degree in the Atmospheric Sciences Graduate program is to prepare and educate students in critical thinking, resulting in innovative ideas that can advance our understanding and knowledge of the earth-atmosphere system in terms of process studies, modelling, and instrumentation.

The Ph.D. degree in Plant Science is administered jointly with the Department of Plant Pathology. The Ph.D. program takes three to four years and requires original research and the development of new knowledge.

The UCSB Department of Geography’s joint Ph.D. program with the Department of Geography at San Diego State University is distinctive. It brings together two outstanding departments that complement each other. California State Universities do not offer stand-alone doctoral programs.