ENVRES-PHD - Environment and Resources (PHD)

The Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources develops the knowledge, skills, perspectives, and ways of thinking needed to understand and help solve the world's most significant environmental and resources sustainability challenges. E-IPER strives to be a model for interdisciplinary graduate education. E-IPER offers a Ph.D. in Environment and Resources, a Joint M.S. exclusively for students in Stanford's Graduate School of Business or Stanford Law School, and a Dual M.S. for students in the Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy program, School of Medicine, or a Ph.D. program in another department. E-IPER's home is the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences; affiliated faculty come from all seven Stanford schools.

Students may have a maximum of 45 units of transfer credit or credit earned for a Stanford master’s degree count towards the residency minimum of their degree. Any Ph.D., D.M.A., or Engineer student who transfers credit and who also receives a Stanford master’s degree will have their residency requirement for the Ph.D., D.M.A., or Engineer degree increased by 45 units regardless of the number of units awarded for transfer credit.  (See GAP 3.2.5 Graduate Residency Transfer Credit for more details)

The Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. Through the open discussions of scholarly ideas during regular interactions with their advisers, graduate students identify areas of focus, and more generally develop their creative and intellectual potential. 

Faculty advisers guide students in designing and conducting research, selecting courses, exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways, developing teaching skills, and navigating policies and degree requirements. At the same time, they are aware and respectful of work-life balance and wellness considerations. Graduate students are proactive in seeking academic and professional guidance, and take responsibility for learning about their program’s policies and degree requirements.

Incoming students are assigned faculty adviser(s) in advance of their matriculation to the program; after further development of their research and professional interests, students may select different advisers.

As a best practice, adviser and advisee should agree upon advising expectations and then, periodically, discuss and review them in order to ensure mutual understanding.

Students should also take advantage of the larger advising network, consulting such resources as the E-IPER program staff, Stanford’s institutional resources (VPGE, Office of Graduate Life, CAPS, etc.), and individuals and networks in the broader community of scholars. While student academic progress is reviewed annually, students are expected to be active in tracking their own progress, and raising concerns in a timely manner.

The E-IPER website provides more detailed information about E-IPER advising procedures and expectations in the Ph.D. program.

In the event that a student has a formal concern or complaint about their advising experience, they are encouraged to contact the E-IPER Associate Director, the E-IPER Faculty Director, the School Associate Dean for Educational Affairs, or the School Associate Dean for Human Resources and Faculty Affairs.

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the Graduate Advising section of this bulletin.

Completion of the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Environment and Resources provides students with the knowledge, skills, perspectives, and ways of thinking needed to understand and help solve the world's most significant environmental and resources sustainability challenges.