Antioch University

Programme overview

This doctoral programme requires 66 semester-hour credits beyond a master’s and is designed for interdisciplinary inquiry across science, policy, humanities, education and service. Delivered in a cohort-based low-residency format, students complete coursework through a mix of one on-campus residency per semester (for the first three phases) and synchronous/asynchronous online engagement. The program is normally completed in four to five years, and students have up to ten years from entry to finish all requirements including the dissertation.

What you'll study

Study combines intensive, integrative, and theoretically oriented courses with research and dissertation work. The curriculum is organized into four phases: Foundation Courses, Research Strategies and Learning Domains, Candidacy, and Dissertation. Phase 1 (Foundation Courses) comprises 18 credits focused on interdisciplinary environmental scholarship, research design, ecological thought and applied ecological analysis. Students choose specializations aligned with faculty and cohort interests; current research topics among students and faculty include:

• Conservation psychology
• Ecology and conservation biology
• Environmental decision-making, policy, and governance
• Environmental humanities
• Environmental and social justice
• Environmental, sustainability, and science education
• Food and the environment
• Resilience, climate and environmental change

Entry requirements

The program requires a completed master’s (this is a 66-credit program beyond a master’s) and entry into a cohort. Students are placed with an academic advisor on entry and typically select a dissertation chair in the second year. For eligibility for the President’s Doctoral Fellowship applicants must have a minimum 3.40 GPA; the fellowship and other admissions details are managed through the university admissions pages.

Career prospects

Graduates and current students pursue a range of roles reflecting their prior experience and the program’s applied focus. Typical outcomes include academic and research positions (field and conservation biology), advanced environmental scholarship, career advancement for educators and consultants, and development of new approaches used by independent scholars, outdoor educators, therapists, writers and artists exploring psycho‑spiritual or organizational change related to the environment.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The President’s Doctoral Fellowship provides $12,000 to entering doctoral students who meet criteria (including a minimum 3.40 GPA); awards are paid over the first two registered years and require full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress. Additional admissions and funding details are available through the university’s admissions and scholarships pages.