GraduateSchool?
If
you are thinking about a future that involves natural resources and
environmental policy and management please contact me to discuss the
opportunities at NAU. Our programs are interdisciplinary and
designed to suit the needs and interests of the individual student. Entry
is competitive and the program is rigorous but our environmental students hold
important government positions and teach in well respected universities all over
the country.
If you are thinking about
doing graduate work in environmental or natural resources policy I invite you
to consider the opportunities available at Northern Arizona University.We enjoy near 100 percent placement success for
our graduates. Small classes and an interdisciplinary program make this an
ideal environment in which to develop your expertise. I have created this page
to answer some of the questions I am most often asked about graduate work at
NAU. If after reading this you have additional questions and you are thinking
about graduate work in environmental policy please do not hesitate to email me
(be sure to include your phone numbers and times if you are in the US or
Canada).Those of you interested in graduate work in other areas besides the
environment and natural resources I suggest you contact the NAU Political
Science Graduate Coordinator (call the department at 928-523-3163 and ask for
the grad coordinator).
What type of
programs do you offer? Most
students studying environmental and natural resources policy and administration
choose the public policy option in the Ph.D. program. The program allows you to
build your own course requirements (with the assistance of an instructor) to
suit your own professional needs. In addition these classes can be taken from
across the campus. I insist my students take classes in the sciences
(where appropriate) history, economics and other fields. I firmly believe that
you can not do good environmental policy if you
restrict yourself to what is taught in political science departments.
Do I have to
have a political science major? No. In fact many of my best students have never had a
political science class prior to coming to work on their graduate degree at
NAU.
Is there
money available? Some. Each year we have several departmental assistantships
available (some years more than others).There are extremely competitive. If you
do not get funding when you enter there are often funding opportunities that
arise after you get here and people get to know you. Some of my best students,
now teaching in fine universities, did not get any funding when they arrived.
Why should I
go to NAU? Maybe
you shouldn't. Go to a graduate school where you will get the attention you
need to become a highly trained professional. Go to a school where you have
ample opportunity to learn from professors who will take the time to work with
you. Call schools and talk to professors if you don't like the vibes you get
take a pass. It won't get better when you get there. The interpersonal side of
learning at this level is very important. You should be comfortable with the
place and the people you will be working with.
Shouldn't I
try and get into the biggest name school that will accept me? Maybe (particularly if you
like football games) but there are a lot of other things to consider. The
prestige of the degree granting institution may make some difference in getting
your first job (sadly some people don't look at the individual) but over the
course of your career your ability is what will set you apart. If you learn the
profession close at hand from people who are well respected you will go much
further than if you attend a very prestigious university where you get little
face time with the big names.(In a recent hire here we
passed over several applications from Ivy League colleges and hired someone
from a mid level state school (smart schools know you often find the best
people in any number of places.)
What will I
study? That
depends on you and what you want to be. We have a set of required courses in
our programs but we also have several areas where you can build programs from
across the university. We have excellent internationally known faculty in many
natural resource and science areas and you can take classes from many of them
if you choose. Students of mine have included everything from organic
chemistry to cultural anthropology in their study packages. ( A list of many of the possible classes you might
incorporate into your graduate program may be found HERE.)
The department web page has a list of degree requirements for more
details. I wrote an article for Step Ahead the newsletter of the
Science Technology and Environmental Policy Section of the American Political
Science section titled "Placing the Environmental Policy Ph.D.," that
outlines what I think makes for a successful environmental policy Ph.D.. I have a link to the edition of the newsletter HERE.
Do I have to
work with you Dr. Smith? Absolutely not. We have many wonderful faculty
here -- go to the political science web page and have a look at the
descriptions of faculty. Here
is a LINK to the faculty web page. Even if you did become my advisee
you would work with many other faculty members in my department and other
departments. We can even bring in faculty from other universities when useful
to provide advice and sit on your dissertation committee. If you
think you would like to work with me at NAU you need to get my permission in
advance. First email me your contact information and I'll call to talk
about the program and your plans. Then I'll ask you to send me a copy of
your application materials in advance -- both so I can determine if we are a
good fit to do research together and to facilitate my supporting your
application once it is sent into my department. (Due to the rules of the
department we can't see application files -- so if you want my support you have
to send me a copy of the materials.)
Can I take a
semester off and study in another university or go count the outhouses
in Peru?
We encourage travel, study abroad and field research. It all depends on what
your professional objectives are and how you want to meet them.
What kind of
job might I get? At
the Masters level they do all kinds of things. I encourage my best students to
work toward the doctorate -- a Ph.D. opens all kinds of doors a Masters degree
will not open -- the additional two or three years it takes means you can enter
government service at a much higher level get instant respect from the NGO you
want to work for and can teach in a university setting if you choose. My
environmental and natural resource students have enjoyed 100 percent placement success in universities (in public administration,
public policy, political science and environmental science departments); in
governments (several have been offered Presidential Management Fellowships) and
with NGOs.
Am I cut out
for this? A
good question only you can answer. Grad school is difficult (or time consuming
anyway).I work my students very hard -- I expect them to be well
published and have significant teaching and research experience before they
even think about looking for a job. Twelve hour work days are common --
particularly in the first two years. In any graduate program you attend you
will find students that do what is expected of them. They are average and if
you accept average all you can ever hope to be is just like everyone else. I
will expect much more from you. If this sounds demanding it is. But there is a
very large attrition rate for grad students -- many never get to comps, others never
write a dissertation and many never get jobs in their fields. Almost every
student I have agreed to advise has gotten through and done well. Pardon the
cliché but you get out of life what you put into life.
OK I'm interested
now what? The
department web page has all the application materials you need -- you can
download them. The deadline for applications that include support is February 15th and you need GREs so don't put it off.
I suggest incoming students apply for the MPA prorgam.
These are the dates for application deadline the MPA: Feb.. 15th (the only application period during which you can
apply for an assistantship); April 15th and
October. 15th. If you want me to be your advisor
in the program we will have to spend some time on the phone or corresponding
over the internet. I enjoy what I do and want good new students but time is
scarce and I have to limit the number of advisees I take on. If I am not
willing to be your advisor (sometimes the vibes are not right for me either and
other times there are other faculty who are closer to your interests)
there likely will be another faculty member here who would be willing
advise you.
Any other suggestions? Yes. Here are a
few tips that may help with the application process. In your written
statement that accompanies the application be sure you identify an area of
study interest that faculty are actually teaching! (Once someone said
they wanted to do "central Asia politics" and was denied admission.
I understand that you may change interests after you arrive (most people
do) but if you say you want to study something that no one here studies then
you won't be admitted. Second do not identify too many interests -- if
you say American politics, policy, IR and Comparative politics the committee
will think you don't know what you want and you will be denied. Third -
be sure all your letters of recommendation and ALL the other
material required are in (call the office and ask) because if ONE thing -- like
one letter of recommendation -- is missing you can be denied admission.
Fourth if you have no political science or social sciences classes in
your background try and get something -- if it is too late for that then
discuss your interest in the social sciences. Finally if you want to work
under my advisement then email me first -- so that we can discuss the
application process before you do anything.
If
you have any other questions I would be happy to help. Email me at zachary.smith at nau.edu -- be sure to include your phone
number.
Comments of some recent
graduates of the NAU PhD program.......
"The
NAU Political Science Ph.D. program offered me the opportunity to really
customize my Ph.D. program and make it an interdisciplinary program, which has
been critical for my work. The department's faculty all have some level of
expertise in environmental policy issues, and advisors are willing and able to
work with students on-on-one to ensure academic
success and career success after graduation. Flagstaff and the Northern Arizona
region are home to several environmental and natural resource government
agencies at the federal, state and municipal level, and I had the opportunity
work with many of them on real environmental problems and issues. The
real-world context of the education is priceless."
Ríobart É. (Rob) Breen, Political Science
& Environmental Studies, Siena College
"A graduate degree at NAU is so much more than an
academic experience. I became intimate with the incredible natural
surroundings of Northern Arizona. The Grand Canyon, the Four Corners
area, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon were all virually
in my back yard. My studies as a doctoral student in Political Science
with an emphasis in Environmental Policy, were greatly
enriched by small classes, access to professors, lifelong friendships and the
physical location of NAU."
Mary Brentwood, Department of Environmental Studies, California Satte University at Sacramento
"My graduate studies at Northern Arizona University was nothing short of
a rewarding experience. Not only did I gain the necessary political, economic,
legal foundational skills and knowledge to compete in todays workforce, I also worked with culturally
sensitive faculty members that shaped my research in North American Indigenous
natural resources management. As a Native American, the faculty
in the Poltical Science Department are
culturally sensitive and they are knowledgeable about
contemporary environmental issues such as
water, land , and air policies that face tribal governments. Indeed, the water,
the land, and the water are tribes sovereign right to protect as they are paramont in tribal lifeways.
Today, I work with the US EPA protecting human health and the environment in
Indian Country.
Secody Hubbard, Associate Director for Tribal
Affairs. USEPA Region 6.
"I can not recommend NAU strenously enough. There is something more than just
environmental training and education I recieved at
NAU. NAU, set in an atmosphere of natural urgency, places you in a community of
scholars who challenge and shephard you through the
early years of intellectual and professional life for environmental work. Broad
interests-- such as those regarding indigenous studies and ecological
sustainability-- are supported by cross-university efforts, and many
extraordinary opportunities are there for those who wish to pursue just this
kind of life."
Peter J. Jacques, Department of Political
Science, University of Central Florida
"My
experience at NAU provided me with an excellent grounding in political science
and environmental policy. Very few schools can compete with NAU's level of
commitment to environmental studies. From theory to policy and the applied
sciences, NAU offers a first-rate education. Despite a difficult job market
within higher education, all of my peers doing environmental policy students
were hired by colleges or universities within a year of graduation."
Matt Lindstrom, Director, Center for Public Policy College of St. Benedict/St.
John's University
"My graduate experience in the NAU Political Science
Department was excellent and life-changing. I was a non-traditional
student - older, working, single parent - but I was welcomed, challenged, and
mentored. I use my graduate training every day
as a professional advocate, educator, and lobbyist for the Great Lakes in the
non-profit sector. My PhD is priceless and
I am constantly grateful for my NAU education."
Grenetta Thomassey, Policy Director, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
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