PhD graduates are expected to enter careers as researchers and/or educators in institutions of higher learning, both in public and private sectors. The PhD is awarded only for original scholarly achievement. The dissertation is required and must be a significant original contribution to basic knowledge in the candidate’s field.
Student Learning Objectives
General Expertise
Demonstrate mastery in evaluating, synthesizing, and applying theoretical and technical knowledge to advance solutions to societal problems, particularly in the context of tropical regions in the pacific realm.
Scientific method
Independently conceptualize and construct scientific hypotheses, define and conduct original research to critically evaluate them, analyze and synthesize experimental results, and derive appropriate conclusions that advance tropical plant and soil sciences.
Effective Communication
Effectively present research and results in written and oral forms to both general and scientific audiences.
Ethics
Demonstrate personal characteristics in ethics, leadership, management, and human relations appropriate to professional and community-based practice in careers related to tropical plant and soil sciences.
Graduate Advisor and Committee
PhD students must confirm an advisor who shall serve as the student’s committee chair by the end of the first semester. The student’s committee must be formed by the end of the second semester, and shall consist of at least five members that must include:
▹ A majority of the committee members coming from TPSS (Graduate, Emeritus, Affiliated or Cooperating Faculty.
▹ At least one member from outside the department as a University Representative.
Summary of Degree Requirements |
Doctor of Philosophy | PhD
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Coursework
PhD students must complete:
- A minimum of 26 credits hours of coursework
- 6 credit hours of TPSS 800 Dissertation Research
- 6 credits of TPSS 699 Directed Research
- 9 elective credits that shall be determined in consultation and approval of the advisor
The advisor and committee shall guide the student on course selection matters and ensure progression in the program. At the initial meeting with the student, the advisor will go over with approval of the Graduate Chair, additional courses for the student’s program. Once a Graduate Committee is formed, course requirements are established by the student’s Graduate Committee.
Required Courses
- Communications in the Sciences (TPSS 654)
- Information Research Skills (TPSS 652)
- Experimental Design (TPSS 603)
Seminar
All students must take Graduate Seminar (TPSS 667) every academic semester in which they are registered as full-time or equivalent for up to 4 semesters.
Research Ethics Training
All graduate students are required to take UHM’s Responsible Conduct of Research, an online research ethics training. Please refer to the Office of Research Compliance website for more information.
Comprehensive Examination
An oral and/or written comprehensive examination is conducted by the graduate committee for all PhD candidates. This examination may cover any subject thought pertinent by your committee members.
The comprehensive examination may be repeated once at the option of your committee. If the student fails to pass the exam the second time, the student will be dropped from the program.
Teaching Proficiency
All PhD students are required to lead at least three teaching experiences during the course of the program. A teaching experience could be leading a lecture, lab, field exercise, or equivalent in a TPSS or other life science course and should be at least 50 minutes in duration.
Presentations on the student’s research topic is NOT considered a teaching experience. An evaluation by the faculty member teaching the course will be added to the student’s file.
Proposal and Defense
The dissertation proposal must be submitted and approved by your graduate committee during the semester following completion of the qualifying examination. You may register for TPSS 800 Dissertation Research only after approval of your dissertation proposal.
Dissertation
The dissertation must be a significant original contribution to fundamental knowledge in the candidate’s field. It must be submitted to the Graduate Division in order to complete the program.
For a detailed description of dissertation requirements, see Graduate Student Resources.
Dissertation Defense
Final Examination
A final oral examination on a student’s dissertation is required. The first part of the examination consists of a seminar presentation and defense of your research, which is open to the public and is one hour in length.
Following the public seminar presentation, there will be more thorough examination of the research and results of the dissertation by the members of your committee and any other members of the Graduate Faculty who wish to attend.
For a detailed description of defense and final examination requirements, see Graduate Student Resources.
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