Human Behavior and Sustainability Sciences, PhD (Boston)

The persistent failure to integrate the social, behavioral, and cognitive sciences with ecological and geophysical sciences is a critical friction point reducing the viability and effectiveness of sustainability solutions. Therefore, a degree program that combines training in psychology with the ecological and geophysical sciences produces boundary-breaking scholars who can accelerate sustainability solutions that are robustly informed by the results of scientific research. The proposed curriculum integrates degree requirements from existing PhD programs in psychology and marine and environmental sciences (sustainability sciences concentration), with the addition of a set of specialized core courses and integrated cross-disciplinary research training. It also allows students broad latitude in designing their specialty within the parameters of the program.

The PhD in Human Behavior and Sustainability Sciences program provides students with the following advanced coursework and training (students must pass two examinations during the course of their graduate studies to achieve candidacy): 

1. A qualifying paper that the student writes and presents to their dissertation committee
2. A proposal defense presented to the student's dissertation committee that explains the research areas in which the student proposes to work

At the end of the program, students defend their written dissertation, which consists of a public seminar, public question-and-answer period, and private defense of their work to their dissertation committee. Dissertation committees consist of at least four Northeastern University faculty and one external faculty member.

A cumulative grade-point average of 3.000 is required for graduation. The PhD is awarded following submission of a dissertation, approved by the candidate’s dissertation committee, to the College of Science.