The foremost goal of the Graduate Group in Ecology (GGE) is to provide world class training to the next generation of ecologists with our MS and PhD programs.
Degree Requirements & Bylaws
The official rules of our degree programs are in the GGE Degree Requirements & Bylaws. These apply to students at both UC Davis (GGE) and San Diego State University (JDPE), except as otherwise noted in the JDPE Degree Requirements & Bylaws. JDPE faculty are also considered GGE faculty.
Area of Emphasis
Areas of Emphasis (AoEs) are the nine different subdivisions that make up the Graduate Group in Ecology. Each AoE is comprised of GGE students and faculty with research interests in its subject matter. Students in the group must choose one upon entering the group. Your AoE determines which required course you will have to complete before advancing to candidacy. Your AoE advisor will also be one of the members of your Guidance Committee.
Guidance Committee
The Guidance Committee consists of the Major Professor and the AoE Advisor, and, for PhD students only, a third GGE faculty member of your choice. Student meet with the Guidance Committee to plan coursework. The Guidance Committee Form (there is one for the MS or another one for the PhD degree) with the proposed course work is due at the end of a student's first quarter in the program. Courses can be changed, but each committee member will need to approve each change via submission of an updated form to the Program Coordinator. The guidance committee should meet once a year, until a dissertation committee is formed.
Degree Timeline (PhD)
The tables below show a typical degree timeline for the first two years of a PhD student.
Year 1 (PhD)
| FALL | WINTER | SPRING |
| ECL 200AN Core course (5 units) | ECL 200BN Core course (5 units) | Elective course |
| ECL 296 (1 unit) | ECL 296 (1 unit) | ECL 296 (1 unit) |
| EVE 100 Evolution (4 units) | AOE Core course | AOE Core course |
| ECL 290 Seminar (1-2 units) | Elective course | Field Methods Course |
| Entry requirements or electives and/or ECL 299 Research | ECL 290 Seminar and/or ECL 299 Resarch | ECL 290 Seminar and/or ECL 299 Resrearch |
| Submit approved Guidance Committee Form |
Year 2 (PhD)
| FALL | WINTER | SPRING |
| ECL 290 (Variable) | ECL 290 (Variable) | ECL 290 (If applicable) |
| Quantitative/statistics course | ||
| Dissertation research (ECL 299) | Dissertation research (ECL 299) | Dissertation research (ECL 299) |
| Additional coursework | Additional coursework | Additional coursework |
| Complete required coursework; establish QE Committee; Prepare Research Proposal | ||
Qualifying Exam (QE)
Use the forms in GradSphere (QE application, candidacy, external committee member, etc.).
Review QE info in the degree requirements, and review the Graduate Council Policy on Service on Advanced Degree Committees for information about who are eligible to serve on graduate committees. Your major professor cannot serve on your QE.
Submit Qualifying Exam Application at least 60 days before exam. Take exam in the 3rd year
Submit the PhD Pre-Qualifying Exam Form at least 60 days before exam to the Graduate Coordinator.
Submit the Guidance Committee (GC) form signed by the GC to the program to review. Students do not need to submit the form to the Graduate Advisor as this will be routed once the Graduate Coordinator reviewed the form. The Graduate Coordinator will notify the student once it has been approved. The student will then submit the QE in the online form system (GradSphere.ucdavis.edu). The system will route it to the Graduate Coordinator and other members to approve. Grad Studies will review, process the form, and notify the student of the approval.
Advance to Candidacy
After passing qualifying exam. Advance to candidacy by end of the 9th quarter or 3rd year.
After passing your QE, the next step will be to advance to Candidacy. The Candidacy status for your degree means that you’ve completed all of your coursework requirements and will be focusing primarily on your research interests.
To begin this process, you’ll select your dissertation committee members, and submit the Candidacy Application. Information about dissertation committee requirements and the process for advancing to Candidacy can be found on the Graduate Studies website.
Next Steps:
- Your Committee: Great people with whom to start discussions about your dissertation committee are your Major Professor and Graduate Advisor. Your Graduate Program Coordinator is a good resource for information about Graduate Studies procedures and program-specific committee requirements, too.
- Full-Time Enrollment: Doctoral students must remain enrolled full-time (12 units) after passing the QE, beginning the quarter after. Exceptions for documented health or disability accommodation reasons are available.
- The Candidacy Fee: You can find the Candidacy payment options at the GS Forms Store; please select Doctoral Candidacy, and enter your name and student ID to add the fee to your cart. Cash and check options for payment can be found in the Cashier’s Office in Dutton Hall. Please retain this receipt, as it will be submitted when you submit your Candidacy Application.
- International Students & NRST: Candidacy forms must be submitted to Graduate Studies before the first day of the quarter to begin the NRST waiver in that term. If your Candidacy is submitted after the first day of the quarter, your NRST waiver will start the next quarter.
Dissertation Forms
Forms are available from GradSphere
Exit Seminar
Send flyer to the program at least two weeks prior to filing to graduate. Flyer should include the following: name, title of research work, short abstract, dissertation committee, date and time of seminar, location (in-person and/or Zoom), Zoom link (if offered), and photo(s).
Degree Timeline (MS)
The tables below show a typical degree timeline of a MS student.
Year 1 (MS)
| FALL | WINTER | SPRING |
| ECL 200AN Core course (5 units) | ECL 200BN Core course (5 units) | Elective course |
| ECL 296 (1 unit) | ECL 296 (1 unit) | ECL 296 (1 unit) |
| EVE 100 Evolution (4 units) | AOE Core course | AOE Core course |
| ECL 290 Seminar (1-2 units) | Elective course | Field method course |
| Entry requirements or electives and/or ECL 299 Research | ECL 290 Seminar and/or ECL 299 Research | ECL 290 Seminar and/or ECL 299 Research |
| Submit approved Guidance Committee Form |
Year 2 (MS)
| FALL | WINTER | SPRING |
| Thesis research (ECL 299) | Thesis research (ECL 299) | Thesis research (ECL 299) |
| Additional coursework | ||
| Complete required coursework. | MS Plan II: organize and take the final comprehensive oral examination | |
| Submit petition to Advance to Candidacy |
Year 3 (MS)
MS Plan I students complete research project, analyze data and write the thesis. Submit the thesis to the Office of Graduate Studies by the end of the academic year or prior to start of fall quarter.
Filing to Graduate
Notify the program of your plan at least one quarter prior to filing. Review how to prepare to graduate (deadline, process, resources) and the filing procedures.