(PADA and PADD)
The departmental-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied.
The PhD degree is a research degree requiring a dissertation project. Coursework to be taken for the PhD degree must be approved by the student’s advisory committee and the graduate dean. A minimum of 9 hours of dissertation (ANSC 9000 ) is required; a minimum of 54 credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree must be taken, which can include up to 30 hours of credit transferred en bloc from a master’s program at another institution. Students earning the M.S. degree at LSU and progressing to the PhD program may apply up to 36 credits from the M.S. towards the 54-credit minimum.
The curricular requirements include:
- At least two hours of seminar (ANSC 7091 or equivalent)
- No more than 6 hours of ANSC 7061 can be applied to the degree
Students in the PhD program must pass a comprehensive general exam on coursework, general knowledge, and critical thinking ability; an oral exam is required, and a written exam may also be administered at the examining committee’s discretion. A dissertation is required. Students are required to present a 30-45 minute public seminar in defense of their dissertation research prior to a comprehensive final oral exam with the student’s examining committee.