Introduction
The goal of the Coastal Science and Policy (CSP) program is to train future leaders in the science and policy of coastal sustainability in order to propel sustainable use of coastal resources and conservation of coastal biodiversity, ecosystems, socio-economic integrity, and ecological services. A CSP designated emphasis (DE) will serve Ph.D. students who desire to strengthen their ability to directly connect their science to actionable solutions, doing so in collaboration with practitioner organizations.
Preparation for Designated Emphasis in Coastal Science and Policy
To receive a designated emphasis in Coastal Science and Policy, graduate students must complete the requirements outlined below in addition to the degree requirements for their doctorate in their home department.
Applying to join the Designated Emphasis
The DE is available only to UC Santa Cruz-enrolled Ph.D. students; master’s students are not eligible. Ph.D. students should file the Application for Designated Emphasis in CSP via a Docusign application form (found on the program’s forms page: https://csp.ucsc.edu/forms/; sample application form here) . Students ideally apply during their first year after they have identified a designated emphasis faculty adviser.
Requirements
Committee Composition and Departmental Approvals
The student must have a DE adviser from the CSP core or affiliated faculty. The DE adviser commits to serving on the Ph.D. qualifying exam committee (typically as the outside member), and the dissertation reading committee. If a student's primary advisor is also a core or affiliate faculty member in CSP, they may serve as both the primary and DE advisor.
Once a designated emphasis faculty adviser has been identified, students should file the Application for Designated Emphasis in CSP. The Ph.D. student’s primary faculty adviser, graduate program coordinator/adviser in the student’s UCSC home department, and the CSP program must approve participation in the CSP DE. Only applications from registered students in good standing will be approved for the CSP DE.
The student must meet with this DE adviser to develop a coherent plan for meeting the requirements for the designated emphasis, preferably before the end of the student’s first year. This plan must be approved by the CSP program director.
Course Requirements
Students are required to complete at least three 5-credit CSP courses including two required courses (CSP 244 and CSP 245 [BIOE 262]).
Courses taken to fulfill Ph.D. degree requirements within the home department will not count toward the designated emphasis program's required coursework.
| CSP 244 | Adaptation and Planning | 5 |
| BIOE 262
/CSP 245
| Facilitating Change in Coastal Science Policy | 5 |
Additional Courses
Students work with their CSP adviser to review their academic background and select at least one and up to six additional CSP courses (minimum of five additional credits) to assure overall interdisciplinary competence in: social sciences for sustainability, economics for sustainability, natural sciences for sustainability, statistics, coastal governance, and policy analysis. Select courses from the list below:
| CSP 200 | Natural Sciences for Coastal Sustainability | 5 |
| CSP 210 | Social Sciences for Coastal Sustainability | 5 |
| CSP 220 | Economics for Coastal Sustainability | 5 |
| BIOE 286
/CSP 241
| Experimental Design and Data Analysis | 5 |
| BIOE 286L
/CSP 241L
| Experimental Design and Data Analysis Lab | 2 |
| ENVS 240
/CSP 242
| Public Policy and Conservation | 5 |
| ENVS 250
/CSP 243
| Coastal Governance | 5 |
| CSP 281A | Hacking for Oceans—Lean Design Methods | 5 |
| CSP 282 | Quantitative Methods for Coastal Climate Resilience | 5 |
| CSP 293 | Special Topics in Coastal Science and Policy | 5 |
| CSP 297 | Independent Study in Coastal Science and Policy | 5 |
CSP offers two additional 2-credit courses that are open to students from any discipline including CSP DEs. CSP 271, Fisheries Ecology (taught in spring quarter in odd years), and when available CSP 292, Special Topics in Coastal Science and Policy. While we encourage students to take these courses, they cannot be taken to fulfill the DE course requirements.
Writing, Research and/or Teaching Requirements
As part of the CSP designated emphasis, students must work closely with a non-academic practitioner (from a government, private industry, or non-profit entity) on one interdisciplinary dissertation chapter in order to gain direct training in linking their research to a practical, scalable solution on a coastal sustainability issue.
Students should involve the partner in the conceptual design and execution of the project.
The CSP program, via core courses, workshops, and mentoring by CSP faculty, provides substantial guidance on how to collaborate with partners in a manner that fits well with the dissertation research process. This requirement ensures that the student’s work will bring their knowledge to action that addresses real-world challenges and implements new, cutting-edge solutions.
At the conclusion of their degree, designated emphasis students also participate in the annual Coastal Science and Policy Symposium by presenting a short (less than 30 minutes) oral presentation on their designated emphasis-relevant dissertation research.