| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-02-01 | - |
Program Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy in Technology program at Eastern Michigan University equips students with advanced research skills and a deep understanding of technology's impact across disciplines. Through a customizable program of study, students specialize in a technical concentration and develop a cognate area of expertise. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in academia, industry, government, and research, driving innovation and shaping the future of technology.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Doctor of Philosophy in Technology (PHD-TC) program at Eastern Michigan University prepares students to become leaders in a global environment where technology grows exponentially across various disciplines. The program prepares graduates for positions of increased responsibility in settings such as faculty in higher education, high-level management positions in government and industry, and careers in policy analysis and research. Grounded by a solid foundation of research methods and core courses, students work with their dissertation advisor to customize a program of study for their research interests by selecting a technical concentration.
Outline:
Core Courses (9 hours):
- COT 700 Introduction to the Interdisciplinary Study of Technology (3 hrs)
- COT 704 Theoretical Frameworks in Technology (3 hrs)
- COT 705 Technology Innovation and Transfer (3 hrs)
Concentration (15 hours):
- Students are required to take at least 15 credits of graduate credit related to their area of concentration. Specific course requirements are determined in consultation with the student's doctoral advisor from the area of concentration. The student's concentration will be noted on their EMU transcript.
Concentrations include:
- Construction Management
- Cybersecurity and Applied Computing
- Engineering Management
- Interior Design
- Polymers and Coatings
- Quality Management
- Technology and Society
- Technology Management
Cognate Courses (6 hours):
- This planned program of course work beyond the core and technical concentration contributes to the student's intellectual and professional development, and their area of research interest. Cognate courses should together constitute a unified experience in a particular subject or discipline area. Specific 600- and 700-level courses are selected in consultation with the doctoral advisor or a committee member who represents the cognate area. The cognate courses must be taken outside of the area of concentration or outside the College of Engineering and Technology.
Research Skills (9 hours):
- COT 709 Introduction to Statistical Reasoning in Technology (3 hrs)
- COT 710 Research Methods in Technology (3 hrs)
- COT 711 Advanced Research Design and Applied Statistics in Technology (3 hrs)
Dissertation Research (21 hours):
- A student may enroll in dissertation research courses only after achieving candidacy status. Students must enroll in courses that result in the writing, defense, and presentation of the dissertation.
- COT 896 Dissertation Research (1 hr)
- COT 897 Dissertation Research (2 hrs)
- COT 898 Dissertation Research (4 hrs)
Careers:
Graduates of the program are prepared for careers as:
- Faculty in higher education
- High-level management positions in government and industry
- Careers in policy analysis and research
Eastern Michigan University Summary
Entry Requirements:
An applicant’s GRE scores must be under five (5) years old. Students with older GRE results are required to retake the GRE. In exceptional cases, conditional admission may be possible with an undergraduate degree, with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 30 semester hours in a master’s degree program in a technology-related area, including a course in statistics. A personal statement is requested describing the applicant’s professional and academic goals. We are particularly interested in applicants with academic interests similar to our faculty. The personal statement must include the intended area of concentration. To evaluate these, each applicant must submit three letters of recommendation. Preference is given to applicants with documented work experience related to educational goals.
