Program Overview

Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy program is a doctoral degree that requires 48 research hours beyond the 24 didactic hours for the master's degree.

Program Structure

Half of the research hours are taken as coursework, while the remaining hours represent research work for the dissertation.

Qualifying Exams

Students must successfully complete qualifying exams prior to candidacy for the degree.

Program Tailoring

Each program is tailored to the individual student's interest, in consultation with his or her major professor, in a format specified by the department.

Major Professor and Specialization

The choices of major professor and area of specialization are left up to the student.

Dissertation and Oral Presentation

Once the dissertation is submitted and approved, a public oral presentation and examination are held.

Program Administration

Both the M.S. and Ph.D. programs are administered by the Graduate School.