Ph.D. Program Options

The Joint Ph.D. program offers full-time and part-time options for students.

Full-time

Students will take 9 credit hours (three classes) each semester in Academic Years 1 and 2. Full-time students can complete their coursework in 4 semesters over these two academic years.

Suggested Course of Study for Full-time students (doc)

Part-time

Students will take 6 credit hours (two classes) each fall and spring semester, plus 6 credit hours (two classes) in the summer. The coursework can be completed in 4 semesters and 2 summers.

Suggested Course of Study for Part-time students (doc)

All Students

In the fall and spring semesters, full-time and part-time students will take two classes together to foster a collaborative cohort.

After completing coursework, students must pass written and oral comprehensive exams and defend their dissertation proposal. Once this is done, they are considered “All But Dissertation” (ABD) and will focus on writing and defending the dissertation while enrolled in dissertation hours to complete the degree.