Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)
Research performance, evidenced by preparation of a Ph.D. thesis on an independently pursued research topic, is the primary requirement for the Ph.D. degree. The research must represent an original contribution to the field and be suitable for publication in scholarly, peer-reviewed journals. Publications resulting from Ph.D. research are usually co-authored with the faculty adviser(s).
Coursework requirements are relatively modest. Each program is designed, in consultation with a faculty adviser, to meet the special needs of the student, and must be approved by the DGS. A typical program consists of 36 credits of coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree, plus 24 thesis credits in addition to the course credits. The Ph.D. program is designed to be completed in four to six years of full-time study from the bachelor’s degree.
The department has not set a rigid criterion on the number of credits of 8xxx-level coursework appropriate for Ph.D. programs because the availability of such courses varies among academic areas in the department. Nonetheless, students should be aware that the Ph.D. represents the highest level of scholarly achievement, and coursework should be selected accordingly. Ph.D. programs should thus include a strong representation of advanced-level courses in the student’s major field.
The department may not admit a student without a M.S. degree directly to the Ph.D. program.
Students entering the graduate program with a bachelor’s degree typically are asked to complete the M.S. degree first before continuing on for the Ph.D. degree. The student’s performance in the M.S. program is often an important element in deciding whether to admit him or her to the Ph.D. program. Graduate course credits earned in the M.S. program may be used to meet the Ph.D. coursework requirements.
A student applying to the Ph.D. program who has completed a M.S. degree from another university or another department at the University of Minnesota initially may be admitted to the M.S. program (rather than the Ph.D. program) if the admissions committee believes that the completed M.S. degree was not equivalent in content or rigor to the departmental M.S. program in the desired area of specialization. In such cases, the student may be admitted to the Ph.D. program before receiving a second master's degree (e.g., after 1-2 semesters of graduate coursework and/or research) upon the recommendation of the faculty adviser and approval of the DGS.