The Ph.D. degree has a greater emphasis on research compared with the M.S. degree and is geared toward successfully mastering a body of skills and knowledge in preparation for a career as an independent scholar. This degree is recommended for those who expect to engage in a professional career in research, teaching or technical work of an advanced nature. The basic requirements for the Ph.D. degree are the completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate courses beyond the bachelor’s degree (excluding graduate seminar and doctoral dissertation research credits), a minimum of 12 credit hours of ENCE 899 (doctoral dissertation research), passing a qualifying exam, successful preparation and defense of a dissertation proposal, and public defense of the doctoral dissertation. Course credit hours from the M.S. degree may be applied to the requirement of 30 course credit hours with approval from the student’s committee. Specific course work is determined by the candidate’s Ph.D. committee based on the student’s academic background and research topic.

All Ph.D. candidates are required to pass a written qualifying examination. The examination is given annually, and the student has two opportunities to pass. Additional requirements are imposed by the Graduate School.