The Ph.D. program emphasizes scholarly research and helps students prepare for research and related careers in industry, government, and academe. Students are admitted to candidacy after passing written and oral examinations. The Ph.D. program is quite flexible, with minimal formal requirements. The Ph.D. is awarded upon completion of a program of advanced study that includes a minimum period of residence, a satisfactory thesis, and the passing of comprehensive and final oral examinations as determined by the student’s doctoral committee.

Generally, a Ph.D. student must have 30 credits above a master’s degree before taking the comprehensive examination.

Continuous registration is required of all Ph.D. graduate students until the thesis is approved. For more information please visit the Graduate School's Thesis Informational Website at http://www.gradsch.psu.edu/current/thesis.html.

For more details on the Ph.D. Program and timetable, please see information for current students: click here.