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Graduate School > Academics > Interdisciplinary Studies
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES (Ph.D.)

at The University of Alabama

Revised: 05/24/2007

Overview

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) has authorized The University of Alabama to offer the Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies when existing Ph.D. programs at the University do not meet the needs of a student and when the University has the faculty and research resources to offer such a program.

The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. is designed for those few students whose interests and goals cannot be accommodated through the 46 current doctoral programs offered at The University of Alabama. The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program must not duplicate a traditional Ph.D. program that is already offered by The University of Alabama.

Students pursue the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. under the direction of a five-member Advisory Committee. All members must be members of the Graduate Faculty at The University of Alabama and must represent at least two academic departments. The chair of the committee must be a full member of The University of Alabama Graduate Faculty.

In pursuing the degree, students follow a Plan of Study approved by the Advisory Committee and the Dean of the Graduate School. The Advisory Committee will work with the student from admission to graduation, including mentoring the student throughout the dissertation process. Every program is unique in terms of coursework, methodology and research. The Plan of Study, which includes coursework and applicable language and/or methodological requirements as determined by the Advisory Committee, must be approved prior to admission to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program.

Prerequisites for Admission
Due to the demands and rigor of the Interdisciplinary Studies Ph.D. program, only students who demonstrate a high degree of self-reliance and responsibility will be considered for admission. Prior to submitting an application for the Interdisciplinary Studies Program, each prospective candidate must meet with the Assistant Dean of the Graduate School. Additionally, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. The student must have completed a master’s degree or its equivalent at an accredited university.
  2. The student must normally have a graduate GPA of 3.3 or higher, on a 4.0 scale, in their masters degree (or equivalent) and scored at the 50 percentile or better on an appropriate entrance examination (e.g., GRE, GMAT, MAT). If the student has less than a 3.3 cumulative graduate GPA, the entrance exam score must be exceptional. Interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs are not available to students who have been unsuccessful in previous graduate work.

Admission Procedures

An applicant must submit to the Graduate School the following materials:

  1. Completed application form and application fee

  2. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities that the student has attended

  3. Proof of an earned master’s degree

  4. Three letters of recommendation

  5. The results of a standardized test score

  6. A statement of purpose that includes reasons for pursuing the Interdisciplinary Studies Ph.D. and career goals

  7. A resume

  8. for more information, please see Interdisciplinary Studies Admission Checklist

Before admission, these additional materials must be submitted by an applicant in consultation with his/her Advisory chair. These additional materials should be submitted to Dr. Natalie Adams, Assistant Dean of the Graduate School:

  1. A Program of Study signed by all members of the Advisory Committee (see Course of Study for more information). A copy of the Outline of Ph.D. Program is available online.

  2. A one- to two-page prospectus outlining the intended focus of research and the relevance of the research based on a review of the existing literature. The prospectus must be signed by all members of the Advisory Committee

  3. A brief statement prepared by the Committee chair. The statement describes the uniqueness of the proposed program and states how no existing doctoral program at The University of Alabama meets the requirements and interests of the applicant. The chair of the proposed Advisory Committee is encouraged to consult with the Assistant Dean of the Graduate School before the application is considered by the Graduate School

  4. An explanation of how each of the following Graduate School requirements will be met during the program:

    • Transfer of credit (Include a list of all courses the Graduate School will be asked to accept)

    • Residency requirements (Denote the two contiguous, full-time semesters and the courses to be taken)

    • Time limits (see Graduate Catalog)

    • Comprehensive examination (must be a rigorous and use the same general procedures as the doctoral exams in the departments in which coursework is taken)

    • Admission to candidacy (see Graduate Catalog)

    • Continuous registration (see Graduate Catalog)

  5. A tentative timeline for completion of coursework and dissertation
     
    These materials must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School before the student is admitted to the program.

Course of Study

The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. degree provides students and faculty with opportunities for creative academic programming and research that cross the boundaries of traditional disciplines. The UA Graduate School requires that Ph.D. students must complete a minimum of 48 hours of coursework, although Interdisciplinary Ph.D. students typically take more than 48 hours. The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. coursework must be taken in two or more major areas, with 7-8 courses (21-24 credits each) in each major. These courses should include preparation for doctoral research in the areas of study. Coursework within a major may include related courses in one or more UA departments. Students may take additional courses in minor areas. A student must take at least 24 hours of dissertation research. A minimum of 15 hours in research methods or research theory and design must be apparent on the Program of Study. It is expected that the majority of courses will be at the 600 level.

It is very important that the program of study be driven by a strong conceptual foundation for the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. with specific goals and objectives. The goals and objectives must provide the foundation for the coursework. Thus, the proposal must be developed using a "top-down" approach (i.e., conceptual foundation developed first, follow by goals/objectives, then coursework) and NOT a "bottom-up" approach (i.e., identifying a group of courses that the student is interested in or has already taken in a master’s program, in hopes that the courses will form a Ph.D.).

Transferred graduate courses may be included in the student’s interdisciplinary Ph.D. proposal on a tentative basis only. Transfer credit is subject to official evaluation by the Graduate School Registrar and approval by the Graduate Dean, per policies in the Graduate Catalog. The student must submit a request for evaluation of transfer credit immediately after admission and enrollment in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program. Coursework not approved for transfer credit must be replaced by new courses in the student’s interdisciplinary program of study, and the revised program of study must be approved by the student’s committee and Dean of the Graduate School.

Composition of the Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee consists of at least 5 members. All committee members must be members of the Graduate Faculty at The University of Alabama before formal appointment to the committee will be made by the Dean of the Graduate School. It is expected that the applicant’s Advisory Committee chair will have competence in the proposed major area(s) of study and has the time and willingness to devote to being an academic mentor for the student throughout the Ph.D. program. The committee chair and at least one additional committee member will have experience in directing and supervising doctoral-level research.

Progress Towards the Degree

The Program of Study developed by the Advisory Committee in the application is the plan which is followed in completing the degree. The Advisory Committee is responsible for directing the degree and ensuring that satisfactory progress is made towards completing all degree requirements (coursework, comprehensive exam, admission to candidacy, dissertation proposal, dissertation research and final oral examination). All requirements must be completed within the time limits specified in the Graduate Catalog at the time of admission.

Coursework

The Advisory Committee has the responsibility for monitoring the progress of the student in completing coursework in a timely manner. Minor changes in specific courses (e.g., substituting one course for another) require the approval of the Advisory committee. Significant changes in the scope of the coursework require the prior approval of the Dean of the Graduate School and the submission of a revised Plan of Study for approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Comprehensive Exam

The content and administration of the comprehensive exam are the responsibility of the Advisory committee. Typically, the comprehensive examination is taken after the completion of all coursework. It is expected that the comprehensive examination for the Interdisciplinary Studies Ph.D. will be as rigorous and use the same general procedures as the doctoral exams in the departments in which coursework is taken. The specifics of the examination (including where the exam will be taken, the number of questions, the number of evaluators, the grading process, the process for reporting results to the student, etc.) should be detailed in the admission materials (see Admission Procedures).

Admission to Candidacy

When the Advisory Committee certifies to the Graduate School that the comprehensive exam has been passed and all other requirements set out in the Plan of Study (except the dissertation) have been satisfactorily completed, the Graduate School admits the student to candidacy.

Dissertation

The dissertation must be completed and defended within the time limits specified by the Graduate School at the time of admission. If testing human or animal subjects, the student is responsible for complying with the Institutional Review Board requirements before beginning research.

Final Oral Examination

The final oral exam for the Ph.D. is administered and evaluated by the Advisory Committee. The Graduate School should be notified of the date of the oral examination at least one month in advance. Final oral examinations are open to the University community, and a representative from the Graduate School will attend the oral examination.

Reviews of Progress

During each semester of the program, the student must meet with the Advisory Committee to review progress. Additionally, by May 15 each year a written summary and evaluation will be prepared by the committee chair and submitted to the Graduate School. All committee members must approve this summary and evaluations as shown by their individual signatures.

Online Resources
See Interdisciplinary Studies Admission Checklist. For information about graduate degree and course offerings at The University of Alabama, visit the Academics page or review the Graduate Catalog. All forms to be completed and submitted by doctoral students are available online.

For more information about the Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies, contact:
Natalie Adams, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean
The Graduate School
The University of Alabama
Box 870118, 102 Rose Administration Bldg.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0118
(205) 348-8283
nadams@ua.edu

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