Doctorate (Ph.D.) Requirements

The PEP Track Ph.D. requires 72 credit hours of graduate study. Required coursework includes 30 credit hours of core didactic courses, 6 semesters of the PEP seminar (1 credit hour each semester), at least 6 credit hours of elective coursework in an area of concentration, and 18 credit hours of dissertation research. The remaining credit hours may be completed through additional elective coursework, research credits, or other approved graduate coursework aligned with the student’s research interests and training needs.

Students without a thesis-based master’s degree must complete a research practicum during the first two years of study. Successful completion of the research practicum requires at least one manuscript approved by the student’s advisor and submitted by the student as lead author to a peer-reviewed journal.