Doctoral | Programs & Degrees | Academics and Admission | College of Arts & Sciences

Biological Sciences

Biology, Ph.D.

The Department of Biological Sciences doctoral program provides students with in-depth training under the mentorship of a tenure-track faculty member. Among others, research strengths in the department include animal physiology, ecology, evolution and systematic biology, microbiology, plant biology, biotechnology, and quantitative biology.

Explore program

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Chemistry, Ph.D.

A doctoral degree program includes a minimum of 24 credit hours of graduate-level coursework, 36 credit hours of research (CHEM 7000), and 12 credit hours of dissertation (CHEM 8000).

A cumulative examination system is used as the written part of the qualifying examination for the doctoral degree, with cumulative examinations offered six times each year. A successful oral defense of the Ph.D. research and future work plan must be completed before the end of the second year. This constitutes the oral part of the qualifying exam.

Each student fulfilling the doctoral residence requirement in chemistry and biochemistry will normally enroll for 24 hours within a 12-month period. Ordinarily, this would be accomplished by taking 9 hours in two long semesters and 6 hours in the summer.

Explore Program

Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures

Spanish, Ph.D.

The doctoral program in Spanish requires both greater breadth of study than the M.A. program and greater concentration in the area selected for specialization. To fulfill these requirements the student must demonstrate a reasonable comprehensive knowledge of literature or linguistics and the ability to engage in original research. To qualify for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree in Spanish, applicants must complete a graduate minor in another language or demonstrate a reading knowledge of one approved language other than English or Spanish. Any substitution must be submitted in writing to the Spanish graduate advisor and approved by the candidate’s doctoral committee.

Explore Program

Economics

Economics, Ph.D.

The goal of the doctoral program in economics at Texas Tech University is to train outstanding economists. Graduates of our Ph.D. program are ready to undertake research in economics, teach economics in higher education, and apply the skills gained in our program to problems in the private and public sectors.

The Ph.D. program in economics offers a solid foundation in economic theory and the students learn how to apply and develop economic tools. The Ph.D. program is divided into two parts. The first part includes completing core courses and examinations in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. The second part includes taking field and elective courses and completing a third-year paper. The coursework and the continual support of our professors prepare students to conduct their own independent research, which culminates in a doctoral dissertation.

Explore Program

English

English, Ph.D.

The Ph.D. program in English is designed to build on the general and specialized knowledge and skills attained in master’s-level work and to permit students to conduct advanced study in literature, linguistics, or creative writing. Students in our program must read and study broadly so that they may come to understand the interconnectedness of texts, methods, and approaches across traditional classifications of period, geography, and genre. They also choose and refine particular primary and secondary areas of concentration and conduct original research at the highest level of intellectual engagement. The goal of this two-fold approach to doctoral studies is to prepare students to be able to teach in more than one field while producing robust scholarship in their area of concentration.

Explore Program

Technical Communication and Rhetoric, Ph.D.

The Ph.D. in TCR is designed for students with an interest in technical communication, rhetoric, writing, and composition. The aims of study are broad knowledge of the literature on technical communication and rhetoric, specialized knowledge of some aspect of technical communication or rhetoric as reflected in the dissertation research, and ability to conduct ongoing independent research using one or more methods. The Ph.D. requires at least 60 hours of graduate courses beyond the bachelor’s degree, proficiency in research methodology, and a dissertation.

Explore Program

Environmental Toxicology

Environmental Toxicology, Ph.D.

The Environmental Toxicology Ph.D. program (72 hours) is composed of coursework emphasizing the principles of toxicology, the environmental fate of chemicals, statistical approaches to study design, data handling, and data analysis, and seminars in environmental toxicology. Supplemental coursework, research, and dissertation hours are chosen by the student with the guidance of their committee, allowing for focus on the student’s particular research emphasis. Doctoral students must perform an original research project, prepare a written dissertation, and defend their work in a public defense.

Research areas include Aquatic Toxicology, Ecotoxicology, Human Health Sciences, Environmental Chemistry, Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology, Infectious Disease Research, and Wildlife Toxicology, among others.

Explore Program

Geosciences

Geosciences, Ph.D.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy require completion of a minimum of 72 hours of graduate credit. A minimum of 36 hours of taught graduate coursework is required, of which a minimum of 12 hours must be completed in the Department of Geosciences. Additional coursework may be recommended at the discretion of a student’s Dissertation Committee. At least 12 hours of dissertation credit and 12 hours of research credit must also be completed.

Explore Program

History

History, Ph.D.

Doctoral students must choose one major geographic field and two minor geographic fields of study from among the following three fields: United States, Europe, and World. Students will complete thirty (30) hours of graduate coursework in their major geographic field and nine (9) hours of graduate coursework in each minor geographic field. At least three (3) hours of that coursework in each geographic field must be in historiography. In addition, all doctoral students must complete HIST 5304 - Approaches to History, six (6) hours in HIST 6301 - Introduction to Historical Writing, and three (3) hours of an elective HIST graduate course. Doctoral students are not allowed to take more than four (4) HIST 7000-level courses (12 semester credit hours) toward the degree requirements.

Explore Program

Kinesiology and Sport Management

Exercise Physiology, Ph.D.

The doctoral program in exercise physiology provides students with advanced knowledge about the integrative physiological processes related to how exercise and lifestyle changes improve health and reduce risk factors for disease and disability.

Explore Program

Mathematics and Statistics

Mathematics, Ph.D.

The doctoral program offers concentrations in five areas of study: applied mathematics, pure mathematics, statistics, mathematical finance, and mathematics education. The program consists of 60 hours of graduate coursework and 12 hours of doctoral dissertation.

Explore Program

Physics and Astronomy

Physics, Ph.D.

Students seeking the Ph.D. degree must pass a preliminary examination and a qualifying examination as described in the departmental Graduate Booklet and in accordance with Graduate School requirements. Examination topics are drawn from general undergraduate physics and graduate core courses. The program requires a Ph.D. dissertation based on original research.

Explore Program

Political Science

Political Science, Ph.D.

The doctoral degree requires a minimum of 72 credit hours including both graduate coursework (60 hours) beyond the bachelor’s degree and dissertation credit hours (12 hours). A minimum tool requirement for all Ph.D. students is the successful completion of the first-year core curriculum courses with a minimum grade of B- or higher: three research methods courses (POLS 5381, POLS 5382, and POLS 5383) and three field pro-seminars (POLS 5322, POLS 5360, and POLS 5370). Students are required to declare three substantive fields, two major fields and one minor field.

Explore Program

Psychological Sciences

General Experimental Psychology, Ph.D.

This Ph.D. program also offers a terminal master’s degree (M.A.) option in experimental psychology and a combined B.A.–M.A. option with a concentration in one of the concentration areas of experimental psychology, human factors. The doctoral program typically takes five to six years of full-time study. The specialization areas available in the experimental psychology doctoral program are cognition & cognitive neuroscience, human factors, and social psychology.

Explore Program

Clinical Psychology, Ph.D.

The Ph.D. in clinical psychology typically requires 5-6 years of full-time study, including a year-long internship at an APA-accredited internship program. The program in clinical psychology only admits students for the doctoral degree. During their pursuit of the doctoral degree, however, students usually earn a thesis-related master’s degree (unless they have already earned a similar thesis-related master’s degree elsewhere).

Explore Program

Counseling Psychology, Ph.D.

The Ph.D. in counseling psychology program typically requires five to six years of full-time study, including an approved one-year internship at an appropriate training agency (e.g., approved university counseling center, community mental health center, hospital, outpatient clinic, correctional facility, healthcare system, psychological-services consortium).

Explore Program

Graduate ProgramsDoctorate