Valuable academic pursuits may involve areas of educational preparation and research that transcend a single field. In such a situation, the interdisciplinary doctoral degree allows a student to draw from more than one relevant discipline to design an individual degree program. An interdisciplinary doctoral degree must maintain the same high standards and academic rigor as regular graduate degrees. Furthermore, the degree must demonstrably fall outside the purview of established programs that require some interdepartmental or intercollegiate coursework. Authority for overseeing interdisciplinary doctoral degrees is vested with the Graduate Council.

Requirements:

• The candidate for an interdisciplinary degree must apply and be admitted in full standing as a doctoral student to a graduate program authorized by the State Regents to offer the doctoral degree. Admission to such a program does not necessarily imply subsequent approval of an interdisciplinary degree proposal.
• The candidate must complete a master’s degree or its equivalent before petitioning for an interdisciplinary doctoral degree.
• No more than 12 hours toward the degree may be completed before the interdisciplinary degree proposal is approved.
• The interdisciplinary domain must encompass at least two disciplines.
• The courses must define and support the interdisciplinary domain.
• Unless there is reason for an exception, the coursework must include at least 12 hours of 6000-level courses, not counting directed readings and dissertation hours.
• The majority of the courses beyond the Master’s level leading to the interdisciplinary degree must be taken in academic units authorized to offer the doctoral degree. Credit received for Research for the Doctoral Dissertation cannot be used to meet these requirements.
• The Graduate Council must approve the rationale for an interdisciplinary degree, courses, research proposal and committee members. The Graduate Council may return the proposal to the student for revision if it is not acceptable. If the Graduate Council does not approve the proposal, the student will remain in a traditional degree program.
• The Graduate Dean must authorize any changes in an approved interdisciplinary doctoral program.
• The final entry on the transcript will show the special title of the interdisciplinary program, with the proviso that if the title overlaps an existing program designation on campus, the director/chair of that program must approve the special degree program title selected by the student.
• Program cannot be completed within an existing graduate-level program
• Two or more areas of discipline
• 6,000 level courses (substantive)
• Justified as an appropriate substantial domain of knowledge
• Courses need to define and support this domain
• Proposal must be approved by Graduate Council before the completion of 12 hours.
• All other procedures follow the rules of the Graduate College, except that the advisory committee is not constrained to follow the specific degree requirements of a particular school or department.

Request Procedure

To be admitted into an interdisciplinary program or approved for an interdisciplinary degree, the candidate must petition the Graduate Dean by submitting a completed Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program Application. The application will contain:

• a detailed proposal statement from the candidate
• a list of courses to be included in the program of study and a rationale for the selected courses
• a dissertation research proposal, with pertinent bibliography
• a detailed Advisory Committee statement supporting the degree

The petition must:

• justify the area of study as an appropriate domain of knowledge for a graduate degree
• explain the need for investigation in the proposed area
• explain why the degree cannot be completed within an existing graduate discipline

• U.S. Citizen/Permanent Resident Application
• International Student Application
• OU Graduating Senior Application

Interdisciplinary Degree Proposal Forms

An interdisciplinary doctoral degree must maintain the same high standards and academic rigor as regular graduate degrees. Furthermore, the degree must demonstrably fall outside the purview of established programs that require some interdepartmental or intercollegiate coursework. Please review the Graduate College Bulletin for important information.

• Interdisciplinary Doctoral Degree Proposal Application
  

How to Apply (details)

After You Have Been Admitted

• Set up OU email
• Go to Current Students Main Page