Ph.D. in Technology

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Process

The Purdue Polytechnic Institute offers two options for the pursuit of a PhD: a direct to PhD (from a qualifying B.S. degree) and a “master’s plus” PhD (where coursework from an existing M.S. degree counts towards the requirements for the PhD. Both options require 75 credit hours of coursework and 15 research credit hours that result in the completion of a doctoral dissertation. Additional requirements include:

  • 90 (minimum) credit hour requirement
  • A “B” or better grade point average
  • Satisfactory progress each semester
  • At least one third of the total credit hours used to satisfy the degree requirements must be earned in continuous residence at Purdue. Also, Ph.D. students have five years from passing their preliminary examination in which to complete their degree requirements.

Process for Direct Admission Ph.D. Students

  • Coursework (24 credit hours – assume end of first year)

    • Appointment of major professor
    • Selection of a committee (two people in addition to a chair)
    • Filing of the Electronic Plan of Study (EPOS)

      • Draft of the Plan of Study must be submitted by the end of the first semester of study
      • A final Plan of Study must be submitted by the end of the second semester of study
    • Successful completion of 24 credit hours

      • Must include TECH 60100, IT 50700, TECH 64600, MET 52700, & major courses (up to 24 credit hours)
  • Qualifying Examination

    • If failure, student completes MS requirements and leaves with an MS
  • Coursework Completion (51 credit hours)
  • Preliminary Oral Examination
  • Dissertation Research Project (15 credit hours)

    • Dissertation research proposal
    • Proposal defense meeting
    • Obtain appropriate certifications for research (CITI, HIPAA, FERPA, etc.)
    • Execution of research
  • Final oral defense of dissertation research

Process for M.S. Degree Holding Students

  • Coursework (45 credit hours plus 30 from a qualified M.S. degree)

    • Appointment of major professor
    • Selection of a committee (two people in addition to a chair)
    • Filing of the EPOS

      • Draft of the Plan of Study must be submitted by the end of the first semester of study.
      • A final Plan of Study must be submitted by the end of the second semester of study.
    • Successful completion of all courses
  • Preliminary Oral Examination
  • Dissertation Research Project (15 credit hours)

    • Dissertation research proposal
    • Proposal defense meeting
    • Obtain appropriate certifications for research (CITI, HIPAA, FERPA, etc.)
    • Execution of research
  • Final oral defense of dissertation research