The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program provides a mechanism for accommodating the interests of students and faculty in areas in which the faculty expertise is not confined to a department or individual academic unit. It permits students to establish individualized programs and groups of faculty to establish interdisciplinary tracks.

Applicants for interdisciplinary doctoral programs must present complete admission credentials in order to be formally admitted by one of their constituent departments. Students must be recommended by at least one department or program offering degrees through the Graduate School before the student may register for course work. The required credentials are:

1. A 3.25 grade point average.
2. Scores at or above the 60th percentile on the Quantitative, Verbal, Critical Thinking and Analytical portions of the Graduate Record Exam.
3. Proof of a Baccalaureate Degree and official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work.
4. TOEFL score if the applicant's native language is not English and he/she has not earned a degree from a university or college in the U.S.
5. Three letters of recommendation.

All these credentials must be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions, University of Louisville, for distribution to the appropriate offices.

In addition to established Graduate School policies and requirements, each Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program will be required to meet specific criteria as follows:

1. An overall minimum of 36 semester hours at the graduate level that includes coursework representing each of the disciplinary areas in the interdisciplinary degree program.
2. Up to 12 hours of coursework from a Master's program may be applied to the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School.
3. Each program must be designed so that it is not dominated by a single department's offerings. A minimum of six hours of 600-level course work must be taken in each of at least two different departments or programs offering degrees through the Graduate School.
4. The curriculum plan must include coursework that provides training in research methodology deemed suitable to the interdisciplinary nature of the program.
5. A dissertation involving original research that crosses established disciplinary lines will be required.
6. Faculty serving on committees and as mentors in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program must have a doctorate degree or substantial evidence of relevant experience and must hold membership in the Graduate Faculty.

An individual interested in exploring advanced studies in a field that transcends established academic/institutional boundaries may design a program of study in consultation with faculty and the Assistant Dean for Interdisciplinary Studies. A program for this degree must involve multiple academic departments/units and it must cross traditional disciplinary organizational structures and programmatic lines of study. An individual interested in this program will need to develop a general proposal that can be reviewed by faculty who, in turn, must agree that they will participate in the program if approved. Before agreeing to participate in the supervision of an interdisciplinary Ph.D. student, faculty must obtain the consent of their departmental chair or dean.

During the initial semester, the specific curricular requirements of the program must be worked out with a supervisory committee consisting of a chair and at least two additional faculty members representing at least two different departments or programs. Before the end of the first semester, the proposed program of study should be submitted to the Graduate School for review. Students will be admitted to the Graduate School on a conditional basis, allowing them to take courses as a non-degree student, until the proposed program of study receives full approval. Students will be fully admitted to the Graduate School after the interdisciplinary program proposal is approved.

Faculty may propose interdisciplinary tracks of study that will form the basis for suitable areas of concentration to train students. The track must meet the criteria outlined above in terms of minimum credit hours and the distribution of coursework across disciplinary lines. Proposed areas of concentration and interdisciplinary tracks of study will be subject to approval by the following academic bodies: 1) Unit Curriculum and Budget Committees; 2) Graduate Council; 3) Faculty Senate; 4) Provost. The development of an interdisciplinary track is the responsibility of the faculty, but the Assistant Dean for Interdisciplinary Studies will provide assistance and guidance. Participating faculty must have the consent of their departmental chair or dean to participate in an Interdisciplinary Track. Students in a track of study must choose a primary mentor, but may have co-mentors.

Requests for further information or assistance should be addressed to:

Assistant Dean for Interdisciplinary Studies
Graduate School
Houchens Building, Suite 105
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky 40292
Phone: (502) 852-6495
Email: graduate@louisville.edu

Curriculum will be determined during the development of each individual student's program proposal (see details above).  For an Interdisciplinary Track program, a core of faculty may propose a curriculum that will form the basis for an area of concentration.

Faculty will be determined during the development of each individual student's program proposal.