Additional Requirements (not listed) (Recommended)
Prospective Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) Ph.D. students are required to meet with the Graduate School Associate Dean for Admissions, Recruitment and Fellowships to discuss program fit. During this meeting, ideally held prior to application submission, the research, classwork, and career goals of the prospective student are discussed. If the program goals are a good fit with the IDS Ph.D. program, potential advisory committee members will be considered for additional meetings. A complete IDS Ph.D. form. This will be circulated among the committee members, home department Chair, and prospective student by the Graduate School Associate Dean for Admissions, Recruitment and Fellowships). This form will include: A statement of proposed research. This one to two-page document must include: The research question that will be addressed The significance of the research A brief literature review describing the present state of the research question The objectives of the research The methods that will be used A description of how the proposed research will build on the existing literature, including the gap in the field that will be filled by this research. A clear indication of a minimum of two distinct fields that will be incorporated into the research. The names and emails addresses of five Advisory Committee members, including an Advisor/Chair. All committee members must be members of the Graduate Faculty at The University of Alabama. The applicant’s Advisory Committee chair is expected to have competence in the proposed major area(s) of study and be willing to devote time to being an academic mentor for the student throughout the Ph.D. program. The Advisory Committee Chair and at least one additional committee member must have experience in directing and supervising doctoral-level research. The name of the home department. The home department or program will include the IDS Ph.D. student in the intellectual-social life of the unit, e.g., department mailing lists, colloquia, social functions, etc. The home department may also consider an IDS Ph.D. student for Graduate Teaching Assistant and Graduate Research Assistant appointments, and for office space. Proposed course list. In consultation with the Advisory Committee and Advisor/Chair, the prospective IDS Ph.D. student will create a preliminary plan of study. This must include transfer classes (up to half of the required coursework), classes to be taken at The University of Alabama, and dissertation research hours. The following is required: A minimum of 36 hours of coursework (not including 18 hours of dissertation research)? the majority of the courses must be at the doctoral level the courses should clearly reflect at least two different academic departments the coursework must include a minimum of 15 hours in research methods or research theory and design theory, and/or design courses Written explanation (prepared by the proposed Advisor in consultation with the Advisory Committee) explaining how the comprehensive examination requirement will be fulfilled. It is expected that the comprehensive examination for the IDS Ph.D. will be as rigorous and use the same general procedures as the home department. The specifics of the examination (including where the exam will be taken, the number of questions, the number of evaluators, the grading process, the process for reporting results to the student, etc.) will be detailed.