PhD Program Features

• Strong grounding in a range of research methods.  Students must complete three research methods courses, including both advanced quantitative and qualitative courses offered in the Gaylord College and a third research methodology course (or graduate-level statistics course) from elsewhere on the OU campus. (These three are in addition to a requirement of basic graduate-level research methods proficiency.)

• An emphasis on regular interaction between students and faculty about research.  Students must take a weekly, one-credit Ph.D. Seminar course to feature discussions and presentations of research by faculty, students, and guests. This course will underline the faculty’s expectation of research productivity and quality among our doctoral students.

• An expectation of student excellence in teaching. The program will require a course exploring pedagogical theory and practice. The course will be aimed at helping our doctoral students to become excellent teachers in addition to excellent researchers.  Most students will also have the opportunity to gain teaching experience as part of their work as graduate assistants. 

• Opportunity for flexible, interdisciplinary study in an outside area of concentration.  The requirement of a concentration outside the college reflects the program’s commitment to drawing on the broad strengths of the university in social sciences and humanities.