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marquette.edu/grad/programs_interdis.shtml

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Degree Offered

Doctor of Philosophy

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Program Description

This doctoral program provides students and faculty with opportunities for creative academic programming and research that cross the boundaries of traditional disciplines. Instead of being supported by an individual department, school or college, each student’s program is administered by an interdisciplinary faculty committee. The faculty committee shall be approved by the Graduate School. The interdisciplinary program itself shall be approved by, and under the oversight of, the University Board of Graduate Studies.

Each INPR program must combine the academic and intellectual assets, in terms of course work and faculty expertise, of two or more academic departments at Marquette. Faculty may serve on an INPR committee whether or not their departments offer doctoral degrees. The University Board of Graduate Studies serves to a great extent as a quasi department. Every program is unique in terms of course work, methodology and research.

To gain admission into the interdisciplinary Ph.D. program, the student must:

1. Satisfy demanding academic entrance requirements.
2. Propose a faculty adviser/dissertation committee chair.
3. Propose an advisory committee.
4. Propose a dissertation research topic.
5. Present and defend a formal admission proposal to the University Board of Graduate Studies.

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Prerequisites for Admission

Due to the unique nature of the interdisciplinary program, only students who demonstrate a high degree of self-reliance and responsibility will be considered for admission. In addition, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. The student must have completed a master’s degree or its equivalent at an accredited university.*
2. The student normally must have a graduate GPA of 3.500 or above, on a 4.000 scale, in their master’s degree (or equivalent graduate work). If the student has less than a 3.500 cumulative GPA, the results of a current (within five years) standardized examination such as the GRE, GMAT or LSAT, will be required.*

* Students currently enrolled in professional programs who desire to enter an INPR Ph.D. program should consult with their adviser and read the addendum relating to integrating professional programs with an INPR program.

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Application Process

A student interested in gaining admission to the INPR program must submit a formal written proposal to the University Board of Graduate Studies (UBGS), and must appear before the UBGS with his/her adviser/committee chair to defend that proposal. A detailed listing of the steps involved in this formal application process is found below in the paragraph titled Formal Admission Process.

Because the formal admission process can be quite lengthy, it is possible for students who would like to begin course work in advance of gaining formal admission to obtain admission in non-degree status. The non-degree application process is described below in the paragraph titled Non-Degree Admission Process.

Students may apply for formal admission to degree status without going through the non-degree admission process. However, many students find it to their benefit to first apply as a non-degree student.

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Formal Admission Process

The University Board of Graduate Studies (UBGS) oversees all INPR programs, and is the body that will grant formal admission in degree-status to any student that meets UBGS approval. All applicants must submit a formal written proposal to the UBGS and must appear before the UBGS with his/her adviser/committee chair to defend that proposal.

The formal admission process for entry into the INPR degree program begins with discussions with faculty in expectation of identifying those who will serve as the dissertation committee, including an adviser/committee chair with whom the student sketches out a tentative plan for earning a doctoral degree. Development of the plan will involve interaction with all committee members. The student should incorporate feedback received from committee members and produce a detailed proposal as described below.

Prior to scheduling the proposal defense before the University Board of Graduate Studies and prior to finalizing the formal written proposal, the student must request from the Graduate School approval for all dissertation committee members, including the chair of the committee. The INPR Dissertation Committee Form must be completed by each prospective member of the committee. His/her signature on the form attests to his/her commitment to be a fully-engaged member of the committee until the student has completed his/her INPR doctoral degree and also certifies that the faculty member meets the requirements for participation on the committee.

Once the committee chair and members are identified and approved, the remainder of the formal admission process consists of the following:

1. A detailed proposal must be submitted to the Graduate School.
2. The written proposal must be reviewed by a sub-committee of the University Board of Graduate Studies before the student and adviser will be invited to defend the proposal before the full Board.
3. A 30 minute presentation (with questions and answers) must be presented to the University Board of Graduate Studies.
4. The student and his or her committee must address any written comments that result from the presentation to the University Board of Graduate Studies.
5. Once completed satisfactorily, the University Board of Graduate Studies will provide formal admission into the INPR program.

The proposal must detail the entire doctoral program, including courses, satisfaction of residency requirements, qualifying examination and detailed plans for the dissertation. The proposal document must be prepared in consultation with the applicant’s adviser/dissertation chair and the other members of the dissertation committee.

In addition to the above, application for admission to degree status in the INPR program requires that the student submit the following:

1. A completed application form and application fee.
2. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities except Marquette.
3. Proof of an earned master’s degree.
4. Three letters of recommendation.
5. The results of a standardized test (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc., as appropriate) if required due to a graduate GPA of less than 3.500.
6. (For international students only) the results of the TOEFL exam or other acceptable proof of English proficiency (waived if the student’s undergraduate or prior graduate academic work was done at an English-speaking college or university).

If the student began his/her INPR studies in a non-degree status, any documents that were submitted in support of non-degree admission need not be resubmitted.

The University Board of Graduate Studies will accept proposals as they are completed, and will schedule the applicant to appear before the UBGS as soon as possible. The applicant’s defense before the UBGS will be scheduled three to four weeks after submission of the written proposal.

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Non-Degree Admission Process

As noted above, formal admission to the INPR program requires that a student’s dissertation committee chair and membership be identified and secured, that the course work and research be refined, that a formal written proposal be developed and submitted to the UBGS and that the student and the committee chair defend the proposal before the UBGS. This process can take up to nine months to complete.

In order to allow students to begin taking course work prior to completion of the formal admission process, students may apply for admission in a non-degree status. Admission in a non-degree status requires the following:

1. Submit a completed application form and application fee.
2. Secure written support from a Marquette faculty member, with whom the applicant has discussed his/her INPR ideas, that the proposal is viable. It is not required that the faculty member that submits this support ultimately become the chair or even a member of the committee, but it is expected that in most cases the faculty will be on the student’s dissertation committee. Furthermore, the student should select non-degree course work in consultation with the dissertation chair (if identified) or the faculty member providing written verification.
3. Submit official transcripts from all current and previous colleges/universities except Marquette.
4. Submit proof of an earned master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.500.
5. If the applicant has a cumulative GPA of less than 3.500 in his/her master’s degree (or equivalent post-baccalaureate work), the results of a current (within five years) standardized test (GRE, GMAT, MAT, LSAT, MCAT, as appropriate) must be submitted.
6. (For international students only) submit a TOEFL score or other acceptable proof of English proficiency (waived if the student’s undergraduate or graduate education was conducted in an English-speaking college or university).
7. Applicants in non-degree status must submit the formal proposal to the UBGS prior to completing nine credits, and must receive UBGS approval for admission in degree status before completion of twelve credits.

Non-Degree Course Work

Once the Graduate School has approved the student’s admission in a non-degree status, he/she may begin taking course work. Students who have taken doctoral courses under non-degree status at Marquette may request that a maximum of twelve credits be accepted by the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program. These courses may contribute toward completion of the INPR program as long as the courses are appropriate, they are acceptable to the student’s dissertation committee (once composed), and the student earns a grade of B or above in each course. There is no obligation by the dissertation committee to accept courses taken in a non-degree status. Credits taken in a non-degree status beyond the limit of 12 may be taken to provide foundation or prerequisite background. 

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