The Graduate School offers the individualized interdisciplinary PhD (IPhD) program for highly motivated students in excellent academic standing whose primary education and research goals are truly interdisciplinary and not readily accommodated by a single existing discipline. The IPhD program is specifically designed for students who seek to study across two or more disciplines in a combination not available through a conventional degree-granting program.

For successful admission to and completion of the IPhD program at Virginia Tech, the student must demonstrate the need for an interdisciplinary research program and identify a major professor and advisory committee members who will provide the appropriate guidance.  The composition of the advisory committee should reflect the particular academic disciplines and realms of expertise being united by the IPhD program, but typically stems from the student’s original programmatic affiliation(s).

In identifying potential advisors and areas of study, prospective IPhD students may elect to craft a wholly unique degree focus and advisory team. or may affiliate with faculty participants in an existing Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program (IGEP). For applicants to the IPhD program who are not currently enrolled as graduate students at Virginia Tech, it is essential first to identify a major professor and advisory committee members willing and able to serve in these capacities. Typically, this step will necessitate a visit to campus or extensive exploration by phone or email.

Admission to the IPhD is highly selective. The Graduate School will expect completion of an especially rigorous set of courses and dissertation research project for this degree. Applicants most competitive for entry into an IPhD program are those nearing completion or having completed a master’s degree. Prospective students without a master’s degree may be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School to submit an application under special circumstances. Because of the rigor and intensity of the IPhD program, a graduate GPA of 3.5 or higher is required. Students currently enrolled in a graduate degree program at Virginia Tech who are interested in the IPhD are encouraged to apply as early as possible in their program, to maximize the duration of their unique interdisciplinary training experience.

Prospective IPhD students should contact Bill Huckle, Associate Dean and Director of Interdisciplinary Graduate Education by email (wrhuckle@vt.edu) for information and guidance in preparing the IPhD application. Candidates will prepare their application, including a program of study and dissertation proposal, in consultation with the major advisor, the advisory committee members, and the Graduate School.

Formal applications for admission to the IPhD program are submitted to the Graduate School and are evaluated on a rolling basis. Once admitted, students can start their IPhD program in Fall, Spring, or Summer terms.  The Commission on Graduate and Professional Studies and Policies (CGPSP) serves as the IPhD admissions committee and reviews applications during their twice-monthly meetings throughout the academic year.  Application deadlines are somewhat flexible but reflect the extensive time needed for proposal preparation and review.

Application materials include the following:

1. Results of standardized tests such as GRE or GMAT, if required by the academic units with which the student principally will be working.
2. For international students, acceptable TOEFL (iBT at least 80 total and 20 on each subtest) or IELTS (6.5) scores.  Other credentials can satisfy Graduate School requirements for competency in English (e.g., earned a degree from an international university that provides all instruction in English).
3. A letter from a Virginia Tech faculty member identified as the student's IPhD program advisor, describing the student's potential for success and ability to conduct independent interdisciplinary research, and expressing willingness to chair the student's advisory committee.
4. Letters or email messages from three or four VT faculty members willing and qualified to serve on the student’s advisory committee. The committee should be comprised of faculty representing at least two colleges.
5. For new applicants, three letters of recommendation from faculty commenting on the student's ability to pursue an interdisciplinary doctoral degree
6. For new applicants, at least one example of scholarly writing (e.g., introduction and conclusion of master's thesis, published research paper)
7. Student's statement of career goals and rationale for pursuing the IPhD degree.
8. An IPhD degree proposal document, not to exceed 20 pages in length and written with a general, interdisciplinary academic audience in mind, that includes the components indicated below. An example proposal document is available upon request.

• Proposed interdisciplinary program title
• Names and professional affiliations of Advisor and advisory committee members, including the rationale for their inclusion on the committee and identification of their areas of expertise relevant to the proposed research program
• Career goals and personal motivation for pursuing an IPhD
• A brief description of the interdisciplinary program. A short literature review along with a summary of objectives or anticipated products must be included. The description should make the case that: 1) the program comprises a distinct union of disciplinary expertise, coursework, and research methodologies, 2) the research proposed under this interdisciplinary umbrella is truly scholarly in nature (i.e., worthy of a doctoral dissertation) and 3) that the proposed scholarly work can best be accomplished via an interdisciplinary program as opposed to a traditional single discipline.
• A provisional Plan of Study for the IPhD degree that indicates how credit hour and course requirements will be met. Plan of study must include courses from multiple colleges and departments and must be distinct from plans of study of existing degree programs at Virginia Tech. A table including the rationale for including each course and the disciplinary area supported is helpful.
• Completed and current coursework (unofficial transcripts are acceptable).
• A description of the anticipated format and content of the preliminary examination, including topic areas to be covered from various disciplines involved and an assessment of the success of disciplinary integration
• A brief description of the final product(s) that will constitute the archival manifestation of the IPhD work. The products should include, but need not be restricted to, a written document that explores the scholarly history and context of the interdisciplinary work.
• Detailed timeline from enrollment to graduation

The Graduate School does not provide funding to support students earning the IPhD. Students are encouraged to seek funding through faculty grants, departmental funds, and/or other funding opportunities such as IGEP programs, scholarships and fellowships from VT or external sources.