INTERDISCIPLINARY Ph.D. PROGRAM
In addition to the regular disciplinary programs leading to the Ph.D. degree, the School of Science and Engineering recognizes that individual student needs may require interdisciplinary programs.
Frequently, these can be arranged by a candidate’s major department simply by incorporating
courses or fields from other departments in the candidate’s program. The School of Science and Engineering also recognizes that a special interdisciplinary Ph.D. program may occasionally become desirable to meet the educational and career needs of an individual student using university resources not reflected in any single department (e.g., it might occasionally be desirable to approve a program
leading to the Ph.D. degree in biophysics even though there is no regular degree program in
biophysics or organized department in that field in the university).
The following provisions are made for the development, approval, and supervision of
special programs leading to the Ph.D. degree:
A Special Interdisciplinary Program is a formal ad hoc interdepartmental program leading
toward the Ph.D. It will consist of work taken in two or more departments, one of which has a
doctoral program. Although the specific requirements for each ad hoc program will differ, the
formal requirements for the Ph.D. are: one-year residence, a minimum of 48 semester hours of
course work (including up to 24 semester hours transfer credit), general examination,
dissertation, and final examination.
For such a program to be feasible, there must be at least one member of the Graduate
Faculty who is a specialist in the interdisciplinary area of the student’s interest and a sufficient
number of faculty in at least two departments who are prepared to supervise work in it. To
determine feasibility, an eligible student should consult with the appropriate faculty before making
a formal application.
To be eligible for such a program, a student must have a bachelor’s degree with a major
in one of the departmental disciplines which will be a major constituent of the proposed program;
or have completed at least one semester of full-time graduate work in such a discipline and be in
good standing either at Tulane or at another graduate institution; or have a master’s degree in
such a discipline from another graduate institution.
Formal application to such a program depends upon the applicant’s Tulane residence
status:
1. A student not currently registered in the School of Science and Engineering must apply to the SSE
for admission in the normal way, except that the student must specify the interdisciplinary nature
of interest, the professor the student wishes to direct the dissertation, and at least two of the
departments to be involved. If an ad hoc committee of that professor (who shall serve as adviser
pro tem) and epresentatives of at least two of the departments involved recommend it, the associate dean will offer admission with the understanding that the Graduate Studies Committee has approved the program before the applicant begins work.
2. A student currently in residence in the School of Science and Engineering need only petition a qualified member of the Graduate Faculty, citing the student’s own interests and qualifications. If the professor considers the student qualified for work in the area of interest, the professor shall become the
major advisor-pro tem and shall give formal notification to the student, the appropriate department
chairs, and the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research.
Upon notification, the associate dean appoints a committee consisting of at least five members of the Graduate Faculty recommended to the associate dean by the major advisor. Normally, the major advisor acts as chair of this committee. The committee draws up a study plan setting forth requirements including courses and examinations; probable dissertation topic; and the proposed title of the degree (e.g., Engineering Economics, or Philosophy of Science). The chair of the committee forwards the study plan and a statement of the student’s qualifications to the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research and to the chairs of those departments concerned. The Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research then presents the proposal and any views of departments concerned to the Graduate Studies Committee for its consideration. Approval by the Graduate Studies Committee authorizes the student to follow the special interdepartmental program.
The committee constitutes the student’s dissertation committee and performs all the functions normally carried out by departmental faculty in a regular Ph.D. program. The committee chair serves as the chief
sponsor of the candidate’s Ph.D. dissertation and performs functions normally carried out by a department chair (supervision of financial assistance in cooperation with the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research and the chairs of those departments concerned, coordination of faculty, supervision of the student’s academic work, and recommendation for formal admission to candidacy for the Ph.D.).