Doctoral Degrees

The University of Idaho awards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in recognition of high achievement in scholarly and research activity. The degree of Doctor of Education is granted for high scholarly attainment and in recognition of the completion of academic preparation for professional practice. The Doctor of Athletic Training (D.A.T.) and Doctor of Anatomical Sciences (D.A.S.) are offered through the School of Health and Medical Professions.

See the degree tabs for more details regarding each specific degree requirements and procedures.

The major professor and program offering a particular doctoral program indicate the general philosophy of the degree program, the objectives of courses and seminars, the research specialties available, and requirements unique to the department. Admission to the doctoral program is granted only to those who have a recognized potential for completing the degree.

Requirements for Doctoral Degrees

Credit Requirements beyond the Bachelor's Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

For the Ph.D., a minimum of 78 credits beyond the bachelor's degree is required. At least 52 credits must be at the 5000-level or above, and a minimum of 33 of the 78 credits must be in non-research coursework. A maximum of 45 research credits are allowed for the degree, which may include 6000 (Doctoral Research and Dissertation) and up to 6 credits of master's research (5990 Non-Thesis Research or 5000 Master's Research and Thesis). Courses numbered below 3000 may not be used to fulfill the requirements for a doctoral degree; courses numbered 3000-3999 may be used only in supporting areas and are not to be used to make up deficiencies. Individual programs may require additional course work. Applicants having a doctoral degree may obtain a second doctoral degree subject to the approval of the Graduate Council. The Graduate Council will establish the requirements for the second degree.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

The Ed.D. requires 54 University of Idaho credit hours from a prescribed curriculum. 

Doctor of Anatomical Sciences (D.A.S.)

For the DAS degree, a minimum of 80 credits is required, and students are required to complete all courses prescribed by the program. All credits must be at the 5000-level or above.

Doctor of Athletic Training (D.A.T.)

For the D.A.T., a minimum of 63 credits is required following a prescribed set of courses determined by the program.

See Individual Degree Tabs for Requirements and Procedures Specific to Each Doctoral Degree

Awarding Doctoral Degrees to Members of the Faculty

Regulations are outlined in Section 4920 of the Faculty-Staff Handbook.

Requirements for Doctor of Philosophy Degrees (Ph.D.)

Credit Requirements

For the Ph.D., a minimum of 78 credits beyond the bachelor's degree is required. At least 52 credits must be at the 5000-level or above, and a minimum of 33 of the 78 credits must be in non-research coursework. A maximum of 45 research credits are allowed for the degree, which may include 6000 (Doctoral Research and Dissertation) and up to 6 credits of master's research (5990 Non-Thesis Research or 5000 Master's Research and Thesis). 

Courses numbered below 3000 may not be used to fulfill the requirements for a doctoral degree; courses numbered 3000-3999 may be used only in supporting areas and are not to be used to make up deficiencies. Individual programs may require additional course work. Applicants having a doctoral degree may obtain a second doctoral degree subject to the approval of the Graduate Council. The Graduate Council will establish the requirements for the second degree.

Credit Limitations for Transfer, Correspondence Study, and Non-degree

For the Ph.D. degree, a student must complete at least 39 of the 78 required credits at the University of Idaho (U of I) while matriculated in the College of Graduate Studies. Credits can be transferred to U of I with the consent of the student's major professor, the committee (if required by the program), the program's administrator, and the dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Credits can be transferred only if the institution from which the credits are being transferred has a graduate program in the course's discipline. All credits used toward graduate degrees must be from regionally accredited American institutions or from non-US institutions recognized by the appropriate authorities in their respective countries. Transfer credits are subject to all other College of Graduate Studies rules and regulations. Correspondence study courses may be applied to the degree only with the prior written approval of the College of Graduate Studies. Professional development courses or courses on a professional development transcript are not available to be used toward a graduate degree. Courses used toward an undergraduate degree outside of those allowed under section J-1-C or courses not specifically reserved for the graduate level are not allowed on a graduate study plan.

Time Limits

Of the credits submitted to satisfy the requirements for a Ph.D. degree, a maximum of 30 may be more than eight years old when the degree is conferred, provided the student's committee and program administrator determine that the student has kept current in the subjects concerned. Graduation must occur no later than five years after the date on which the candidate passed their preliminary examination. These time limitations can be extended only on recommendation of the committee and approval of Graduate Council.

Procedures for Ph.D.

Appointment of Major Professor and Committee

Refer to "Appointment of Major Professor and Committee for All Degree-Seeking Graduate Students" in the preceding General Graduate Regulations section. In addition, a doctoral supervisory committee consists of at least four people: the major professor as chair and at least one additional U of I faculty member from the program, the balance of the committee may be made up of faculty members from a minor or supporting area, and faculty members from a discipline outside the major. 

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination is a program option and serves to assess the background of the student in both the major and supporting fields and to provide partially the basis for preparation of the student's study program. A particular program may or may not require a master's degree as a prerequisite for the qualifying evaluation. As soon as the program's qualifications are met, a supervisory committee is appointed.

Preparation of Study Plan

Refer to "Preparation and Submission of Study Plan" in the preceding General Graduate Regulations section.

Preliminary Examination for Ph.D. Degree

The preliminary examination should be scheduled only after the student has completed the majority of the courses on their study plan. The student is required to be registered during the semester the preliminary examination is taken. The student's committee certifies to the College of Graduate Studies the results of the preliminary examination and if passed, the student is advanced to candidacy. Graduation must occur no later than five years after the date on which the candidate passed their examination. If the preliminary examination is failed, it may be repeated only once; the repeat examination must be taken within a period of not less than three months or more than one year following the first attempt. If a student fails the preliminary examination a second time, is not granted permission by the graduate committee to repeat the examination after the first failure, or does not retake the examination within one year, the student is automatically moved to unclassified enrollment status and is no longer in the degree program.

See the General Graduate Regulations section regarding application for advanced degree, registration requirements, final defense and dissertation requirements.

Requirements for Doctor of Education Degree (Ed.D.)

Credit Requirements and Transfer

For the Ed.D. degree, 54 University of Idaho credit hours are required. The Ed.D. program follows a prescribed curriculum where previous graduate level coursework cannot be transferred in to count toward degree completion. A dissertation is required and is embedded within the curriculum and completed as part of the program.

Particular Requirements for the Ed.D. Degree

A period of professional practice is required for the Ed.D. degree; the period involved is determined by the student's supervisory committee. While the Ed.D. is a College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences degree, students should consult with the departments in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences to learn of specific emphasis requirements.

Time Limits

The Ed.D. follows a prescribed set of courses and experiences designed to be completed in three years. A student must consult with their major professor, committee members and program administrator to determine an alternative timeline if needed. While the Ed.D. is a degree in the College of Graduate Studies, students interested in the degree should contact the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences to consult on the scope of the degree and learn of specific requirements.

Procedures for the Ed.D. Degree

Appointment of Major Professor and Committee for the Ed.D.

Refer to "Appointment of Major Professor and Committee for All Degree Seeking Graduate Students" in the preceding General Graduate Regulations section. For the Ed.D., a doctoral supervisory committee consists of three people: the major professor as chair, at least one additional U of I graduate faculty member from the program, and a third committee member that is external to UI and aligned with the students’ industry or organization. All committee members for the Ed.D. degree must hold an Ed.D. or Ph.D. Degree.

Preparation of Study Plan

Refer to "Preparation and Submission of Study Plan" in the preceding General Graduate Regulations section.

General Examination for Ed.D. Degree

When the student approaches the end of their course work, has completed the professional experience requirement, and has outlined the dissertation subject in detail, the supervisory committee approves the holding of the general examination. The student is required to be registered during the semester the general examination is taken. The examination is both written and oral and is intended to assess progress toward degree objectives. The student's committee certifies to the College of Graduate Studies the results of the general examination and if passed, the student is advanced to candidacy. Graduation must occur no later than five years after the date on which the candidate passed their examination. If the general examination is failed, it may be repeated only once; the repeat examination must be taken within a period of not less than three months or more than one year following the first attempt. If a student fails the general examination a second time, or the program does not allow the student to repeat the examination after the first failure or the student does not retake the examination within one year, the student is automatically moved to unclassified status and is no longer in the degree program.

See the General Graduate Regulations section regarding application for advanced degree, registration requirements, final defense and dissertation requirements.

Requirements for Doctor of Anatomical Sciences (D.A.S.)

Credit Requirements and Limitations

For the DAS degree, a minimum of 80 credits are required, and students are required to complete all courses prescribed by the program. All credits must be at the 5000 level or above.

Time Limits

Graduation must occur no later than eight years after the date of matriculation. These time limitations can be extended only on recommendation of the committee and approval by the Graduate Council.

Procedures for Doctor of Anatomical Sciences

The Culminating Portfolio Project

Students enrolled in the Doctor of Anatomical Sciences (DAS) will engage in original creative projects across the program. These project(s) will lead to a portfolio of capstone assignments and projects of significant original contribution to their field. Each portfolio will contain the results from at least three immersion projects. Projects will be determined by the student in collaboration with their Major Professor and DAS faculty. See DAS Program web page and Handbook for more information. 

The Committee

All DAS portfolio project committees will have at least three committee members: two of which must be members of the DAS or School of Health and Medical Professions (SHAMP) faculty (all with graduate faculty status). Students may also choose an expert in their chosen focus area from outside the DAS program and/or School to serve on the committee. A DAS/SHAMP faculty will always chair the committee, provide research guidance, and serve as the experts in the development of advanced practice in anatomic and medical science education. A situation may arise in which member(s) of the committee that are outside of the DAS/SHAMP faculty may have a degree less than that of which the student is seeking; however, the intent of these extramural committee membership is to provide outside validation of the student's progress toward advanced practice and clinical utility of action research studies.

Requirements for Doctor of Athletic Training (D.A.T.)

Credit Requirements

The D.A.T. requires 63 credits following a prescribed set of courses determined by the program.

Procedures for D.A.T.

The Culminating Clinical Project

Students enrolled in the Doctor of Athletic Training (D.A.T.) will engage in research projects during the curricular phase of the program. These project(s) will lead to at least two publication-ready manuscripts, and all students must meet professional authorship requirements (regardless of order). See the Department of Movement Sciences and Doctor of Athletic Training web pages for more information.

The Team (Committee)

All D.A.T. project team committees will have at least four committee members: two members of the athletic training faculty (all with graduate faculty status), the student's attending clinician (who is the student's on-site mentor during the student's residency), and an expert in the student's chosen area of clinical research. The athletic training faculty members will always chair the CCP, provide research guidance, and serve as the experts in the development of advanced practice in Athletic Training. A situation may arise in which one or both of the members of the committee that are outside of the AT program faculty may have a degree less than that of which the student is seeking; however, the intent of the third and fourth D.A.T. committee membership is to provide outside validation of the student's progress toward advanced practice and clinical utility of action research studies.

Culminating Clinical Project Hours

These dissertation hours may be used in instances when the CCP has not been successfully completed and the curricular phase of program has been completed.