How long does it take to earn a PhD in your program?
Normally, five years. Exceptional students can complete the degree requirements in four years, though increasingly it is taking students six years. This variation largely reflects the time it takes students to complete their dissertation research.
What is the total number of graduate students in your program?
About 50, at any given time.
How many of your graduate students are U.S. citizens? How many are international students?
Currently, about 35 percent of our students are U.S. citizens, and 65 percent are non-U.S. citizens from around the world.
How many recipients of PhDs from your program find jobs?
Our record of job placement is excellent—in recent years, we have placed all of our students in positions in academia, government, or the private sector. Please see the job placement summary on this Web site for the latest information.
May I visit the department?
Yes. E-mail Gwen Viles, our Graduate Administrator, and let us know when you will be in the Pittsburgh area. We can arrange for you to meet with departmental faculty and graduate students.
Do you have a brochure that you send to applicants?
No. We ask that you consult our Web site for information on our graduate program, our faculty members and their research interests, our admission requirements, and the application process. We now only accept online applications.
If you have further questions, please contact Graduate Administrator Gwen Viles.