phd programs at university of maryland

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Online Doctoral Programs

Umgc offers online unique doctoral degrees in in-demand fields..

Pursue a doctoral degree at University of Maryland Global Campus to achieve expertise and reach the pinnacle of your career. UMGC's doctorates offer the exceptional scholarship, distinguished faculty, and dissertation support of traditional programs but with greater flexibility, shorter residencies, and a special emphasis on knowledge you can apply right away. CEO Magazine has recognized UMGC as one of the premier global DBA providers in 2022. Gain the ultimate credential and bring more leadership to the table with a doctorate that aligns with your professional life and accommodates your busy schedule at UMGC.

List of Doctoral Programs

Tyrone A., Martinsburg, WV Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Paul J. Doctor of Management

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List of Programs (A to Z)

Doctor of Philosophy in Information Studies (PhD)

The application deadline to apply to the UMD Graduate School is 11:59 pm EST on December 3, 2024. Apply now.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Information Studies (PhD) program  at the UMD College of Information (INFO) prepares students to address the hardest social and technical problems of today and tomorrow. Working side-by-side with world-renowned faculty and at internationally recognized  research centers and labs , students conduct research on pressing information issues, which often entwine social and technical innovation. We draw on core values of information studies, including justice, inclusion, and access, and use these principles to facilitate the discovery of new knowledge.

Students also master research methodology/design, interdisciplinary theory, knowledge of previous research in their area, the ability to synthesize and apply this knowledge, and how to create and disseminate original research.

With a multidisciplinary faculty focusing on diverse  information science research areas  such as online communities, information systems, information policy, human-computer interaction, and digital cultural heritage, the UMD INFO College cultivates doctoral students from a wide range of backgrounds. Today’s hardest social and technical problems have information at their core. We’re seeking PhD students who have hard, unanswered questions about information problems. Explore our  Expertise Areas .

We guarantee funding for all admitted full-time students. We also welcome self-funded part-time students working in areas that complement their doctoral research.

Current Phd Students Quick Links

Interested in a doctor of philosophy in information studies (phd).

Are you interested in joining the UMD INFO Phd program? Please connect with our program team! We’d love to hear from you.

Connect With Program Team

The Doctor of Philosophy in Information Studies (PhD) program at Maryland’s INFO College offers an interdisciplinary approach to research and teaching provided by faculty at this leading public research university. Small classes and wide-ranging research projects enable students to work closely with faculty mentors to gain experience in identifying knowledge gaps, investigating both theoretical and practical solutions, evaluating results, and creating and disseminating new knowledge. A range of required research courses, two foundational doctoral seminars, and electives chosen by the students and their faculty mentors provide both the structure necessary for individuals to become successful researchers and the flexibility that allows them to pursue the research areas about which they are most passionate. Students have opportunities to work on research projects that lead to published papers, as well as benefit from one-on-one mentoring relationships with faculty members.

Program Courses:

• INST 800 – The Engaged Intellectual: An Introduction to Research and Academic Work (3 credit hours)
• INST 801 – Theoretical and Epistemological Foundations in Information Studies (3 credits hours)
• INST 802 – Pragmatic and Methodological Foundations for Information Studies (3 credits)

Learn more about the INFO PhD curriculum and schedule planning.

Enrolled Students : be sure to consult the PhD  handbooks, policies , and  forms .

• #3 in USA – UMD as a Public University
• #7 in USA – UMD as a University for Entrepreneurship
• #10 in USA – UMD – Public Institution for Patents Awarded (IPO Assoc)
• #10 in USA – UMD – Public Institution for Research Spending (NSF Survey)

How people access, use and communicate information has become critical to professional success, life-long learning, and even government policies. Information retrieval now is heavily dependent on computer systems, the Internet and mobile devices. Given this diverse and complex landscape, students with wide-ranging interests or interdisciplinary experience are well served by the INFO College’s Ph.D. program. Graduates of the program have accepted positions at leading universities and research institutions around the world.

The INFO College’s location near Washington, DC, the information capital of the world, offers unparalleled opportunities for students to pursue research and employment opportunities. Our Ph.D. students hold internships at and conduct research in government agencies, top technology and design firms, and the nonprofit sector; and graduate to jobs in academia, industry, and government.

Be sure to check out the INFO College’s Ph.D. Alumni.

Explore the INFO College’s Ph.D. Alumni

Driven by the pursuit of new ideas and big discoveries, faculty, researchers, and students at the UMD College of Information (INFO) are combining principles of information science with cutting-edge technology to foster access to information, improve information interfaces, and expand how information is used. We tackle significant, real-world information challenges from diverse perspectives such as communication, information retrieval, policy, computer science, education, archives, business, human factors, law, humanities, and more. Our discoveries empower, inspire, and connect individuals and communities.  Learn more about Research at INFO .

EXPERTISE AREAS     RESEARCH GROUPS     PROJECTS

With a history of activism , the UMD INFO College continues today to champion accessibility, diversity, inclusion, and democratization of information. Our faculty, staff, and 2600+ students come to us from over 61 countries and create a welcoming and encouraging environment. The HCIM program accepts students from all backgrounds, irrespective of racial and gender identities. Diversity and inclusion are central to the mission of the college, with many of our courses, research projects, events, and community partnerships designed to address challenges and promote inclusion of historically excluded communities.

2024 Virtual Open House Slides

View our detailed breakdown of tuition & fees .

Financial Aid

The UMD INFO College provides financial aid to select current students who demonstrate academic excellence. Students may also reduce their tuition costs by serving as a TA or GA at UMD, but please note that these positions are competitive. There are also additional sources of financial aid offered by the University and by outside sources. Learn more about financial aid.

Admission to the UMD College of Information (INFO) graduate programs is through the UMD Graduate School, with supplemental program-specific application criteria and materials as described below. The UMD’s Graduate School accepts applications through its  TerpEngage  application system. If you still have questions, please contact us at  [email protected] .

Completed applications are reviewed by an admissions committee in each graduate degree program. The recommendations of the admissions committee are submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School, who will make the final admission decision. Students seeking to complete graduate work at the University of Maryland for degree purposes must be formally admitted to the Graduate School by the Dean.

More About INFO PhD Admissions

The purpose of this document is to articulate our collective commitments to doctoral student mentorship that centers the core values of the College, and creates an accountability structure to ensure that students are given mentorship and resources that will enable them to thrive. The values and expectations outlined here extend, rather than replace, the core UMD ethical values of honesty, integrity, collegiality, mutual respect, responsibility, and accountability. Read the full document here.

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Doctoral Degrees

Phd, behavioral and community health.

The Behavioral and Community Health Doctoral (PhD) degree program trains health professionals to effectively navigate the intersections of research, practice, planning, administration and policy development in a society and world that is presented with enormous health challenges, from the obesity epidemic to mental health disorders to substance abuse. Graduates are highly competitive in the fast-growing marketplace of behavioral and community health.

PhD, Environmental Health Sciences

The Department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health (formerly the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health) strives to advance knowledge about the effects of environmental factors on human health through innovative, multi-disciplinary research. Programs explore a broad range of environmental health problems and aim to discover solutions that will effectively improve public health outcomes for the citizens of our state, the nation, and the world. Students master an essential core of knowledge in environmental and/or occupational health, epidemiology and biostatistics. Through courses, field studies and laboratory rotations, students gain experience and tools needed to specialize in a key area of environmental health. All students are mentored closely by our faculty members and gain practical experience through research activities. 

PhD, Epidemiology

The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics provides rigorous training in the fundamental sciences underlying public health practice. It offers a flexible and individualized learning environment to study the distribution and determinants of various diseases, injuries, and other health states in human populations, and the theory and biostatistical techniques for describing, analyzing, and interpreting health data. Our PhD program prepares students for a career in epidemiologic research in an academic, government, or private sector setting. Students will master essential core knowledge in the principles and methodology of epidemiological research and practice. Our program offers three areas of specialization: 1) Epidemiologic Methods, 2) Social Epidemiology, and 3) Environmental Epidemiology.

PhD, Family Science

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Family Science provides an interdisciplinary, research-oriented approach to the discovery and application of knowledge about families. This exciting program examines both internal family processes and the dynamic interaction of families with the biological, psychological, social, political, and economic aspects of their environment. Graduates are prepared for a number of careers in the public, non-profit, and private sectors, including university teaching, research, family policy analysis, and administrative positions in human service programs. 

PhD, Health Services Research

The Department of Health Policy and Management provides rigorous training in health services research and prepares students for public and private sector careers in research, program implementation, and organizational leadership. Students pursue interests in health care access, health care quality, and health care costs, health equity, and public policy. Training in theory and methods occurs through coursework and applied research conducted independently and in collaboration with faculty mentors.

PhD, Kinesiology

The Doctoral (PhD) degree program in Kinesiology prepares the next generation of researchers, scholars, teachers, and professional leaders in the interdisciplinary field of Kinesiology. Kinesiologists focus on health and wellness with movement at the core, so their skills are in demand. Students can focus their course of study in one of several areas, including cognitive-motor neuroscience, exercise physiology, physical cultural studies and the K-12 physical education master's certificate (MCERT).

PhD, Mathematical Statistics with a Concentration in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

Biostatistics and bioinformatics are important research fields in statistics with immensely broad applications in public health, medical and biological research. Bioinformatics is the science of developing and employing computational tools and techniques to analyze complex biological data, such as genome sequences, and has significant overlap with biostatistics. Students in our PhD program will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to take advantage of the increasing research opportunities in this rapidly developing field.

PhD, Maternal and Child Health

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) PhD program provides training relevant to health problems and services for women, infants, children, and adolescents. Students are trained in research, policy, and practice to improve the health, safety, and well-being of these groups, with a particular emphasis on low income and ethnic minority populations. The program is unique in its focus on the whole family system and family health policy.

Neuroscience, Doctoral/PhD

The graduate program in neuroscience trains outstanding graduate students to earn a phd degree in neuroscience..

We are an interdisciplinary program spanning several Departments in the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing. Our alumni fill top-tier academic, government, and industry positions worldwide. Our curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and experimental design through an innovative applied learning model. This coursework is completed within the first 16 months, after which students perform full-time dissertation research in a laboratory chosen from 2-3 laboratory rotations completed in the first year.

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Details, Dates & Deadlines

Program details, program length, cost/credit hour.

In State: $638 Out of State: $1102

Those accepted into the program receive tuition remission (as well as health care benefits and an annual stipend)

• Online application 
• $75 application fee 
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts 
• 300–500 word essay
• Proof of English language proficiency
• CV or resume

Dates & Deadlines

Application Deadline: December 1

Neuroscience PhD

Dr. Jennifer McFarland Academic Services Specialist [email protected]   410.706.4701

Dr. Todd Gould Program Director [email protected] 410. 706.5585

Dr. Thomas Longden Associate Program Director [email protected] 410.706.1956

Meet Your Faculty

Our GPILS programs consist of faculty in the basic science and clinical departments of the School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, and a wide array of internationally recognized organized research centers and institutes on campus including the Center for Vaccine Development, the Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, the Institute for Genome Science, the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, and the Institute of Human Virology, in addition to collaborations with the other University of Maryland campuses.

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Biological Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. program in Biological Sciences is an interdepartmental umbrella research program that provides opportunities for students to develop scholarly, innovative, and independent work. Courses are designed to strengthen and complement the student's research. An advisory committee helps guide each student in selecting classes and other learning experiences. Students are encouraged to present their research at national and international meetings and to publish in peer reviewed journals. Seminar series featuring prominent scientists expose students to exciting topics and help students develop collaborative contacts.

Advance to Candidacy: In addition to the coursework outlined below, students must pass a qualifying exam.

Post-Candidacy:  All students must complete at least 12 credits of BISI899 Doctoral Dissertation Research and successfully complete and defend an original dissertation. Students will also present that dissertation work in a seminar.

All students must complete the following requirements:

Students choose from one of the following concentration options and complete the additional requirements in each:

Behavior, ecology, evolution, and systematics (bees) , computational biology, bioinformatics, and genomics (cbbg) , molecular and cell biology (mocb), physiological systems (psys) , print options.

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