Ranked among the top 20 programs in the U.S., our Ph.D. program features world-renowned faculty, interdisciplinary research, and a spirit of collaboration. Students admitted into the PhD-only program usually arrive at UMass, having already earned an MS degree at an accredited University. Ph.D. students must pass 6 core requirements, complete 18 credits (credits include core courses taken to pass core requirements), and 18 Dissertation Credits.
Admission is very competitive. We typically accept 10 to 15% of students applying to our graduate programs. Backgrounds vary: we have students from engineering, math, computer science, electrical engineering, psychology, and social sciences. With such a diverse group, an emphasis is placed on letters of recommendation, the personal statement, and GPA.