If you’re thinking about pursuing a Ph.D., you’re likely ready to deepen your expertise and position yourself as a leader in your field. A Ph.D. is the highest academic credential available, offering opportunities for advanced research, specialization, and professional growth.
Ph.D. programs span a wide range of disciplines—from the sciences and engineering to the humanities, education, and beyond. In this blog, we’ll explore several areas of study and highlight examples of specialized Ph.D. degrees to help you identify which path aligns best with your interests and career goals.
Table of Contents:
- How Do Ph.D. Programs Work?
- What Types of Ph.D. Programs Exist?
- Pursue Your Passion Through Ph.D. Programs: SMU Moody
How Do Ph.D. Programs Work?
Ph.D. programs offer advanced training in a specific field, providing students with a deep understanding of their niche and preparing them to become subject matter experts. Ph.D. candidates typically hold previous graduate degrees in their field of focus, and pursuing a terminal degree in the same field serves as a stepping stone for their careers and personal growth.
Those joining Ph.D. programs apply as they would to any other higher education program. However, Ph.D. applications often require more references and a specialized resume detailing their study and intention for the program. Students may also need to secure work-study or TA roles to fund their studies and research.
Getting into a Ph.D. program depends on each institution’s individual application requirements and the types of candidates they’re seeking for their programs. Still, the same best practices for a strong graduate school application apply for those seeking a doctoral degree.
The general timeline and structure of Ph.D. programs is as follows:
Focused Doctoral Coursework
Ph.D. programs often focus on a single subject, providing students with a deep understanding of that subject and its connections to other fields within the discipline. This concentration enables candidates to deepen their specialized knowledge of the field and contribute their own research and findings to the sector.
Original Research
A core component of Ph.D. programs is conducting original research and submitting it to the existing body of knowledge in a field. Students learn how to engage in and communicate their research on a more formal level than in previous graduate programs. Their work will inform other students in the discipline, from undergraduate scholars to future Ph.D. students.
Teaching Opportunities
Many Ph.D. students teach undergraduate and graduate courses, whether as TAs or as adjunct professors. This helps fund their Ph.D. studies and provides them with a deeper understanding of their subject through teaching it.
Dissertation Work
Throughout their time in a doctoral program, Ph.D. students compose a dissertation. This is the culmination of their research, applied experience, and original thoughts toward the topic at hand.
Dissertation Defense
To earn their Ph.D., candidates must defend their dissertation before a governing body. These experts and program leaders will question the candidate on their research and findings, and the board will then decide whether the candidate has fulfilled the requirements to receive their doctoral degree.
What Types of Ph.D. Degrees Exist?
Many industries and fields of study benefit from professionals who have conducted extensive research and innovation. As such, Ph.D. programs exist in a variety of industries, providing students with an excellent opportunity to find a path that aligns with their interests and advances their career goals.
Here are a few of the broader fields of study that benefit from Ph.D. programs, and some of the programs within them that students can pursue.
Engineering Ph.D. Programs
Engineering doctoral programs equip students with the skills necessary to enhance existing engineering systems and devise innovative solutions to emerging challenges. Engineering Ph.D. graduates can go into teaching as professors, join research labs, or create a business around their innovative ideas.
This degree path allows deep study and research, guiding candidates as they engage with engineering problems and their solutions.
Possible concentrations within engineering doctoral programs include:
- Applied science
- Civil and environmental engineering
- Computer engineering
- Computer science
- Electrical engineering
- Engineering management
➡️ Learn more about earning your Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering in our guide.
Arts and Humanities Ph.D. Programs
Humanities doctoral students utilize their time in the program to conduct research within their niche, often teaching students as they conduct their research and write their thesis. Graduates of this type of Ph.D. go on to work in academia, communications and media, policy and advocacy, cultural institutions and museums, and a variety of other fields.
Possible humanities doctoral degrees include:
- Anthropology
- History
- Religious studies
- English
- Liberal studies
➡️ Learn more about earning a Ph.D. in the humanities at SMU.
Education Ph.D. Programs
Some terminal education degrees are Ed.D. programs, and some are Ph.D. programs. With a doctoral degree in education, graduates can teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels, effectively applying the expertise and experience they gained during their postgraduate studies. Pursuing a doctorate in education is a good fit for individuals seeking a career in full-time research and for those aspiring to teach at the higher education level.
Possible doctoral degrees in education include:
- Education
- Educational leadership
- Higher education
➡️ Explore our complete guide to earning a Ph.D. in education.
Physics Ph.D. Programs
Physics Ph.D. programs prepare students to conduct advanced research in high-energy particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology while developing the expertise needed to contribute to scientific discovery. Graduates are often well-equipped to pursue careers in academia, government research institutions, or the private sector, applying the skills and knowledge gained during their doctoral studies.
Pursuing a Ph.D. in physics is a strong fit for individuals interested in full-time research, teaching at the university level, or participating in cutting-edge scientific collaborations.
Possible areas of focus within physics doctoral programs include:
- High-energy particle physics
- Astrophysics and cosmology
- Computational physics
- Quantum mechanics
- Biophysics
➡️ Learn what it means to study physics and the type of careers a Ph.D. leads to.
Statistics Ph.D. Programs
A Ph.D. in statistics equips students with advanced training in probability, mathematical statistics, and data analysis, preparing them to apply statistical methods to complex problems across a wide range of industries. Graduates develop expertise in both theoretical and applied statistics, making them well-suited for careers in research, academia, or data-driven roles in the private and public sectors.
Pursuing a doctorate in statistics is ideal for individuals seeking a career in full-time research, teaching at the higher education level, or applying advanced statistical techniques to solve real-world challenges.
Possible areas of focus within statistics doctoral programs include:
- Applied statistics
- Biostatistics
- Computational statistics
- Data science and machine learning
- Probability theory
- Statistical modeling
➡️ Read the complete guide to studying statistical science at SMU.
Pursue Your Passion: Ph.D. Programs at SMU
Pursuing a Ph.D. is an opportunity to dive deeply into your interests, advance your expertise, and make meaningful contributions to your field through research and innovation.
At SMU Moody, our doctoral programs are designed to help you achieve those goals. With expert faculty, personalized support, and funding opportunities, we provide the resources you need to succeed and make an impact in your industry.
Ready to take the next step? Explore our guide on choosing and applying to Ph.D. programs to learn more about the process of earning a terminal degree, or request more information to get connected with details about your program of interest.
