17 PhD programmes offered by the university

The graduate degree program in Geography at The University of Iowa empowers our graduates to design and conduct significant research.

The Ph.D. degree in Anthropology at The University of Iowa leads to the accomplishment of professional-level skills in conducting independent research, and normally features specialized training in one or two of the discipline’s subfields. Doctoral education is guided by a Ph.D. committee composed of members of the faculty competent in the particular areas and topics chosen by a student.

The PhD in Health Services and Policy is awarded by the Graduate College at The University of Iowa. Instruction is offered through the College of Public Health's Department of Health Management and Policy.

At The University of Iowa, the PhD program in Sociology is designed to provide you with rigorous training in theory and methods, with specialized programs in social psychology, gender, and social and political organizations.

The mission of the Department of Communication Studies at The University of Iowa is to explore the central role that communication plays in shaping our relationships, institutions, and societies. 

The Doctor of Philosophy program in American Studies at The University of Iowa requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. Students may focus in American studies or choose the sport studies subprogram.

The Counseling Psychology PhD program at The University of Iowa is committed to training psychologists who are competent in counseling and psychological services informed by the integration of diverse community engaged practice and scholarship.

The English Literary Studies PhD program at The University of Iowa is designed as preparation for the teaching, publishing, and administrative service required of a career in academia.

The PhD in Psychology is awarded by the Graduate College at The University of Iowa. Instruction is offered through the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The PhD in Community and Behavioral Health is awarded by the Graduate College at The University of Iowa. Instruction is offered through the College of Public Health.

Graduate students in French and Francophone World Studies Ph.D. Program at The University of Iowa benefit from the expertise of a nationally and internationally known faculty.

The PhD in Economics is awarded by the Graduate College at The University of Iowa. Instruction is offered through the Tippie College of Business.

The Doctor of Philosophy program in Spanish at The University of Iowa requires a total of at least 72 s.h. of graduate credit. In this research-oriented degree, Ph.D. students choose from two different tracks: literatures/cultures and Hispanic linguistics. 

The Educational Policy and Leadership Studies Doctor of Education (EdD) at The University of Iowa will take your leadership to the next level with a supportive cohort in a rigorous and convenient program steeped in the latest research and delivered by renowned faculty.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Geoscience at The University of Iowa is designed primarily to train students to be independent researchers and/or teachers, and to bring students to the forefront of a specialized area of geoscience.

The University of Iowa's new PhD Program in Criminology offers rigorous training in criminological and sociological theory, a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods, and two cutting edge substantive areas - Inequality, Crime & Justice and International & Comparative Criminology. 

The Department of Political Science at The University of Iowa offers a rich program of graduate study that has as its foundation a group of faculty members who are committed to first-rate research and teaching.