19 PhD programmes offered by the university

The Sociology Ph.D. program at Vanderbilt University promotes excellence in research with the goal of training the next generation of scholars to join the professoriate.

The Graduate History Association (GHA) represents Vanderbilt University’s Department of History graduate student body.

The Graduate Program in Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University educates graduate students on the foundational areas of molecular, cellular, and organismal biology and provides in-depth training with faculty while engaging in state-of-the-art scholarly research.

The purpose of biomedical engineering as a research discipline is to discover new physical and mathematical concepts that are applicable to the problems of biology and medicine, including the organization of health care. The program in Biomedical Engineering is offered by Vanderbilt University.

Electrical and Computer Engineering students at Vanderbilt University have the opportunity to participate in research that is propelling those changes with the potential to impact virtually every human system, from health care to education, transportation, defense and the environment. 

Graduate work in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Vanderbilt University provides an opportunity for study and research at the cutting edge to contribute to shaping a new model of what chemical engineering is and what chemical engineers do. 

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Vanderbilt University is an international leader in many areas, including Risk and Reliability Engineering and Nuclear Waste Management.

The department in Political Science at Vanderbilt University will help you to understand how and why people use and misuse power within and outside of political institutions and systems throughout the world.

The Ph.D. program in Economics at Vanderbilt University admits between 8 and 12 students per year and prepares them for a successful career in academia, government, international organizations, or the private sector.

The department of Computer Science at Vanderbilt University offers Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and thesis and non-thesis Master of Science (M.S.) degrees in Computer Science.

The graduate program in Chemistry at Vanderbilt University provides students with a solid foundation in chemistry, while recognizing that solutions to many important problems require interdisciplinary training.

A graduate degree in Philosophy at Vanderbilt University offers extensive study in all major fields and historical periods of philosophy.

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Vanderbilt University is an international leader in many areas, including Risk and Reliability Engineering and Nuclear Waste Management.

Our physics Ph.D. program in Physics and Astronomy at Vanderbilt University trains students who want to push forward the boundaries of knowledge about the universe to become leaders in discovery.

Our Ph.D. program in English at Vanderbilt University is shaped by commitments to individual mentoring and intellectual community.

The Department of Anthropology’s at Vanderbilt University unique graduate program is focused on the social relations, culture, biology, and history of past and present peoples. Geographically, our research foci lies within Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean.

Our Ph.D. program in Mathematics at Vanderbilt University received a very favorable evaluation in the latest report on U.S. graduate programs in mathematics from the National Research Council.

Each program is tailored to the individual student's interest, in consultation with his or her major professor, in a format specified by the department. The program in Mechanical Engineering is offered by Vanderbilt University.

The Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Vanderbilt University provides comprehensive training for students who wish to become professional scientists and/or to teach Earth and environmental sciences at the university level.