College of Arts & Sciences Graduate Programs

Department of Biological Sciences
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures
Department of Economics
Department of English
Department of Environmental Toxicology
Department of Geosciences
Department of History

Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Department of Philosophy
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Department of Political Science
Department of Psychological Sciences
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work

Graduate Program Offerings & Course Descriptions

Department of Biological Sciences

The Department of Biological Sciences offers three master’s degrees with both thesis and non-thesis options, and one research-based doctorate degree that culminates in a dissertation.

The basic requirements for all degrees follow those of the Graduate School, and all incoming graduate students are assigned a faculty advisor, with whom they consult when developing their degree plan. The non-thesis M.S. degrees are coursework based; all others include research and culminate in a written thesis or dissertation. Students should refer to the Biological Sciences Graduate Student Handbook for additional details. The department does not have a foreign language requirement, and with a few exceptions (noted below) students work with their advisor to develop a tailored suite of coursework.

Professional Science Master’s Degree

The Professional Science Master’s (P.S.M.) degree is a two-year coursework-based graduate degree designed to allow students to pursue advanced training and excel in science while simultaneously developing valued business skills. The P.S.M. degree qualifies students for employment in the public or private sector and offers two tracks: (1) the Ecology and Environmental Sustainability track is offered through the Department of Biological Sciences and (2) the Natural Resource Management track is offered in the Department of Natural Resources Management within the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources.

The degree consists of 15 to 19 hours of required courses (including either a 6-hour internship or a 3-hour capstone course) plus 15 hours of elective courses. In addition, students will be required to complete a series of online workplace skills modules (e.g., economics, ethics, interviewing skills, human resource management, conflict management, team building). Students accepted to the program but found to be deficient in preparation for taking graduate courses will be required to take leveling courses. The P.S.M. degree differs from a conventional M.S. degree in requiring an internship or capstone experience in lieu of a research-based thesis. Capstone courses will be taken by those already employed.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Students seeking advanced degrees must take the diagnostic examination in their area of specialization and in two other non-specialty areas after arrival in early spring or fall. These examinations are based on the undergraduate curriculum and are also offered in late spring. Students who fail the diagnostic examination in their specialty area will be given a second and final opportunity to pass this examination.

For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures

Before beginning a graduate program in this department, students should consult the graduate advisor of the particular program concerning departmental admission procedures and degree requirements. Admission to the Graduate School requires departmental recommendation as well as approval by the Graduate Dean.

For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Department of Economics

Students seeking a degree in economics should consult with the graduate advisor or the chairperson of the department. For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Department of English

Before beginning a graduate program in English or Technical Communication, students must consult the Director of Graduate Studies of their program concerning departmental admission procedures and degree requirements. Admission to the Graduate School requires departmental recommendation as well as approval by the Graduate Dean. Information on the requirements is available at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/english/. For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Department of Environmental Toxicology

The Department of Environmental Toxicology (ENTX) provides faculty and graduate students opportunities for multidisciplinary research and scholarly engagement related to environmental, forensic, and human health sciences. The Department also houses two research-focused institutes: The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) and the Institute for Forensic Science (IFS). TIEHH integrates the efforts of Texas Tech University, the School of Law, and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in a joint venture to assess the impacts of toxic chemicals and other stressors on the natural environment. IFS is a comprehensive teaching, training, and research organization in all aspects of forensic science. IFS is committed to providing outstanding service to the university, profession, and community, and committed to supporting local law enforcement and criminal justice agencies through the sharing of ideas, problem-solving, and empiricism promoting prosocial values and contributing to safer communities.

The Environmental and Human Health faculty attract graduate students at both the master’s and doctoral level, with their backgrounds in biological sciences, medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, engineering, chemistry, computer science, law, mathematics, pharmacology, physiology, and wildlife biology. The Forensic Science faculty are committed to the production and dissemination of interdisciplinary forensic science research through a unique multidisciplinary program that provides outstanding education, research, and professional training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at TTU and for local and regional law enforcement.

The Department of Environmental Toxicology offers graduate programs within the College of Arts & Sciences. The Environmental Toxicology M.S. program (36 hours) and the Ph.D. program (72 hours) are composed of coursework emphasizing the principles of toxicology, the environmental fate of chemicals, statistical approaches to study design, data handling, and data analysis, and seminars in environmental toxicology. Supplemental coursework, research, and thesis or dissertation hours are chosen by the student with the guidance of their committee, allowing for focus on the student’s particular research emphasis. Students pursuing either degree must perform an original research project, prepare a written thesis or dissertation, and defend their work in a public defense.

The Forensic Science M.S. program (45 hours) has the option of completing a research thesis or a comprehensive written exam coupled with an internship. Students from various undergraduate backgrounds may pursue either of two concentrations within the program: Forensic Chemistry or the Forensic Investigation concentration. Students pursuing the Forensic Chemistry concentration must have a bachelor’s degree in a forensic or natural science (i.e., biology or chemistry).

Department of Geosciences

Master’s and doctoral degree candidates may specialize in areas within geology, atmospheric science, geography, and geophysics. Details concerning the specific makeup of these groups are available from the department.

General degree requirements are those of the Graduate School. By the end of their first semester, graduate students are strongly encouraged to associate themselves with a faculty member or members who will serve as the student’s principal advisor and will be responsible for the student’s degree program.

The department permits students with bachelor’s degrees from other sciences to enter the geosciences graduate program. Required leveling work will be determined on an individual basis, primarily by the faculty member(s) in the student’s field of interest. A graduate minor may be taken either inside or outside this department.

For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Department of History

Information about departmental admission standards, prerequisites, and other matters dealing with graduate study in history may be acquired by consulting the departmental website (www.history.ttu.edu) or by contacting the department’s Director of Graduate Studies or Graduate Program Coordinator. For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management

The department offers a Master of Science in Kinesiology, a Master of Science in Sport Management, a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology, and two dual degrees.

For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Students seeking an advanced degree in mathematics or statistics should consult with the graduate director of the department before enrolling in any courses. The department offers a number of graduate courses that are suitable for students who wish to complete a minor in mathematics or statistics. Contact: Dr. Tom Lu: t.lu@ttu.edu or Department of Mathematics math.dept@ttu.edu.

For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Transfer of Courses for All Degrees

With the permission of the graduate advisor, credit may be transferred as follows:

1. One course (3 credit hours) may transfer towards a grad certificate provided there is an equivalent TTU course.

2. Two courses (6 credit hours) may transfer towards a master’s degree, provided there is an equivalent TTU course.

a. A core course/sequence from a master’s degree granting institution will not transfer.
b. Students can be exempted from a core course/sequence by passing the corresponding Ph.D. prelim exam at TTU.

3. Up to 10 courses (30 credit hours) from a doctoral degree granting institution may transfer towards a Ph.D. degree.

a. A core course/sequence from a Ph.D. degree granting institution may transfer if the student has passed the corresponding prelim exam at TTU.
b. No courses from a master’s degree granting institution will be granted transfer credit.

4. No course or credit from an undergraduate program will be allowed to transfer toward a graduate degree or certificate.

For questions, please contact Dr. David Cannon, david.cannon@ttu.edu.

Department of Philosophy

The master’s degree program is aimed at providing a broad background in philosophy while encouraging complementary work in an approved minor field of study.

The student may choose to complete 24 hours of graduate coursework plus 6 hours of thesis research. Alternatively, the student may complete 33 hours of graduate coursework and then take an oral exit examination over a significant research paper. Up to one third (but no more than 9 hours) of the student’s coursework may consist of graduate courses in disciplines other than philosophy, subject to the approval of the departmental graduate advisor.

For specific information on admission to the program, prospective students should contact the Department of Philosophy and the Graduate School. Students from fields other than philosophy are encouraged to apply, although they may be required to complete a certain amount of philosophy leveling work during their first year of enrollment.

The department also offers a Graduate Certificate in Ethics. This requires four courses in ethics on the graduate level.

For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Department of Physics and Astronomy

A core curriculum consisting of PHYS 5301 , PHYS 5303 , PHYS 5305 , and PHYS 5306 forms the nucleus of the master’s and Ph.D. programs and is the basis for the master’s examination and the Ph.D. preliminary examination. A student selecting any of the degree options may designate a minor consisting of a minimum of 6 hours of course credit in a related area and satisfy any additional requirements of the minor department. These 6 hours may be taken in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Full-time study towards the master’s degree should be completed in about two years. Master’s students must maintain a B average in the four core courses in addition to the overall B average required by the Graduate School.

All graduate students must enroll in PHYS 5101 for three semesters, as early as possible in the program. PHYS 5307 and PHYS 5322 are tools courses that develop necessary skills for use in other courses and in research. They should be taken early.

For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Department of Political Science

For the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, the department emphasizes and encourages specialization in the following areas of political science: American institutions and behavior, international relations, comparative politics, and public administration. In addition, the department offers graduate courses in methodology, public policy, and strategic studies.

To be admitted to the M.A. or Ph.D. program, the student must submit a department application form along with three letters of reference, a curriculum vitae, and a statement of purpose. In addition, the student must complete the Graduate School admission process, including the Graduate School application form, submission of GRE scores, and submission of official transcripts showing prior graduate and undergraduate work. International students also must submit evidence of English language proficiency. Students applying to any of these programs should have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in undergraduate and graduate work. M.A. and Ph.D. students must develop their courses of study in consultation with the department’s director of political science graduate programs.

For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Department of Psychological Sciences

The Department of Psychological Sciences admits students to and provides instruction in three Ph.D. programs. Within the Ph.D. programs, students may additionally obtain a Graduate Certificate in Psychological Methods and Analysis. For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work

The department offers graduate degrees in all three programs: Master of Arts in Sociology, Master of Arts in Anthropology, and Master of Social Work (M.S.W.). In sociology and anthropology, the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree programs are designed to provide broad training for students who wish to enter a Ph.D. program, prepare for undergraduate or community college teaching, or pursue a nonteaching career for which master’s-level training is appropriate and useful. Both programs emphasize training in basic theory and methods. The M.S.W. is a professional degree program that prepares students for advanced social work practice.

Admission. General admission requirements are those established by the Graduate School. The best preparation is an undergraduate major in the same field or equivalent. However, students from other fields are also encouraged to apply. More specific information regarding admission procedures or other aspects of the graduate programs may be obtained from the sociology, anthropology, or social work graduate advisor and the department website.

For a full list of graduate programs and courses offered by the department, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Graduate Program Offerings & Course Descriptions

Programs

Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree

Intra-institutional Dual Degree

Master’s

Doctoral

Graduate Minor

Graduate Certificates

Graduate Concentration

Comparative Literature Master’s Concentration

Doctoral Track

Comparative Literature Doctoral Track