The PhD is a research-intensive degree that prepares students for a research and development career in industry or academia. Given the research focus of the PhD, applicants must have a deep affinity for their research topic and be fully committed to completing their degree and contributing to their discipline.
There are two paths to the PhD:
- Directly from BS to PhD, bypassing the MS degree, which is recommended for motivated, top-performing candidates with a clear idea of what they want to accomplish in their field of study.
- Obtaining a MS degree (at UH or elsewhere) prior to PhD studies. This is recommended for students who are still forming a clear vision of their future career objectives.

