Ph.D. in Applied Science and Technology North Carolina A&T State University

The mission of the Applied Science & Technology Ph.D. program is to prepare students for high-level science and technology careers in industry, research, and government. Graduates will be able to conceive, develop, and conduct original research that applies physical, mathematical, and technological methods to provide solutions to a broad range of emerging local, national, and global problems related to Atmospheric, Environmental, and Energy Science; Applied Physics; Bioscience; Applied Chemistry; Data Science and Analytics; Applied Engineering Technology; Information Technology; Technology Management; Geomatics; and STEM Education.

The Applied Science & Technology (AST) Ph.D. program offers concentrations in bioscience, applied chemistry, applied physics, data science and analytics, information technology, technology management, STEM Education, and atmospheric, environmental, and energy science. Over the past five years, it has maintained an enrollment of 50-65 students and is at 77 students for Fall 2020, making it the largest STEM Ph.D. Program on campus. Overall, 33% of the faculty research advisers are female and 20% are African-American. Also of note: (1) the amount of in-state and out-of-state students is nearly the same, (2) 45% of the students are reported to be female, (3) 40% of the students are reported to be URM, and (4) 42% of the students report to be international. The average number of publications per graduate one year after graduation is 3.5 along with 5.7 presentations/graduate. AST students have received the A&T University Best Dissertation Award three out of the last six years.

The Ph.D. program generally takes 4 years to complete. The duration may take longer depending on thesis/dissertation topic, writing, and research.

Total credit hours: 66 (post-B.S.), 42 (post-M.S.)

• Core courses (9 credits): AST 830 (Foundations of Scientific Research), AST 831 (Math and Computational Modeling) or another graduate analytical modeling course that builds upon a student’s previous background, MATH 721 (Multivariate Statistical Analysis) or other graduate statistics course that builds upon a student’s previous background
• Seminar (6 credits post-B.S., 3 credits post-M.S.): AST 992 (Doctoral Seminar)
• Dissertation (21 credits post-B.S., 15 credits post-M.S.): AST 997 (Doctoral Dissertation)
• Pass qualifying exam, preliminary exam, and dissertation defense
• In consultation with an advisor, take 18 credit hours (15 post M.S.) within one of the following concentrations:
  • Applied Chemistry
  • Applied Physics
  • Atmospheric, Environmental and Energy Science
  • Bioscience
  • Data Science and Analytics
  • Information Technology
  • Technology Management
  • STEM Education
  • General – no specified concentration
• In consultation with an advisor, take 12 credit hours (post-B.S.) of additional courses relevant to the research area

Concentration Courses

For each program concentration, students will typically take courses that are included in the following lists with additional courses possible with the approval of the research adviser and program director:

Applied Chemistry

Applied Physics

Atmospheric, Environmental and Energy Science

Bioscience

Data Science and Analytics

Information Technology

Technology Management

STEM Education

The STEM Education Ph.D. course requirements are:

STEM Education Foundations (9 credit hours)

The purpose of the Foundation requirements is to provide a bridge into this interdisciplinary field by integrating STEM and education concepts:

• AST 801 History and Philosophy of STEM Education
• AST 802 Theories of Development and STEM Thinking
• AST 803 STEM Education Methods

STEM Expertise (3 credit hours)

Students are required to complete a coherent sequence of graduate courses in a STEM field other than STEM Education. The purpose of this requirement is to provide depth of understanding of STEM concepts, in particular, STEM concepts that may be the focus of STEM Education research activities.

STEM Education Research Specialization (3 credit hours)

The purpose of the Specialization requirement is to develop depth of knowledge in one area of STEM Education.

AST 804 Cognitive Devices in STEM Learning Environments

General

Dissertation Research

A student may not register for dissertation credits before passing the Qualifying Examination.

Qualifying Examination

The Qualifying Examination with both written and oral components is given to assess the student’s competence in a broad range of relevant subject areas. Only students with unconditional status and in good academic standing may take the Qualifying Examination. No student is permitted to take the Qualifying Examination more than twice. A student not recommended for re-examination or who fails the exam on a second attempt may be dismissed from the doctoral program.

Preliminary Oral Examination

The Preliminary Oral Examination is conducted by the student's dissertation committee and is a written and oral defense of the student’s dissertation proposal. Failure on the examination may result in dismissal from the doctoral program. The student's Dissertation Committee may permit one re-examination. At least one full semester must elapse before the re-examination. Failure on the second attempt will result in dismissal from the doctoral program.

Admission to Candidacy

Students will be admitted to candidacy upon successful completion of the Qualifying Exam and the Preliminary Exam. After admission to candidacy and before Final Oral Examination, a student may be dismissed from the doctoral program if the student’s dissertation committee determines that the student is not making satisfactory progress.

Final Oral Examination

The Final Oral Examination is conducted by the student's dissertation committee. This examination is the final dissertation defense presentation that is scheduled after a dissertation is completed. The examination may be held no earlier than one semester (or four months) after admission to candidacy. Failure on the examination may result in dismissal from the doctoral program. The student's Dissertation Committee may permit one re-examination. At least one full semester must elapse before the re-examination. Failure on the second attempt will result in dismissal from the doctoral program.

Submission of Dissertation

Upon passing the Ph.D. Final Oral Examination, the Ph.D. student must have the dissertation approved by each member of the student's Dissertation Committee. The approved dissertation must be submitted to The Graduate College by the deadline given in the academic calendar and must conform to the Graduate College’s guidelines for theses and dissertations.

• Communication Skills - Students completing the Applied Science & Technology Ph.D. program will exhibit effective oral communication skills in terms of customizing presentations to the audience, displaying information, and delivering the presentations.
• Critical Thinking Skills - Students completing the Applied Science & Technology Ph.D. program will effectively use quantitative and qualitative analytical problem-solving skills in terms of defining hypotheses/research questions, reviewing research literature, developing a research plan, identifying the broader impacts of research, and developing a research timetable.
• Disciplinary Expertise - Students completing the Applied Science & Technology Ph.D. program will demonstrate discipline-specific expertise in terms of the scientific method, applying technical knowledge to answer research questions, experimental plans and data analysis, analytical methods, and research ethics.
• Research/Creative Engagement - Students completing the Applied Science & Technology Ph.D. program will demonstrate the ability to engage productively in the review and conduct of disciplinary research in terms of making conference presentations and publishing refereed journal publications.