With the addition of eight new Ph.D. programs which will begin admitting students in the Fall of 2025, there will now be a total of 35 graduate studies options within the curriculum.
The new programs are electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, economics, education with specific focus areas, Humanities with specific focus areas and natural sciences with specific focus areas.
“The degree programs are crucial to UMKC’s objective of being reclassified as a Carnegie Research 1 institution by offering a globally recognized credential in specific research areas, while also allowing for the diversification of skill sets necessary to success in a variety of postgraduate careers,” said Christine Getz, dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
Having more options will both increase the number of students that seek out UMKC as an option, and also improve UMKC’s chances of becoming a Carnegie R1 designation.
Carnegie Research levels designate the level of research activity at colleges and universities, as well as a level of national prestige. Only 5% of universities in the country have achieved R1 status, meaning that the university has very high research activity.
The number of Ph. D. programs at a university is one of the factors Carnegie considers in determining the R1 designation, said Getz.
This change will also affect campus life, bringing more faculty who are willing and able to teach the new graduate students.
“We expect the campus to continue to attract research-active faculty with particular interest in mentoring graduate students and postdocs and an ever-stronger ecosystem of undergraduate, graduate and faculty researchers on campus,” said Getz.
Graduate students currently enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Ph. D. program will have the opportunity to change to one of the new programs. Graduate student Nithin Songala said that the new programs will help both students and the university at the same time.
Songala, a masters student studying data science, said that adding the new Ph. D. programs will bring new students to the college, creating more opportunities for breakthroughs in research.
“I feel like it is a win-win situation, as the students and the college both benefit from it,” said Songala.
