Graduate School

Program Information

• 1. Submit an Initial Inquiry

  Before beginning a formal application, prospective students must submit an Initial Inquiry Statement to help determine whether their proposed program is feasible and appropriately interdisciplinary.

  Email your materials to interdisciplinary@mso.umt.edu with the subject line:
  D.I.S. Initial Inquiry – [Your Name]

  Your statement should be 1–2 pages and include:

  • Proposed title or theme of your interdisciplinary focus

    • If unknown: Draft a working title using keywords (e.g., “Community Health & Data Ethics”). You can refine this later.

  • Statement of purpose describing your academic and professional goals and why an interdisciplinary approach is necessary

    • If you’re still exploring: Briefly explain the questions or problems you want to solve and why a single existing program doesn’t fully fit.

  • Disciplines or departments you plan to integrate

    • If unknown: Use UM’s website to explore:

      • Department and program pages (to see degree offerings and course lists)

      • Faculty directories (to scan research interests)

      • Recent course schedules (to confirm regular offerings)

    • List 2–3 likely departments (it’s fine if these are tentative).

  • Explanation of how the disciplines connect to form a cohesive program

    • If you’re unsure: Write 3–4 sentences explaining what each discipline contributes (methods, theories, tools) and how they’ll work together in your plan of study.

  • Potential faculty mentors (if known)

    • If unknown: Include 3–5 possible names you found on department pages or faculty directories and a one-line note on fit (e.g., “policy analysis,” “science communication,” “GIS methods”). We’ll help you refine outreach.

  • Relevant academic background and experience

    • If limited: Highlight transferable skills (research, writing, data analysis, community engagement, creative production) and any coursework or projects related to your focus.

  • Intended start term (e.g., Fall 2026)

    • If flexible: Provide a preferred term and an alternate (e.g., “Prefer Fall 2026; could start Spring 2027”).

  Optional: You may also include a résumé/CV or unofficial transcript for context and request a consultation meeting with the Graduate School.

  Once your materials are reviewed, the Graduate School will contact you regarding next steps and guidance on identifying faculty for your graduate committee.

• 2. Admissions Requirements

  Planning Ahead

  Because developing an individualized interdisciplinary doctoral program, identifying faculty mentors, and preparing a Research Proposal can take several months, prospective students are encouraged to begin the Initial Inquiry process well in advance of the application deadlines.

  Application Deadlines

  To ensure full consideration, all application materials must be received by the Graduate School by:

  • April 15 – for Fall semester admission
  • November 15 – for Spring semester admission

  Committee Formation & Research Proposal

  Before applying to the Graduate School, you must complete the following:

  • Form a graduate committee that meets Graduate School requirements (see Step 3: Graduate Committee).
  • Develop an interdisciplinary Research Proposal in collaboration with your graduate committee (see Step 4: Develop Your Research Proposal).
  • Receive approval of both your graduate committee and Research Proposal before submitting a formal application to the Graduate School.

  When contacting prospective faculty members, include the information from your Initial Inquiry Statement from Step 1 to help them evaluate your proposed interdisciplinary program.

  Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
  • Master's degree from an accredited institution
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • For international applicants: official TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or MELAB scores

  Recommendation: Graduate Non-Degree Admission

  We strongly encourage prospective students to spend at least one semester enrolled at the University of Montana before formally applying to the D.I.S. program. Enrolling as a graduate non-degree student or within an existing graduate program allows you to build valuable connections with faculty and departments, which is essential for developing an interdisciplinary research proposal and forming a graduate committee.

  Experience has shown that it is very difficult to identify committee members and design an individualized program of study from a distance. Spending time on campus helps you get to know faculty, explore courses, and develop an academic network that supports your proposed degree.

  Enrolling as a graduate non-degree student offers several benefits:

  • You can take graduate-level courses and earn credit while exploring potential disciplines for your D.I.S. degree.
  • Up to nine (9) credits earned in non-degree status may be applied toward a future degree program, with approval from your graduate committee chair.

  However, please note:

  • Financial aid is not available to graduate non-degree students.
  • If you plan to pursue Montana residency for in-state tuition, refer to the Residency Qualifications webpage for details.
  • Registering for more than seven (7) credits per semester establishes a strong presumption that you are in Montana for educational purposes, which may affect residency eligibility.
• 3. Graduate Committee

  Prospective students are required to seek out and identify a prospective graduate committee of at least four university faculty who are willing to serve in the D.I.S. committee, after consulting with the Director of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs. Eligibility for membership can be found at the Qualifications of Graduate Committee Members on this website. The process of establishing a graduate committee includes:

  1. Prospective students will need to seek out and identify at least four (4) university faculty who are willing to work with you to develop a unique plan of study. One of these faculty members must be willing to serve as the committee chair and your primary advisor. Each discipline in the proposed interdisciplinary program must be represented on the committee.

  2. All members of the D.I.S. graduate committee must hold a doctoral degree or the equivalent of the terminal degree in their fields; one member must be from a doctoral granting department from UM, except in cases where the substantial research and work to be carried out is in an arts discipline (see below). In addition to the 4 voting committee members, the Director of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs or the director’s designee will serve as an ex-officio (non-voting) member of the committee.

  3. In the case of applicants who hold the MFA, or are completing the MFA when applying, committee composition can include a maximum of 2 members whose terminal degree is the MFA, provided that the faculty teach in a program that evaluates their faculty for their qualifications to advise doctoral-level work (see Policy G1. Qualifications of Graduate Committee Members). These committees do not require a member or Co-Chair from a PhD-granting program, but they must contain at least 3 members, preferably 4, who hold the PhD and come from an academic discipline outside the creative discipline. The Chair of the Committee must hold the PhD.

  4. The prospective chair of the student’s graduate committee will be the principal advisor throughout the program, and must be from a unit on campus that offers a graduate degree. In some cases, student graduate committees may have 2 co-chairs rather than a single chair. At least one of the co-chairs must be from a doctoral-degree-granting unit, except in cases of Creative PhDs (see above). Chairs (and co-chairs) must be proactive in keeping the collaborative function of the committee together. They serve as a student advocate and must clearly understand the D.I.S. process.

• 4. Develop Your Research Proposal

  Working in consultation with your prospective graduate committee, you will develop an interdisciplinary doctoral research proposal that serves as the foundation of your individualized degree program. The proposal should demonstrate the significance of your research, explain why an interdisciplinary approach is necessary, and outline how your coursework, faculty mentorship, and assessment plan will prepare you to successfully complete the project.

  Your D.I.S. proposal must include the following components:

  1. Letter of Intent describing your academic and professional goals, how they relate to the proposed research, and the skills and competencies you intend to develop throughout the program. Working with your committee, you will identify the objectives necessary to achieve these goals.
  2. Research Proposal presenting the research problem or questions to be investigated, a review of relevant literature, identification of the gap in current knowledge, the proposed interdisciplinary approach, an overview of the research methodology, and the anticipated organization of the dissertation. Following admission, students will submit a formal dissertation proposal that expands upon the methodology and research design.
  3. Plan of Study outlining a total of 75 doctoral credits, including up to 30 credits from an awarded master's degree and at least 45 additional credits of proposed graduate coursework. The plan should explain how each course supports the research objectives and include a projected timeline for completion.
  4. Assessment Plan identifying the milestones used to evaluate progress toward the degree, including a comprehensive examination, dissertation proposal, and oral dissertation defense. The committee will establish the timeline, format, and expectations for each assessment based on the student's individualized program.
  5. Committee Biographical Sketches providing a brief biography of each prospective committee member and describing how their expertise contributes to the proposed research and interdisciplinary program.

  Proposal Review Meeting:

  Prospective students should work closely with their prospective committee members as needed to develop their interdisciplinary research proposal and complete all required application materials.

  Once all proposal components have been completed, the prospective student should notify the Interdisciplinary Studies Program Manager that the proposal is ready for review. The Program Manager will coordinate and schedule a proposal review meeting with the prospective student, the prospective graduate committee chair, the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Interdisciplinary Studies Program Manager.

  During the meeting, the research proposal, plan of study, and supporting application materials will be reviewed to determine whether the proposed doctoral program is ready to move forward. If the proposal is approved, the student will receive authorization to submit a formal application for admission to the University of Montana Graduate School's Doctoral Interdisciplinary Studies (D.I.S.) program.

• 5. Submit Application

  Before applying, your committee composition and Research Proposal must already be approved by the Graduate School. If approved, you are ready to submit your online application.

  *All required materials constitute your admission file and must be made available to your prospective graduate committee before submission, except for the recommendation letters.

  The required materials for application include the following:

  (1) Research Proposal
          includes letter of intent and plan of study
  (2) Resume or CV
  (3) Official standardized test scores
  (4) Official transcripts
  (5) Letters of commitment from faculty willing to serve on D.I.S. committee. 
  Each prospective graduate committee member must write a letter of commitment agreeing to serve on the student’s graduate committee. The letters should include a) a statement about the value and rigor of the student's proposal, b) an indication of willingness to participate in the collaborative effort, c) a discussion of their specific areas of expertise, and d) how this expertise strengthens the student’s D.I.S. program of study and dissertation project(s).
  (6) Three recommendation letters, either from members of your proposed committee or from others who know you well, addressing your preparation and suitability for completing a doctoral degree

  After Admission

  Once admitted, your graduate committee will serve as your de facto department. The Director of Interdisciplinary Studies Program functions as your department chair.

  • Meet regularly with your committee to discuss progress and next steps.

  • Any changes to your approved Plan of Study must be communicated to the Program Manager via a memo from your committee chair or co-chairs, with agreement from the full committee.

• 6. Doctoral Program Requirements

  Coursework
  To graduate, a student needs at least 45 credits beyond the master’s degree. Credits may include regular courses (G or UG with the graduate increment), independent study, internships and seminars. In fulfilling that credit requirement, students must take:

  1. At least 10 credits of dissertation research.

  2. At least 18 credits at the 500 or 600 level.

  3. At least 4 credits of seminars from at least two disciplines offered by any graduate program on the UM – Missoula Campus; seminars may not be taken in the same semester.

  In general, milestones of the D.I.S. include the following: 

  Comprehensive exam – Students must pass a comprehensive exam. The exam generally includes a written and oral portion, although the specific format will be determined by the student’s graduate committee and agreed upon prior to admission to the program.

  Dissertation proposal – Students must submit a formal dissertation proposal to their committee within a mutually agreed upon timeframe upon admission. This proposal should be approved by the doctoral committee.

  Dissertation / Oral Defense – In line with Graduate School policy for all doctorates, students must submit and receive formal approval of their doctoral dissertation and must pass an oral defense of their dissertation prior to receiving their degree.

  The doctoral committee has the final decision.