The Doctor of Social Sciences program is the first degree of its kind in North America. It approaches the study of complex, real-world problems within an interdisciplinary and Trans disciplinary framework. The program design brings the research intensity of a traditional doctorate to an applied, professional focus. In this program, you will explore interdisciplinary applications of the social sciences for practical, sustainable transformation across organizations and society.

The Schulich doctorate comprises four tightly linked phases of study: coursework to acquire in-depth knowledge of your field of study; a comprehensive examination to demonstrate your mastery of the subject matter; defense of a formal research proposal; and a dissertation.

The PhD in Population Studies in Health is interdisciplinary and delivered jointly by the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Arts and Science. Students in this program are normally supervised by Faculty members in the Health Sciences and Social Science disciplines.

The Cultural, Social, and Political Thought major in the Ph.D. program is interdisciplinary in nature. It is based on a cohort learning model that fosters an environment of interdisciplinary engagement and exchange, research, peer mentoring, and collaboration. The overall academic aims of the major are to emphasize the breadth and depth of social, cultural, and political thought and to inculcate the intellectual and practical tools needed to work successfully with community partners and agencies to facilitate social change. 

The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) program is an advanced degree for experienced pastoral leaders who have completed a Master of Divinity or equivalent. This program is based upon solid evangelical, biblical and theological foundations and is designed to help ministry practitioners engage in thoughtful and intentional theological reflection through a professional learning community while remaining rooted in their ministry context.

The Ph.D. with a major in Education is a theory and practice-rich research degree where students will address significant issues and professional practice within a particular concentration. The program will prepare research-literate individuals for careers in a variety of educational and professional contexts which increasingly base their inquiries on research-based studies.

This program, the first of its kind in Canada, opens the door to a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment in which you will have the opportunity to take on ground-breaking research in your chosen field. In this program, you will have the flexibility to work with your colleagues and faculty members the way that best suits your studies. After graduation, you will be ready to do the important work of contributing, through teaching and original research, to fields of inquiry pivotal to the development of our thinking, and our cultures, in the twenty-first century. Trent graduates go on to become teachers and researchers at universities and colleges in Canada and abroad, and to develop new forms of cultural inquiry and artistic innovation wherever they live.

The first Indigenous Studies Ph.D. program in Canada, this program ensures that the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of Indigenous Knowledges are articulated, discussed, documented, recognized and respected within the overall program field of Indigenous Knowledges: Peoples, Lands, Cultures. Indigenous Peoples, particularly Elders and Knowledge Holders, are central to the program and curriculum.

Memorial’s PhD in management empowers students to explore new ways of thinking while working with world-renowned researchers on projects of theoretical and practical importance.

The PhD in Forensic Psychology combines disciplinary and specialized study in Forensic Psychology, study in research methods and statistics, and applied learning experiences to prepare students to work in a variety of settings. The PhD in Forensic Psychology combines disciplinary and specialized study in Forensic Psychology, study in research methods and statistics, and applied learning experiences to prepare students to work in a variety of settings.

The PhD program in Computer Science focuses on applied research with the aim of producing highly trained researchers for industry and academia. There are four fields in the program: Digital Media, Information Science, Networks and IT Security, and Software Design. The goal of the PhD program is to produce a new breed of computer science graduates that have a broad background in information technology along with project management and people skills.

The purpose of the PhD degree program is to educate individuals to become independent, reliable, and competent research scientists. The PhD degree requires the demonstration of independent research and a reasonable mastery of a concentrated field of study. The research should comprise an extensive body of original research in the student’s field, making a true contribution exemplifying the student’s depth of knowledge, creativity, innovation, and proven ability to make significant scientific research contributions.

The primary objective of the PhD in Applied Bioscience program is to train students to become high-quality researchers at the interface between chemistry and biology. The primary objective of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Applied Bioscience is to train students to become high-quality researchers at the interface between chemistry and biology. The Faculty of Science, with no traditional departments, exposes students to interdisciplinary research, allowing them to gain experience working successfully within collaborative networks.

As Canada adapts to an era of profound social, economic and environmental change, leadership and expertise in interdisciplinary perspectives and processes for identifying and solving complex social issues are proving to be paramount. The Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Social Research (IDSR) builds on Trent University’s world-class reputation in interdisciplinary scholarship in the social sciences. With a combined emphasis on social inquiry, interdisciplinary research and professional scholarship, the IDSR Ph.D.

UPEI's Doctor of Philosophy in Sustainable Design Engineering (PhD-SDE) program aims to train graduates who have in-depth expertise in applying principles of sustainable design engineering to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research challenges. Independent research is the major focus of the PhD program-SDE degree, and students will identify a research topic and conduct an extensive body of original research in their field, making a true contribution exemplifying the student's depth of knowledge, creativity, innovation and proven ability to make significant scientific research contributions.