Much of the program is administered by the areas. For example, the area has immediate responsibility for directing the student's progress. However, students can take courses from all other areas, except certain courses in clinical. The department also has several cross-area research programs. The Ph.D. program is a five year, full-time only program.
All areas are research-oriented.
The program begins with the core curriculum. In the latter sequence the student designs, conducts, and writes up a research project under the direction of two faculty members. Core-program work is completed by the end of the second year. Much of the course work in the second and third year is devoted to the requirements of the student's major area. A student may also petition to formulate an individual minor.