These credits include the courses during which the Plan B paper is completed. All MS students must pass a final examination. The PhD program trains students for careers in academics, and that is where most of the program's PhDs are employed. A few graduates have taken research positions in government or the private sector. PhD students must complete core courses, pass preliminary written and oral examinations, prepare a dissertation, and present an oral defense of it.
Students then choose a concentration in either policy or administration.
Students choosing the policy concentration take 3 additional courses for 8 credits, while students choosing the administration concentration take 4 additional courses for 15 credits. Students also must complete a formal minor or supporting area, consisting of 12 credit hours. The candidate then focuses on preparing a dissertation, completing 24 thesis credits, and finally presenting an oral defense. Students in the Joint Degree Program combine their Law and Science curricula by cross-counting up to 12 Law credits in their Graduate School program and up to 12 Graduate School credits in their Law School program.