The Graduate School administers two interdisciplinary PhD degree programs and two graduate certificates, offering students an opportunity to tailor unique programs based on individual interests. Working with top-ranked research faculty at WSU, graduate students cross traditional boundaries and discover new insights to solve the world’s problems.

PhD Degree Programs

Individual Interdisciplinary Doctoral

This doctoral program is individually designed to meet the professional interests and research endeavors of each student. Although the program maintains a high degree of flexibility, it is rigorous and requires the involvement of the Graduate School and several academic units on campus. Students in this program work with an advisor and committee who oversee the development of each unique degree program

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Molecular Plant Sciences

Considered one of the top programs of its kind in the world, this program incorporates plant physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology. Faculty in this program include three National Academy of Science members and some of the most influential plant science researchers in the world. All students in this program receive some form of financial assistance, such as training grants, individual research grants, predoctoral fellowships, or teaching assistantships. First-year students visit several different labs during their first weeks to help make an informed decision about pursuing the specific science that interests them.

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Master’s Programs

Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (MSIS)

This master’s program is designed for students who wish to integrate knowledge from two or more disciplines to address complex professional challenges. The program offers both thesis and non-thesis options and requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. Students work with an advisory committee of at least three faculty members from different disciplines who guide the development of each unique interdisciplinary program.

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Graduate Certificates

Interdisciplinary Robotics and Autonomous Systems (IRAS)

This graduate certificate program combines cutting-edge technical robotics training with leadership, entrepreneurship, and adaptive design skills to address the human-technology frontier. Supported by a $3M NSF Research Traineeship grant, IRAS prepares students to develop next-generation robotic solutions for agricultural automation, nuclear waste cleanup, and underwater applications. The program features faculty from four colleges across multiple WSU campuses and requires 10 credits of coursework, seminar participation, professional development activities, and an immersive field study experience. Students gain both technical mastery in robotics and autonomous systems as well as critical skills in addressing the socioeconomic impacts, user experience design, and ethical considerations of emerging robotic technologies in the workplace. For detailed information and whom to contact, visit here.

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)

This graduate certificate program provides students with a critical understanding of gender equity and justice as theorized and practiced nationally and transnationally. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the program equips future academic and non-academic professionals with fundamental theoretical background, practical research knowledge, and an intersectional analytical framework to address challenges in gender justice and broader social justice struggles. The curriculum emphasizes comprehensive training in feminist and queer studies, focusing on social, political, and cultural theory, research approaches, and emerging topics of scholarly inquiry and debate. Graduates develop the analytical skills and leadership capabilities needed to address equity and justice challenges in diverse professional and academic settings. For detailed information and whom to contact, visit here.