Ah, research. The endless hours in the lab, the original hypotheses, the evenings combing the library shelves. Not everyone loves research, but if you do, you should find a graduate program that provides the environment and support you need to get your hands dirty.
To start, you’re probably looking for a university that lives and breathes research: an R1 Doctoral University. Based on the Carnegie classification system, R1 institutions have the highest research activity of any American institutes of higher learning.
As an R1 Doctoral University, West Virginia University offers many graduate programs designed to promote rigorous academic exploration, or in other words, tailor-made for the research junkie. If you’ve taken a glance at our extensive academic catalog, here are five research-intensive graduate programs that you may have overlooked:
Become a Leader in the Tech Industry with a Ph.D. in Computer Science from WVU
As you might expect, students enrolled in WVU’s doctoral program in computer science begin advanced study in all the buzzy topics being discussed in tech circles today, with courses like: Advanced Artificial Intelligence Techniques, Theory of Database Systems, and Computer Network Forensics.
However, the primary focus of this program is research, research, and, you guessed it, research. Students conduct research activities throughout their time in the program, leading up to an original thesis, research paper, scholarly project, or dissertation.
Our Ph.D. graduates leave WVU to take on leadership roles at tech industry giants and fill the ranks of the faculties of nationally-recognized universities.
If Public Health is Your Personal Mission, Check Out WVU’s Master of Public Health in Health Policy (MPH)
Our MPH in Health Policy program is designed for students interested in examining the social and political systems that influence the health status of large groups and then learning how to influence and design solutions to improve health outcomes. This program gives students the opportunity to not only conduct research but to do so in the hopes of bettering the health status of entire populations.
Current courses include: Health Economics for Population Health, Public Health Leadership and Management, and Policy Tools for Population Health.
The program prepares students to continue pursuing and implementing research projects and initiatives following graduation as well. Many of our graduates find work as leaders, public health professionals, and policy analysts (among many other roles) in government, public health, and health care agencies.
Jump Head-First into Academia with a Ph.D. in English
English probably isn’t the first subject you would associate with rigorous academic research, but you should think again. Students in the English doctoral program at WVU complete a lengthy dissertation on a research topic focused on English-language literature or culture.
Current graduate-level courses include: Studies in Nonfiction Prose, Introduction to Literary Research, and Current Directions in Postcolonial Literature and Theory.
The program is designed to prepare students for a life of research, writing, and thinking analytically, so the research in this field certainly doesn’t stop after graduate school. In fact, for many of our graduates this program is a stepping-stone to a promising career in academia.
Master the Field with a Master’s in Mining Engineering
Here in West Virginia, mining is a part of our heritage. The graduate programs offered by our Department of Mining Engineering are among the top in the country.
Our master’s in mining engineering program provides students with the solid foundation of advanced engineering principles needed to enter the mining engineering field. And don’t think we forgot about the research. Students in the program conduct research to form an original thesis on topics such as surface mining, rock mechanics and ground control, mineral processing, mine subsidence engineering, and mine ventilation.
Courses include: Theory of Rock Failure, Mine Ventilation Network Optimization, and Expert Systems in Mining.
Graduates leave WVU ready for a career in mining engineering but just as importantly, with the capability to contribute to the field’s scholarly body of knowledge through independent research.
Build a Body of Clinical Work and Research with a Ph.D. in Psychology – Behavioral Analysis
WVU’s behavior analysis program trains students in basic research, theory, and applications of behavior principles through a combination of research, courses, and clinical practice. Doctoral students develop their own research projects in applied behavior analysis or basic applied research. Students have access to five labs and have the opportunity to conduct clinical research alongside our highly-esteemed faculty members.
The curriculum is built around specialized courses including: Behavior Theory and Philosophy, Experimental Analysis of Behavior, and Research Issues in Behavior Analysis.
This Ph.D. program affords students extensive research and clinical experience. Graduates leave the program with the ability to function effectively in academic or applied roles and prepared to advance the field’s understanding of the principle of behavior through further research.
Don’t Forget to Check Out WVU’s Other Research-Intensive Graduate Programs
We know that these five programs might not be for everyone. But remember, these are just five out of the 180 West Virginia University graduate and professional offerings. The vast majority of MS and Ph.D. at WVU are research-intensive, so if we haven't touched on it already, we're confident you will find the research-intensive graduate program that speaks to you in our graduate school catalog. And to learn more about some of the specific courses mentioned, click here for a list of all graduate school course descriptions.
Are you interested in learning more about graduate study and what a research-based program can offer you? We’ve compiled a resource— A Guide to Research-Based Graduate Programs at WVU — to help you in your search.
