Doctoral Statement of Purpose for Research
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Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose for Research
Doctoral Admissions
- RIT/
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- Graduate Admission/
- Application Instructions and Process/
- Doctoral Statement of Purpose for Research
The statement of purpose for research in your doctoral program application is an opportunity for the Admissions Committee to learn the most about you as a prospective researcher.
View a Program’s Guidelines
Select a program to view its statement of purpose for research guidelines. There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count.
- Astrophysical Sciences and Technology Ph.D.
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Ph.D.
- Business Administration Ph.D.
- Cognitive Science Ph.D.
- Color Science Ph.D.
- Computing and Information Sciences Ph.D.
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D.
- Imaging Science Ph.D.
- Mathematical Modeling Ph.D.
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Ph.D.
- Microsystems Engineering Ph.D.
- Occupational Therapy OTD
- Physics Ph.D.
- Sustainability Ph.D.
Astrophysical Sciences and Technology Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research, we look for:
- your ability to present your thoughts in a clear, concise way
- evidence of your maturity and commitment to conduct research (you will be making contributions of worldwide impact in projects at the cutting edge of technology)
- your understanding of what studying for a Ph.D. means
- your awareness of technological advancement in the field and your vision for specific areas where you would like to do research
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research, we look for:
- your ability to present your thoughts in a clear, concise way
- evidence of your maturity and commitment to conduct research (you will be making contributions of worldwide impact in projects at the cutting edge of technology)
- your understanding of what studying for a Ph.D. means
- your awareness of technological advancement in the field and your vision for specific areas where you would like to do research
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Business Administration Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research:
- Explain your educational background, life, and work experiences, and how it has shaped your interest in the Ph.D. in Business Administration
- Why are you interested in the Ph.D. program at Saunders College of Business? Please be specific
- Describe any relevant research experience you have (e.g., master's or honors thesis, research assistantships)
- Identify any possible areas of research or research questions that interest you given the two areas of specialization: 1) Strategy & Innovation and 2) Finance and Accounting
- Tell us about a meaningful challenge or obstacle in your life and your response to it
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Cognitive Science Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research:
- Outline the key research question that motivates your proposed research
- Provide details about your academic background and preparedness to pursue that line of research
- Identify potential faculty advisor(s) from the Ph.D. in Cognitive Science faculty whose research interests suggest they would be suitable research mentors
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Color Science Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research, we look for:
- your ability to present your thoughts in a clear, concise way
- evidence of your maturity and commitment to conduct research (you will be making contributions of worldwide impact in projects at the cutting edge of technology)
- your understanding of what studying for a Ph.D. means
- your awareness of technological advancement in the field and your vision for specific areas where you would like to do research
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Computing and Information Sciences Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research, we look for:
- your ability to present your thoughts in a clear, concise way
- evidence of your maturity and commitment to conduct research (you will be making contributions of worldwide impact in projects at the cutting edge of technology)
- your understanding of what studying for a Ph.D. means
- your awareness of technological advancement in the field and your vision for specific areas where you would like to do research
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research, we look for:
- your ability to present your thoughts in a clear, concise way
- evidence of your maturity and commitment to conduct research (you will be making contributions of worldwide impact in projects at the cutting edge of technology)
- your understanding of what studying for a Ph.D. means
- your awareness of technological advancement in the field and your vision for specific areas where you would like to do research
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Imaging Science Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research, we look for:
- your ability to present your thoughts in a clear, concise way
- evidence of your maturity and commitment to conduct research (you will be making contributions of worldwide impact in projects at the cutting edge of technology)
- your understanding of what studying for a Ph.D. means
- your awareness of technological advancement in the field and your vision for specific areas where you would like to do research
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Mathematical Modeling Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research, we look for:
- your ability to present your thoughts in a clear, concise way
- evidence of your maturity and commitment to conduct research (you will be making contributions of worldwide impact in projects at the cutting edge of technology)
- your understanding of what studying for a Ph.D. means
- your awareness of technological advancement in the field and your vision for specific areas where you would like to do research
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research, we look for:
- your ability to present your thoughts in a clear, concise way
- evidence of your maturity and commitment to conduct research (you will be making contributions of worldwide impact in projects at the cutting edge of technology)
- your understanding of what studying for a Ph.D. means
- your awareness of technological advancement in the field and your vision for specific areas where you would like to do research
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Microsystems Engineering Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research, we look for:
- your ability to present your thoughts in a clear, concise way
- evidence of your maturity and commitment to conduct research (you will be making contributions of worldwide impact in projects at the cutting edge of technology)
- your understanding of what studying for a Ph.D. means
- your awareness of technological advancement in the field and your vision for specific areas where you would like to do research
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Physics Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research, we look for:
- Why are you interested in the Physics Ph.D. program at RIT? Please be specific.
- Describe any relevant research experiences such as undergraduate Capstone projects, REUs, master's thesis, research assistantships, etc. If circumstances have prevented you from having a research experience, please describe that instead.
- Identify what research areas you would be interested in if you are admitted to the program
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.
Sustainability Ph.D.
In your statement of purpose for research, we look for:
- your ability to present your thoughts in a clear, concise way
- evidence of your maturity and commitment to conduct research (you will be making contributions of worldwide impact in projects at the cutting edge of technology)
- your understanding of what studying for a Ph.D. means
- your awareness of technological advancement in the field and your vision for specific areas where you would like to do research
There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count. Upload your statement of purpose for research to your online application. This document will update your “Personal Statement of Educational Objectives” checklist item in your Application Portal.