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Graduate Academic Programs

At Vanderbilt, students of the Graduate School can follow a varied path model to earn a customized post-baccalaureate degree that will propel them forward in their chosen field of study and help them meet their career goals.

Your Path to a Graduate Degree

The Vanderbilt Graduate School confirms academic requirements for and grants degrees that are either:

• Focused programs offered within a specific academic department located in other colleges or schools at the university.  
• Interdisciplinary programs designed to draw from faculty in departments across two or more academic units.  

There are 49 different Ph.D. programs offered by the Graduate School

There are 4 different Master of Arts programs offered by the Graduate School

There are 4 different Master of Science programs offered by the Graduate School

The Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing program is overseen by the University’s Department of English

The Master of Liberal Arts and Science program is overseen by the University’s College of Arts and Science

Find Your Program

This program finder has been filtered to include only degrees granted by the Graduate School. If you don't see your discipline, it may be housed in a professional school and searchable on the full university program finder . 

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If you are pursuing a specific discipline that is not offered by the Graduate School, your program may be housed within a Vanderbilt professional school that grants their degrees independently (i.e. M.Ed. from the Peabody College of Education and Human Development). For these programs, the student takes classes solely at the professional school and receives their degree from them instead of the Graduate School.  

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Summary of Ph.D. Students, 2016

Summary of Ph.D. Students, 2011 - 2015

Computer Science Graduate Degree Programs

The computer science program provides opportunities for students to join vibrant collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts in artificial intelligence, computer animation and virtual environments, cyber-physical systems, distributed real-time and embedded middleware, human-systems integration, image processing, intelligent learning environments, model-integrated computing, robotics, software engineering and trustworthy computing. Students can explore a broad range of research areas in computer science, as well as interdisciplinary research opportunities in areas related to the School of Engineering’s strategic directions in health care and medicine, security, energy and natural resources and entertainment.

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Important Admissions Deadlines

Applications for both spring and fall admission open on August 1.

Graduate Degree Programs

The department of Computer Science at Vanderbilt University offers Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and thesis and non-thesis Master of Science (M.S.) degrees in Computer Science. The Ph.D. program  will prepare students for a career in research through a combination of didactic coursework and individual research advisorship, culminating in a dissertation. The CS graduate program encourages both fundamental and interdisciplinary research. State-of-the-art facilities that include computational resources, networks, and laboratories in several areas are available to support research activities.

The graduate program in CS is structured around four primary areas :

• Computing Foundations
• Computer and Network Systems
• Information and Intelligent Systems
• Medical Image Computing

Please click here to view details of the application process through the Graduate School.

If you have any additional questions about the admission and application process please contact Sara Raiszadeh (MS) or Melissa Harrell (PhD).

• Program Structure
• Admissions Requirements
• Award Opportunities
• Explore CS Research Areas
• Meet the CS Faculty

Online Masters of Science (MS)

An online option for the M.S. degree in computer science is available. Applications to both the online and residency programs are managed separately. Students may not combine the online and residency formats to complete the computer science degree program.

• Explore the Online Program
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• Online Admissions

Application and Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

Academic records, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and the statement of purpose are all taken into consideration for admission.

Special Note:   The Graduate Program for Computer Science has indefinitely waived GRE scores for consideration for admission.

The Graduate Program in Computer Science at Vanderbilt University offers students the opportunity to earn a Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Currently, we do not offer a Master’s in Engineering (M.E.) in Electrical Engineering.

Applicants who are interested in earning a Ph.D., whether or not they have a master’s degree, are encouraged to apply directly to the Ph.D. program. Students who are accepted to the Ph.D. program with a bachelor’s degree can earn the master’s degree on the way to their Ph.D.

No. However, you are encouraged to list any faculty in which you may want to work with that are in line with your research interest.

You are encouraged to explore the research institutes and groups in the department which have their faculty and contacts listed:  https://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/research/centers-institutes/

You can also view the faculty Directory for Computer Science here: https://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/computer-science/people/

Transfer to the Ph.D. program from the Master’s will depend on the research progress and will typically need to be exceptional and beyond Master’s level. Requests to transfer programs are subject to approval from the academic advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies.

Master’s Students:  Currently, funding is not available to students admitted to the Master’s program.

Ph.D. Students:  The School of Engineering seeks to provide a competitive admission package to its students. Ph.D. students are typically awarded an Engineering Graduate Fellowship. The fellowship includes a tuition waiver, a monthly stipend (amount varies per year), payment of student service fees, and the premium for Vanderbilt student health insurance for an individual under the comprehensive plan. Typically, first-year students will participate in teaching experience and will serve as a teaching assistant.

The continuation of funding is dependent on academic and research progress toward your degree.

At this time, our program does not offer Day 1 CPT.

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an off-campus employment option available to F-1 students when the training experience is considered to be an integral part of the established curriculum and directly related to the student's major area of study. ("Training" is used here to refer to paid or unpaid internships or employment. According to Immigration regulations, CPT may be an internship, practicum, or other work experience that is required for the degree program (as defined in the course catalog) or for which academic course credit is awarded)
• For more information regarding CPT please visit:   https://www.vanderbilt.edu/isss/immigration/f-1-students/employment/cpt/

Application Process

The application for both the spring and fall admission cycle will open on August 1. To be considered for admission for the fall, applications must be submitted by January 15. To be considered for admission for the spring, applications must be submitted by October 15.

To apply for admission to the Graduate Program in Computer Science, you will need to submit an application for admission electronically through   The Graduate School.   Application requirements include:

All components of your application will be considered, including all test scores.

TOEFL: The minimum acceptable score on the paper-based TOEFL is 570, and the internet-based test, 88

IELTS: The minimum acceptable score is 6.5

Applicants are exempt from this requirement if they have earned a degree from an institution in a country where English is the primary (official) language of instruction. The waiver is granted automatically through the application based on the institution input.

In addition, applicants who would normally be required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores, but who have been working for at least the prior three years in the US or another country in which English is the official language, can petition to have that requirement waived.

The Application Checklist on the application status page will display a status of “waived.”

You do not need to mail in original transcripts when applying. You should upload an unofficial transcript from prior undergraduate or graduate work as a part of your online application. Official transcripts are required only after an offer of admission is made and accepted.

If you are submitting an application to the Master's program, there is no fee. If you are submitting an application to the PhD program. the application fee is 95.00 USD.

Waivers of the application fee will be considered automatically as part of the application process for US citizens and US permanent residents (documentation may be required). Unfortunately, application waivers are not available automatically for international students. Discretionary waivers may be granted at the request of the applicant. Waiver requests must include documentation to support the reason of the request.

For additional questions and information about application fee waivers please contact:   [email protected]

You may check the status of your application through your applicant portal here:   apply.vanderbilt.edu

You may upload additional documents after the application has been submitted.

Yes. You may submit your application even if all recommendation letters have not been submitted. However, an admission decision cannot be released until all materials, including recommendation letters, are received.

All official decisions will be communicated by the Graduate School on or before March 31 (for fall admissions) or December 1 (for spring admissions).

If you have received an offer of admission, the department administrator will contact you for next steps.

Typically you will have 2 weeks to respond with either your acceptance or rejection of the admission offer. You should complete the Admission Response Form through the application portal to indicate your response.

Financial Aid

Graduate students in the electrical engineering and computer science department seeking the Ph.D. degree receive a competitive stipend, full tuition waiver and health insurance. Typically, students are first supported on a Teaching Assistantship and then a Research Assistantship once a thesis advisor has been identified. Students on a Teaching Assistantship assist the faculty with undergraduate courses, typically by grading assignments and holding office hours. Opportunities to teach are available for those that wish to gain such experience. Both Teaching and Research Assistantships can be supplemented by any one of the following university fellowships, which are awarded through a competitive process to highly qualified applicants.

University Graduate Fellowships: $5,000/year for up to 5 years.

Provost's Graduate Fellowships: $10,000/year for up to 5 years.

Harold Stirling Vanderbilt Graduate Scholarships: $6,000/year for up to 5 years.

School of Engineering IBM Fellowships: $5,000/year for up to 4 years plus an award of $1,000 for professional development.

In order to be considered for these fellowships, an applicant's file must be complete by January 15. Prospective applicants are also urged to apply for external fellowships or grants from national, international, industrial or foundation sources.

Prof. Ipek Oguz Dir. of Graduate Recruitment [email protected]

Prof. Abhishek Dubey Dir. of Graduate Studies (MS) [email protected]

Prof. Taylor Johnson Dir. of Graduate Studies (PhD) [email protected]

Sara Raiszadeh Graduate Program Coordinator [email protected]

Melissa Harrell Graduate Program Coordinator [email protected]

Registration/Coursework:

• CITI/RCR Requirement Form
• Individual Studies Form (found in YES) - User Guide for Individual Studies Form
• Transfer Credit Form

Graduation:

• Intent to Graduate/Commencement Form (found in YES)
• Thesis Defense Schedule Form (coming soon)

Miscellaneous Forms:

• Internship Approval Form
• Change of Advisor Form
• BS/MS Program Request Form
• Committee Selection/Change Form
• Qualifying Exam Request Form
• Dissertation Defense Request Form

CS General Document Submission Form  - Secure document upload

Vanderbilt University

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Work for the PhD degree is offered in all major fields and historical periods of philosophy. The department has strengths in epistemology, ethics, feminist philosophy, metaphysics, phenomenology, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, philosophy of religion, and social and political philosophy. Our faculty reflects a variety of approaches and methodologies, including analytic, continental, historical, and pragmatic. Students must complete at least 47 hours of formal course work, in addition to satisfying other requirements. See our Rules and Procedures for a detailed statement of degree requirements. Those who are offered admission to our PhD program receive a full stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance for five years. We admit students for a terminal MA (30 hours of coursework) only under special circumstances.

The following five requirements compose the PhD Program in Philosophy at Vanderbilt.

• Coursework Requirement 1
• Logic Requirement
• Foreign Language Requirement
• Field Exam and Project Abstract Requirement
• Prospectus and Dissertation Requirement

Semester 1: At the end of the first semester, students must have completed at least 11 credits, including three three-credit courses and the two-credit Proseminar. Students are advised to sit for the Logic exam (and to audit Phil 3003, “Formal Logic & Its Applications,” if necessary).

Semester 2: At the end of the second semester, students must have completed at least three additional three-credit courses, thereby bringing the student’s total number of coursework credits to at least 20, and they must have attempted to satisfy the Logic Requirement.

Semester 3: Students must take the Language Exam by September 1st of the third semester. At the end of the third semester students must have completed at least three additional three-credit courses, thereby bringing the student’s total number of coursework credits to at least 29, and they must have satisfied the Logic Requirement.

Semester 4: At the end of the fourth semester, students must have completed at least three additional three-credit courses, thereby bringing the student’s total number of coursework credits to at least 38. They must have passed the Foreign Language Exam by April 15th.

Semester 5: At the end of the fifth semester, students must have completed at least three additional three-credit courses, thereby bringing the student’s total number of coursework credits to at least 47, and satisfied all aspects of the Coursework Requirement. They must also have assembled the Field Exam Committee, started a bibliography, and submitted the committee names and bibliography to the DGS by December 1st.

Semester 6: In the sixth semester, students must register for at least nine research hours, thereby bringing their total number of graduate credits to at least 56, and they must meet all specified deadlines for the Field Exam (which must be passed by April 1st) and Project Abstract (which must be submitted by April 15th).

Semester 7: In the seventh semester, students should register for nine research credits, thereby bringing their total number of credits to 65. By September 30th, students must have passed the Qualifying Exam (Prospectus Oral Defense) and satisfied all preceding requirements, thereby achieving ABD status.

Semesters 7-10: During this time, students must register for a sufficient number of research credits to ensure the completion of the required 72 credit-hours by the time they are ready to defend the Dissertation. Once students have reached 72 credit hours, they should continue in subsequent semesters to register for research hours at zero credits in order to maintain active student status.

Semester 10: By the end of the tenth semester, students should have passed the Final Defense (Dissertation Oral Defense), thereby completing all requirements for the PhD.

 1. Course Distribution Requirement

Students will take at least 5 seminars in the History of Philosophy and at least 5 seminars in Topical Areas of Philosophy, with the additional stipulation that students must take seminars from at least 3 different categories in each. The Topic and History categories are as follows, and the categorization of each graduate seminar in any given semester will be designated on the departmental course schedule.

Topical Area Categories 

• T1. Mind and Language 
• T2. Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics 
• T3. Metaphysics and Epistemology
• T4. Race, Gender, Identity
• T5. Contemporary Philosophical Movements

Historical Categories 

• H1. Ancient Philosophy 
• H2. Medieval Philosophy 
• H3. Modern Philosophy 
• H4. 19th Century Philosophy 
• H5. 20th Century Philosophy 
• H6. Trans-era History of Philosophy
• Completion of the online application to the Vanderbilt Graduate School
• Submission of official GRE scores
• Submission of unofficial transcripts
• Submission of at least three, but at most five, letters of recommendation
• Submission of a philosophically substantive writing sample of manageable length (ordinarily no more than 7,000 words)
• Scholarships

University Tuition Scholarships are service-free awards that pay all or part of tuition costs. The following graduate awards are normally supplemented by a full University Tuition Scholarship, which usually includes student health insurance coverage: University Fellowships, Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Research Assistantships, Traineeships, and Teacher Training Awards.

Princeton University

Rice University

Carnegie Mellon University

Philosophy (clinical psychology).

University of Wollongong

Philosophy (health science).

La Trobe University

Griffith University

Deakin University

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Philosophy at Vanderbilt University

Here, you'll find out more about the major, including such details as the number of graduates, what degree levels are offered, ethnicity of students, average salaries, and more. We've also included details on how Vanderbilt ranks compared to other colleges offering a major in philosophy.

Jump to any of the following sections:

• Available Degrees
• Student Demographics
• Related Majors

Philosophy Degrees Available at Vanderbilt

• Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy
• Master’s Degree in Philosophy
• Doctorate Degree in Philosophy

Vanderbilt Philosophy Rankings

Vanderbilt is in the top 10% of the country for philosophy. More specifically it was ranked #8 out of 79 schools by College Factual. It is also ranked #1 in Tennessee .

Popularity of Philosophy at Vanderbilt

During the 2020-2021 academic year, Vanderbilt University handed out 28 bachelor's degrees in philosophy. This is an increase of 22% over the previous year when 23 degrees were handed out.

In 2021, 2 students received their master’s degree in philosophy from Vanderbilt. This makes it the #100 most popular school for philosophy master’s degree candidates in the country.

In addition, 5 students received their doctoral degrees in philosophy in 2021, making the school the #24 most popular school in the United States for this category of students.

How Much Do Philosophy Graduates from Vanderbilt Make?

Salary of philosophy graduates with a bachelor's degree.

Philosophy majors who earn their bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt go on to jobs where they make a median salary of $31,978 a year. This is higher than $28,602, which is the national median for all philosophy bachelor's degree recipients.

Philosophy Student Diversity at Vanderbilt

Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the philosophy majors at Vanderbilt University.

Vanderbilt Philosophy Bachelor’s Program

Of the 28 students who graduated with a Bachelor’s in philosophy from Vanderbilt in 2021, 71% were men and 29% were women.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor's in philosophy.

Vanderbilt Philosophy Master’s Program

Of the 2 students who graduated with a Master’s in philosophy from Vanderbilt in 2021, 50% were men and 50% were women.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Vanderbilt University with a master's in philosophy.

Most Popular Majors Related to Philosophy

View All Philosophy Related Majors >

• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• Image Credit: By Dansan4444 under License

More about our data sources and methodologies .

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ACT, SAT and Philosophy Tutoring from Vanderbilt PhD Jessica P.

61 hours tutoring, act, sat and philosophy tutoring from vanderbilt phd act, sat and philosophy tutoring from vanderbilt phd jessica p., about jessica.

I am a jack-of-all-trades tutor with a PhD from Vanderbilt University. I am a fun, accessible, and effective teacher! Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions; see below for a sample list of my subject areas.

ACT AND SAT TUTORING

I provide my students with updated and effective guidance for the ACT and SAT reading, writing, and language exams. We practice using recent exams and we hone holistic test-taking strategies. You will come away with greater reading and...

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COLLEGE COUNSELING AND ADVISEMENT

For several years I served as Director of Undergraduate Studies and Undergraduate Advisor in the Humanities Department where I work. I have experience helping scores of students represent themselves effectively "on paper," and in interviews. I also know a lot of people, including academics, who received their degrees from Oxford and Cambridge, so I can give you some advice about applying to those institutions.

I have my PhD in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University. I am currently a professor of philosophy teaching in New York. I am able to help you understand philosophical concepts and arguments, review for exams, read and interpret philosophical texts, and write philosophy papers.

I have helped people in the corporate world structure their public presentations and develop their public speaking skills. My expertise in philosophy enables me to help you clarify the content of your argument and logically organize your presentations.

I have high-level training writing pedagogy. I can help no matter what the subject, even if I have not read the book or article on which you are working.

I tutor in areas including Biology, Literature, and American History.

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Biostatistics Graduate Program

Julia thome is first author of public health reports paper.

Posted by duthip1 on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in News .

Congratulations to PhD candidate Julia Thome on the publication of Reporting of Child Maltreatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Southern State in the United States in  Public Health Reports last week, online ahead of print. The paper was co-authored by associate professor Rameela Raman and colleagues at the Vanderbilt Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody, which is within the Vanderbilt Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. Thome, Raman, and the other members of this team studied how COVID-19 stay-at-home orders may have affected trends in child maltreatment allegations across different socioeconomic groups.

Tags: child abuse , child maltreatment , child neglect , COVID-19 , hotline calls , publications

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Congratulations to Graduate Hood Recipient Genesis Sorrick!

The Department of Philosophy is so proud of M.A. graduate Genesis Sorrick. Not only was she selected as graduate hood recipient for the College of Liberal and Creative Arts, but she also served as graduate speaker at San Francisco State University's 123 rd Commencement on May 24, 2024.

( From SF State News )

Genesis Sorrick, M.A., Philosophy College of Liberal & Creative Arts

In September 2020, amidst the chaos of COVID-19, the eerie orange sky from raging wildfires and the protests against police brutality, Genesis Sorrick gave birth to her first child. Bringing a human into the world during this time was incredibly daunting. Sorrick responded with her characteristic strength, integrity and clear-sighted optimism. Inspired to understand the world better and envision a brighter future for her daughter, she decided to return to college and complete her B.A. in Philosophy at SF State.

Later, during Sorrick’s first semester as a Philosophy grad student at SF State, she began to experience excruciating pain and debilitating neurological symptoms. Nevertheless, she refused to let desperation consume her. She channeled her energy into understanding her experience and found solace in her academic studies.

She excelled in her courses, writing brilliant research papers, contributing insightfully to discussions and the life of the department, working conscientiously as a teaching assistant and maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average (GPA). Living with chronic pain led Sorrick to her M.A. thesis: a remarkably original, meticulously researched and highly persuasive account of medical gaslighting.

“Philosophy allowed me to ground myself in something other than my pain and focus on envisioning a better world for my daughters,” she said.

Sorrick’s journey has been shaped by additional obstacles. She is a Mexican-born woman and the first in her family to complete a college degree. Also, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, she came out to friends and family in high school in a primarily right-wing, conservative town. Rather than dissuade her from pursuing her dreams, these experiences helped Sorrick develop the strength and tenacity she has needed to thrive at SF State, raise her children and live with chronic pain. She is a remarkable person, with a strong commitment to enacting positive change, both as a philosopher and a mother.

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May 31, 2024, 1:50 PM

Ten faculty members from Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development were awarded global engagement funding for the current and upcoming academic year from the Office of Global Engagement . These awards reflect Peabody’s commitment to worldwide collaboration that enhances learning and development in diverse contexts and translates discoveries into more effective practice and policy.

Vanderbilt Global Scholars in Residence

In spring 2025, Peabody faculty members will host three Global Scholars in Residence :

• James Booth , Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Educational Neuroscience, will host Jérôme Prado, an expert in the cognition and neuroscience of math learning from the French National Center for Scientific Research. Prado has developed an online training course on the learning and teaching of mental arithmetic. He plans to adapt this course for elementary education master’s degree students, including interactive activities to enhance their understanding of arithmetic teaching and encourage discussion on the educational differences between France and the U.S.
• Ellen Goldring , Patricia and Rodes Hart Chair, professor of education and leadership, and vice dean, will host Audrey Addi-Raccah, an expert in the sociology of education and education policy, with a focus on inequality and school improvement in the Israeli education system. She will collaborate with doctoral students and faculty to study institutional resilience in schools and educational systems, and to develop a school resiliency index addressing inequality in education using large-scale data from the U.S. and Israel.
• Krista Mehari , assistant professor of psychology and human development, will host Drishti Sharma, senior manager of health systems and policy research at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), New Delhi, India. Sharma will work with researchers and students at Vanderbilt on projects relating to youth safety from a global perspective.

In spring 2024, Peabody faculty members hosted two Global Scholars in Residence:

• Bethany Rittle-Johnson , professor of psychology, hosted Serkan Özel , associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Science Education at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Turkey. Özel collaborates with academic, industry, and non-governmental organization partners to empower students, with a particular emphasis on leveraging innovative STEM education approaches to uplift those from disadvantaged communities. He also works with educators on implementing social justice classroom practices to support the educations of ethnically minoritized students in Turkey. Read the article about Özel’s visit to learn more.
• Huili Hong , professor of the practice of teaching and learning, co-hosted Li Wei , professor of applied linguistics and director and dean of the Institute of Education at University College London, with  Noel Enyedy , professor of science education and chair of the  Department of Teaching and Learning , and  Melanie Hundley , professor of the practice of teaching and learning and associate department chair. During Li’s visit, he gave a talk on translanguaging, a philosophy of multilingual communication, which, in practice, allows multilinguals to naturally integrate and flexibly use all their languages and other communication resources to develop and convey meaning. Read the article about Li’s visit to learn more.

Global Engagement Travel Grants

Five faculty members received Global Engagement Travel Grants for spring and June 2024:

• Jason Chow , associate professor of special education, will attend the Network Meta-Analyses Course at the University of Oxford.
• Brian D. Christens , professor of human and organizational development, will present “Linking collaboration to community capacity-building: a network approach” at the Conference of the International Network for Social Network Analysis in Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Xiu Cravens , professor of the practice of education policy, was invited to the Asia Educational Leadership Roundtable 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, and will be a facilitator for multiple panel discussions.
• Brian Kissel , professor of the practice of literacy, will present “Creating spaces to promote antiracism and activism through children’s writing” at the summer 2024 conference of the United Kingdom Literacy Association, meeting at the University of Sussex, Brighton, England.
• Sophia Vinci-Booher , assistant professor of psychology and human development, will present “Learning through the hands: How handwriting supports early letter learning” at the 2024 International Mind, Brain and Education Society Conference in Leuven, Belgium.

Global Engagement Research Seed Grants

Two faculty members received Global Engagement Research Seed Grants for fall 2024:

• Jason Chow , associate professor of special education, received a grant for “Infrastructure for a global evidence and implementation research synthesis collaborative.”
• Xiu Cravens , professor of the practice of education policy, received a grant for “Collaborative applied research for teacher development through improvement science in the Asia Pacific region.”

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No diploma: Colleges withhold degrees from students after pro-Palestinian protests

CHICAGO – Graduation is an important moment for many Americans. More than just pomp and circumstance, the ceremonies mark when students are handed the most coveted testimonial in academic life: A diploma.

But for some college students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests, campus activism has cost them their degrees – at least for a while.

“Four years and just a criminal record, nothing else,” said Youssef Hasweh, one of four students at the University of Chicago who have had their degrees withheld pending an investigation into a protest encampment. “A decade of (high school and college) work down the toilet because I decided to express my free speech.”

Students being denied conferment – some of whom have faced arrests, expulsions, suspensions and other disciplinary action – say they're in limbo and are being made into examples. As they await appeals processes and the results of university investigations, they're preparing for an uncertain future. In the worst-case scenario, they'll be saddled with debt and will have no degree to show for it.

But while the stakes are high, they told USA TODAY that none of them regret their part in campus protests over Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

"I have these punishments and have to work through this stress, but it's incomparable to the plight of Palestinians," said Devron Burks, a Vanderbilt student who was arrested and expelled following the occupation of a campus building. "I don't regret it, and I don't think I ever will."

'We’ll be degreeless and jobless'

Hasweh, who has been active in pro-Palestinian protests since the Israel-Hamas war broke out, received an email about a week before graduation that his degree would not be conferred.

"I recently received multiple complaints regarding the quad encampment that report issues related to disruptive conduct. In investigating the matter, you have been identified as an individual that may have been involved," Jeremy W. Inabinet, an associate dean of students, wrote Hasweh in a May 24 email. "Given the fact that you will be involved in the Disciplinary System for Disruptive Conduct and in consultation with the Faculty Chair, your degree will not be conferred until the resolution of this matter occurs."

Hasweh was allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies on Saturday but received only "an empty diploma case," he said.

Hasweh is a political science student who has family in the West Bank. He suspects the university singled him and three of his classmates because they were among a group arrested on trespassing charges for participating in a pro-Palestinian sit-in in the fall. The arrest led to an eight-month school investigation that ended with warnings for the students. Hasweh fears they won’t be let off the hook again.

“Everything is on the table again, and we’re gambling with expulsion,” he said. “We’ll be degreeless and jobless and put in this impossible situation.”

While the university did not answer specific questions about the arrests, it said in statement on disciplinary proceedings that “degrees can be conferred expeditiously, depending upon the resolution.”

Vanderbilt student loses job offer after diploma withheld

Burks, the expelled Vanderbilt student, is preparing for a frightening scenario: No degree and a lot of student debt.

The 21-year-old, along with about two dozen other students, occupied an administration building for more than 10 hours before campus police broke up the demonstration. Most of them were placed on interim suspension, while Burks and two others were arrested on an assault charge and later expelled. In a statement , the university said the three students pushed a community service officer and a staff member as they forced their way into the building – a claim Burks denies.

Burks, who uses they/them pronouns, spent hours in a holding cell before being released. Barred from campus, Burks was evicted from their apartment and for the last several weeks has slept in Airbnbs and on friend’s couches.

Instead of being applauded on stage at a 30,000-seat soccer stadium, Burks celebrated graduation a few days early at a backyard in Nashville. In front of a few dozen students, faculty members and local activists, Burks received a mock diploma and a superlative: “Most likely to go on a date after this.”

Now at home in Georgia, Burks is looking for work while in the midst of an arduous appeal process to obtain their degree. The psychology student already has had one job offer rescinded.

“This has been the most stressful time,” Burks said. "Without my degree conferral, I can't move on with my life."

Harvard will not confer degree until at least 2026, student says

Harvard University barred several students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests from graduating, according to a statement from student organizers.

Syd Sanders, a senior who may not receive his degree until May 2026, told USA TODAY he was "shocked" by the university's decision, and added he and his fellow students were being punished to deter others from protesting.

"It's insane," Sanders, 22, said. "This was really sneaky of the school, and I think it reveals where they stand on free speech."

Jonathan Palumbo, a spokesperson for Harvard, said in an email that the university does not "comment on specific student disciplinary matters."

Sanders said his family was upset at the school and disappointed they couldn't see Sanders walk on commencement day. Back in Belfast, Maine, where he became one of the nation’s first openly transgender high school valedictorians, Sanders is looking for work as a labor organizer.

“I'm going to move on with my life," he said. "I'm filing my appeal so I'm going to try to get my diploma, I guess. But right now I really just am excited to be away from that place."

Degrees of two Princeton students in jeopardy

At Princeton University, the degrees of two seniors have been thrown into uncertainty pending the results of an investigation into a protest that broke out at an annual event for alums.

During President Christopher Eisgruber’s address on May 25, protesters stood up, raised up their red-painted hands and shouted pro-Palestinian chants, videos show. After a few minutes, the demonstrators walked out and continued to protest outside.

Khari Franklin, one of the two seniors who's not received his degree, was inside the auditorium but did not participate in the demonstration, he told The Daily Princetonian . He said he decided to leave to avoid any possible discipline since he was among a group of students arrested in late April when police broke up a sit-in. Franklin and the other students received summonses for trespassing and were temporarily barred from campus.

“It is standard University practice that when seniors are involved in alleged disciplinary violations soon before Commencement, their degrees are held pending the conclusion of a disciplinary investigation," said a statement by Jennifer Morrill, a Princeton University spokesperson.

"The University continues to enforce viewpoint-neutral time, place, and manner rules during end-of-year events. A wide range of protest activity is permitted, including walking out of an event. Significantly disrupting University operations and events is not permitted.”

On Monday, Franklin received an email telling him that while he could attend the commencement, he would not be given a diploma until the investigation is concluded.

“It's very surreal. Because on one hand, I have not quite processed that the university would have gone this far, and been this drastic ... without any indication or warning or reasonable expectation that a rule had been broken,” he told the student newspaper. “But at the same time, I also am not surprised.”

Disciplinary actions linger into summer break

At several schools, the threat of suspensions and other disciplinary action looms over dozens of students.

Columbia University administrators gave more than 30 students interim suspensions that could become permanent, according to Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of pro-Palestinian student organizations. Barnard College students protesting at Columbia also were suspended, the group said.

Neither Barnard nor Columbia, which has been at the epicenter of college protests for months, replied to requests for comment.

In Florida, administrators at New College, a progressive public liberal arts school that state Republicans have been reshaping into a conservative institution, said students who interrupted the May 17 commencement with “boos” and chants of “free Palestine” could have their degrees withheld and face suspension .

"We support and protect the right of free speech while resolutely insisting upon civil discourse,” a statement from the school said. “Disruptive activities by a few individuals at a ceremonial event attended by hundreds is not representative of either of these principles.”

'I'd do it a thousand times over'

Hasweh, the University of Chicago student, had fantasized about attending the prestigious college for years before he was accepted. Now the graduation weekend he had long anticipated will be imbued with frustration, not only for him but for his family, too.

“How can a mother not be enraged that a school meant to take care of her child was the one that brutalized him,” Hasweh said.

Still, Hasweh’s resolve is intact.

“Even if I don't get my degree, I'd do it a thousand times over,” he said.

Department of Psychology

Vss 2024 – a great vanderbilt showing.

Posted by gauthii on Sunday, May 26, 2024 in Events: Past , News .

This year, Vanderbilt was well represented at the Vision Sciences Society (VSS) conference with several exciting presentations from researchers from Psychology as well as other departments.

Randolph Blake and Isabel Gauthier presented during the awards ceremony as their received, respectively, the Ken Nakayama Medal and the Davida Teller awards, Frank Tong had a talk in the symposium on “Using deep networks to re-imagine object-based attention and perception”, and Isabel presented Ting-Yun Chang’s dissertation in a talk entitled “A General Ability for Simple and Complex Ensemble Judgments”

Several other Vanderbilt investigators presented posters: Loic Daumail, Wenhao Dang, Gengshi Hu, Xinger Yu, Lasyapriya Pidaparthi, Pranavan Thirunavukkarasu, Ikhwan Jeon, Wanyi Lyu, Connor J. Parde, David Coggan, Peter G. Poggi, Seth Marx, Huiyuan Miao, Geoffrey Woodman, Jia Yang, Conor J. R. Smithson, and Anna Machado.

Congrats to everyone for showcasing the depth and diversity of research at Vanderbilt, demonstrating our commitment to advancing the cutting-edge of vision science.

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How to Knock Out Your Executive MBA Application as a Working Professional

By Arial Starks

Joe Wagstaffe

Starting your Executive MBA (EMBA) application may seem daunting or like another long task on your ‘To Do’ list, but with a little preparation and a quiet afternoon, you can be one step closer to achieving your educational and career goals. Joe Wagstaffe , Associate Director of Recruiting and Admissions, Vanderbilt Executive MBA, shares a few pointers for applicants preparing to hit ‘submit’ on their EMBA application. 

Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready

Applying to graduate school can be a lengthy process if you are ill-prepared. For working professionals who may not have as much time to dedicate to the application process , it is important to stay ready, so you don’t have to spend as much time gathering all of the items you will need to apply. 

Wagstaffe encourages working professionals to keep items like an updated resume on hand, as well as a list of professionals in your network who can serve as a recommender to you. Just having these two resources handy will save an applicant a great deal of time when applying to an Executive MBA program. 

“One of the biggest hurdles for working professionals applying to business school is trying to figure out how to make time to apply when they’ve already got a busy life,” Wagstaffe says. “A huge part of working this program into your schedule is time management and efficiency, and having some of the more taxing components of the application ready to go is a great way to incorporate that.” 

Review the Executive MBA application requirements

The very first step to applying for any graduate program is to review the admissions requirements for your desired program and learn the different components of the application. Wagstaffe tells us that for the Vanderbilt Executive MBA, a great way to approach the application is by first determining what items you, the applicant, are directly in control of and what items you are indirectly responsible for. 

Applicants are directly in control of the online application form, an updated resume, essays, and sending out requests for transcripts and recommendations. “That initial data is what they need to submit their application, to move it from open application to submitted,” Wagstaffe shares. 

Wagstaffe adds that the components of the application that applicants are indirectly responsible for include the items that take a little more time, “to go from submitted to completed, complete is where they get their decision, that phase of the process is going to be us receiving the transcripts, recommendations, entrance exam scores, and then completing their interview with Juli Bennett ,” Wagstaffe explains. 

Know your ‘why’

While you should have the more tangible checklist items ready for the Executive MBA application, you should also be thinking about your ‘why’. Knowing your reason for wanting to return to school and being able to articulate that through essays and interviewing will give you a leg up when it comes to a returned decision. 

“The initial part of the application I look at is, just on a surface level, who are you? What’s your experience? What do you bring to the table?” Wagsaffe says. “Our program is unique in that it’s so small with only 50 students. With that, we have to be really intentional with who’s in the room, so the goal is to put together this puzzle of people who have really interesting backgrounds and unique perspectives to contribute to the cohort.”

Knowing your ‘why’ can also keep you motivated and encourage you to progress when things become challenging. One of the first challenges applicants will face is the entrance exam.

“The biggest gap that we see that people have to bridge returning to school and coming into this program is the quantitative part,” Wagstaffe explains. “Understanding the quantitative part and how to sharpen those skills from an entrance exam perspective…that’s the area most people underestimate that they need to work on.”

Overcome imposter syndrome and submit your Executive MBA application with confidence

At any point during the application process, it is important for applicants to remember it is completely fine to have questions and concerns. Wagstaffe ensures that the Vanderbilt EMBA admissions team is there to provide any clarity needed to help set applicants up for a successful application process. 

“Ask every question you need to, so that when you hit submit, you know, you’ve done everything you need to do to feel confident in your application,” he says. 

Wagstaffe adds that applicants should come into the application process feeling deserving and confident, not allowing imposter syndrome to deter them. 

“If you’re considering an Executive MBA and you’ve talked to us and we feel like this could be the right fit, have confidence in hitting ‘submit’ on your application,” he says. “That’s why this program exists- for people who have taken the windier path to earning an MBA. It wasn’t necessarily the right time early on and now they are ready and should feel confident in taking that next step.”

Applications are still being accepted on a rolling basis.

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