Baylor sets record for research doctorates awarded

An important part of Baylor’s growth as a Christian research university has been the expansion of doctoral degree programs, which have in turn welcomed increasing numbers of doctoral students. This year, that growth has culminated in a record — and a brand new Commencement ceremony celebrating student accomplishments.

Summer 2024 Commencement marked a record-setting moment for the Baylor Graduate School: 134 students earned a research doctorate, breaking a record set at last year’s Summer Commencement. (What’s a research doctorate, you ask? Those are doctoral degrees that feature a major research component; at Baylor, that includes doctor of philosophy (PhD), doctor of education (EdD), doctor of science (DSc), and doctor of psychology (PsyD) degrees.)

With that record comes an entirely new part of the Baylor Commencement experience. Baylor hosted its first Doctoral Commencement Ceremony this past weekend, specifically honoring those research doctoral graduates. The increasing numbers of doctoral students choosing Baylor (now more than 900) made it clear they were ready for a ceremony of their own. They now have one — intimate enough to highlight their distinct accomplishments, and big enough to accommodate all who celebrate them.

(One sign of the increased demand: After Baylor announced the new ceremony earlier this spring, the number of RSVPs forced a move from the Hurd Welcome Center to the Ferrell Center to have enough room for the candidates and their 1,000-plus guests.)

Friday’s ceremony featured the traditional hooding of each degree recipient, along with a charge from Graduate School Dean Larry Lyon (BA ’71), addressing the students who will soon take on new roles as professors, postdocs or research professionals at global universities, research labs, or public and private organizations with a bent toward science and engineering.

“Baylor’s impact as a Christian research university isn’t measured just by research dollars or the number of graduates,” Dr. Lyon shared. “It’s measured in the accomplishments of our graduates. So, my charge to our research doctorates is that, as they leverage all they learned here, that through their scholarship and service, they demonstrate why the world needs a Baylor.”

Sic ’em, Baylor doctoral students and graduates!