The first and currently the only such degree in the United States, the Doctor of Philosophy in socio-technical systems trains scholars and visionaries seeking to explore new systems-centric paradigms for the 21st century. The goal of the program is to create a cadre of highly capable and entrepreneurial scholars whose research interests and contributions are tightly coupled with real-world needs and practices in areas such as energy, finance, health care, social networks and urban science. Similar programs include: the engineering systems doctoral degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the engineering and public policy program at Carnegie Melon University.