Program Requirements
An advisory committee works with each new doctoral student to determine the course sequence, review performance, and evaluate progress. Students entering with an MBA degree are expected to complete these courses and credit hours toward the PhD degree:
- Advanced quantitative/research methods (12-20 credits)
- Core courses in concentration area (12-16 credits)
- Specialization courses (12-16 credits)
- Pedagogy course (two credits)
Prerequisites: Entering students will have taken introductory coursework in microeconomics, computer programming, and calculus.
Sample Course Schedules
Below are several sample schedules for students entering with MBA degrees. As noted above, each student’s background and interests are considered when designing a doctoral studies program.
Exam Requirements
After completing coursework requirements, students must pass a comprehensive examination and successfully defend a dissertation proposal and dissertation. Depending on background, students entering doctoral studies with an MBA or equivalent degree may expect to complete the program in four to five years.
Additional Information About the Program
Beyond coursework, doctoral students are expected to satisfy the following requirements for candidacy:
- Maintain an active research program
- Establish proficiency in statistical applications (such as Python, R, SPSS, and SAS) and advanced analytic methodologies, including computational modeling
- Attend seminars for doctoral students, in which research and current literature are discussed, and give presentations of their own research
- Develop expertise in teaching; generally, this is accomplished by teaching and attending pedagogy sessions
- Satisfactorily complete the written and oral comprehensive examination
- Students must obtain permission from their advisory committee and the program director to take the examination. The written examination assesses a student’s research and statistical skills, understanding of theory and research applicable to their particular track, and knowledge of their specialization/concentration. The oral examination, if required, is taken after the written test is passed.
- Write and defend an acceptable dissertation
Withdrawal
Students who withdraw from all courses for which they are registered at the University must follow a formal withdrawal procedure if they wish their record to indicate good standing. Mere absence from class does not constitute due notice of withdrawal. No grades are recorded for students who formally withdraw within the first eight weeks of the semester.
Adds, drops or changes of courses are approved through the SOM Advising Office and the Graduate School. Students may add, drop, substitute courses, or change credit hours for courses carrying variable credit without penalty within the add/drop period determined by the registrar’s office. After that date, students may make changes only with the approval of the SOM Advising Office and the vice provost and dean of the Graduate School.
Students may withdraw from a course without restrictions through the add/drop period without a recorded grade. After the add/drop period, courses dropped will automatically receive a grade of W. When dealing with modular courses, deadlines are analogous to those specified above. For a module taken during the first mini-semester, the fourth week of the semester is the deadline for dropping without academic penalty. For modules held during the second mini-semester, the 12th week of the semester is the deadline.
Residency Requirement
Regardless of previous graduate experience, the minimum residence requirement for any graduate degree is 24 credits. If a student has interrupted graduate work for more than two semesters, credit for work taken prior to the interruption is reassessed by the school. Students must be registered during the semester their degree requirements are completed.
Degree Candidacy
Students must submit a Graduate Application for Degree, notifying the Office of Student Records and Financial Aid of their intention to graduate at the end of a semester by the posted deadline for the semester.
Undergraduate Students Beginning Graduate Programs
Undergraduate students in SOM who have completed all but two courses required for graduation may register for up to eight hours of graduate coursework for graduate credit. After securing the consent of the respective faculty member(s), students must submit an Undergraduate Receiving Graduate Credit: Transcript Notation Petition to the Office of Student Records and Financial Aid. No graduate credit is granted unless this petition has been submitted and approved. Courses submitted for graduate credit are not counted toward the undergraduate degree.
For more information on the Management PhD program, please refer to the School of Management website. To apply to the Management PhD program, please visit the University Admissions website.