Doctoral Program Structure

The Ph.D. degree program prepares individuals for teaching and scholarly positions in academic institutions. Small and highly individualized, the doctoral program allows students to pursue their own areas of interest. Candidates are expected to work closely with the Paul Merage School of Business faculty members and, when appropriate, with faculty from other academic units on campus. Admission is highly competitive, and only full-time study is allowed.

The doctoral program reflects the School's philosophy that a broad and cross-functional orientation is necessary to appreciate complex business problems that extend beyond the narrow confines of a particular discipline. Students planning academic careers can take advantage of teaching opportunities, along with instruction in teaching techniques, that are especially effective in management education.

Within the general field of management, many disciplines and technologies are appropriate for advanced study. Because doctoral candidates work closely with the Paul Merage School of Business faculty, areas of concentration often parallel the strengths of faculty members. These areas include accounting, finance, management information systems, marketing, operations and decision technologies, and organization and management, and strategy.

The doctoral program is divided into two phases, qualification and dissertation.

Qualification (Phase I)

The Qualification Phase provides students with a general exposure to their area of specialization, the discipline of management, and methodological tools. The Paul Merage School of Business' doctoral program curriculum is based on a flexible "menu" system, consisting of two menus of courses - one for research methods and one for theoretical breadth courses.

Coursework requirements are approved by the faculty from the student's area of specialization. Before advancing to candidacy, students also are required to complete four breadth courses on the school-wide menu and the theoretical menu, outside the student's major field. During the Qualification Phase, students acquire the knowledge necessary to conduct original research and scholarship including:

Knowledge of research, theory, and key issues in the major subfields in the area of specialization;
The appreciation of critical analytic abilities relevant to the area of specialization;
Research methods relevant to the area, including both knowledge of methods and a demonstration of the capacity to use the methods.

To advance beyond the Qualification Phase, students must complete all required coursework, a written preliminary examination, and a formal oral qualifying examination. The maximum duration of this phase is nine academic quarters, or three calendar years, inclusive of summer quarters.

Dissertation (Phase II)

The Dissertation Phase requires the completion of a significant original research project and a dissertation which demonstrates the candidate's creativity and ability to launch and sustain a career in research. The type of research project selected is an important determinant of the amount of time a student will spend in this phase. Upon approval of the dissertation and final examination (dissertation defense), the student's doctoral committee recommends the conferral of the degree. The Dissertation Phase is expected to take 12 to18 months, and the entire doctoral program is expected to take four years.

Required Coursework

In addition to the coursework requirements agreed upon by the faculty from within the student's area of specialization, students will be required to complete a total of at least two courses from the Theoretical Breadth Menu and/or Paul Merage School of Business Ph.D. theory seminars outside the student's major field before advancing to candidacy. In addition to the required courses, the advisor may ask a student to take additional courses to gain further expertise in the area.