Curriculum

All students must be well versed in the general functioning of business organizations. This requirement can be met through successful completion of prior undergraduate or graduate courses in business administration. Students who do not satisfy this breadth requirement before entering the program must take at least three graduate courses in at least two different functional areas in the Warrington College of Business Administration, but outside the Department of Management. These courses should complement the major area of study selected by the student.

Students must complete at least six approved courses in research foundations such as basic statistics, advanced analytical procedures, research design, and psychometrics. The specific program of research foundation courses taken by a student will be tailored to fit the student's prior level of preparation and area of specialization.

Students will take four doctoral seminars offered by the Department of Management. They are Organizational Behavior, Organization Theory, Human Resource Research, and Strategic Studies.

After completing required coursework, students take preliminary comprehensive examinations to show they have fully mastered the subject matter of core doctoral seminars and their areas of specialization. The first part of these examinations is written and the second part is oral. Upon passing both parts, students are admitted into candidacy for the Ph.D. Degree.

Research & Thesis Requirements

The dissertation is an original research project completed by the student. The study must ask an important and interesting research question relevant to current concerns in the scholarly literature, use sound and appropriate research methods and analytical tools, and develop new knowledge that contributes to the existing base of knowledge in the student's area of concentration. Results of the study should be of sufficient merit to deserve publication either in an academic journal or as a book or monograph.

Although the dissertation is the student's own demonstration of research competence, the student is guided by an advisory committee, headed by a dissertation advisor chosen by the student. At the completion of the dissertation, and upon recommendation of the advisory committee, the student petitions to schedule a dissertation defense. After successfully defending the dissertation, the student is granted the Ph.D. degree.