Program Overview

Business Administration Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree

Overview

The Ph.D. in business administration is designed to inspire and train scholars to identify, investigate, and solve novel business challenges that influence business and society, particularly, those that are triggered by technological changes. Our program has a sharp emphasis on the effects of technological innovation on discipline-based theories and research. Faculty work with students in an apprenticeship model so that students become independent scholars, cutting-edge researchers, and well-trained educators at research-oriented universities.

Research

At the intersection of innovation, technology and business, Saunders faculty consistently publish their research in elite journals across the following three Ph.D. specialty areas.

• Digital Transformation
• Finance and Accounting
• Strategy and Innovation

Faculty

• Rajendran Murthy - Professor
• Deborah Colton-Hebert - Associate Professor
• Dr. dt ogilvie - All Program Faculty

Featured Work and Profiles

• Research Insights: Benefits of a Seeming Monopoly
• Research Insights: Uncivil Wars
• Research Insights: Variety’s Not Always the Spice of Life
• Ph.D. student from Mashhad, Iran
• Ph.D. student from Tehran, Iran
• Ph.D. student from Tangshan, China

Curriculum

Business Administration, Ph.D. degree, typical course sequence

• First Year
  • MGIS-815 - Research Design
  • Choose one of the Research Methodology I courses:
    • ESCB-830 - Econometrics I
    • MKTG-825 - Multivariate Methods and Analyses
  • Choose one of the Research Methodology II courses:
    • ESCB-830 - Econometrics I
    • ESCB-835 - Econometrics II
    • MKTG-830 - Structural Equation Modeling
  • Focus Area Courses - 6
  • Support Area Courses - 6
  • SCB Electives - 3
• Second Year
  • SCBI-801 - Business Administration PhD Second Year Paper
  • SCBI-895 - Business Administration PhD Comprehensive Exam
  • Focus Area Course - 9
  • Support Area Courses - 6
  • SCB Electives - 9
• Third Year
  • SCBI-890 - Business Administration PhD Dissertation Research
• Fourth Year
  • SCBI-890 - Business Administration PhD Dissertation Research
• Fifth Year
  • SCBI-890 - Business Administration PhD Dissertation Research
• Total Semester Credit Hours - 78

Focus Areas

• Finance and Accounting Focus Area Courses
  • ESCB-810 - Financial Economics
  • FINC-810 - Research Seminar: Technology in Accounting and Finance
  • Students must choose three courses from the list below
    • ACCT-810 - Doctoral Seminar in Research in Financial Accounting
    • ACCT-820 - Auditing Research Seminar
    • ACCT-858 - Seminar: Special Topics in Accounting
    • FINC-820 - Research Topics and Methods in Corporate Finance
    • FINC-830 - Research Topics and Methods in Investment & Asset Pricing
    • FINC-858 - Seminar: Special Topics in Finance
• Finance and Accounting Support Area Courses
  • Students must choose four courses from the list below
    • ACCT-745 - Accounting Information and Analytics
    • BANA-680 - Data Management for Business Analytics
    • FINC-780 - Financial Analytics
    • MGIS-725 - Data Management and Analytics
    • MGIS-805 - Advanced Data Analytics
• Strategy and Innovation Focus Area Courses
  • MGMT-820 - Foundations of Strategy Research
  • MGMT-821 - Organizational Behavior and Creativity
  • MGMT-822 - Innovation
  • MGMT-823 - Business, Technology and Society
  • MGMT-824 - Contemporary Topics in Strategy Research
• Strategy and Innovation Support Area Courses
  • Group A Courses
    • Students must choose two courses from the list below
      • ESCB-835 - Econometrics II
      • MGIS-805 - Advanced Data Analytics
      • MGIS-811 - Qualitative Research Methods
      • MKTG-830 - Structural Equation Modeling
  • Group B Courses
    • Students must choose two courses from the list below
      • ESCB-810 - Financial Economics
      • MGIS-810 - Societal Impacts of Digital Transformation
      • MGMT-825 - Seminar: Emergent Topics in Management
      • MKTG-805 - Psychological Foundations of Business Research
      • SCB Graduate Independent Study
• Digital Transformation Focus Area Courses
  • MGIS-805 - Advanced Data Analytics
  • MGIS-810 - Societal Impacts of Digital Transformation
  • MGIS-812 - Management Information Systems: Theories and Perspectives
  • MGMT-822 - Innovation
  • MKTG-805 - Psychological Foundations of Business Research
  • MKTG-810 - Marketing Theory
• Digital Transformation Support Area Courses
  • Choose one from the following:
    • ESCB-830 - Econometrics I
    • MGIS-811 - Qualitative Research Methods
  • Choose three courses from the following:
    • ESCB-835 - Econometrics II
    • FINC-810 - Research Seminar: Technology in Accounting & Finance
    • MGMT-820 - Foundations of Strategy Research
    • MGMT-821 - Organizational Behavior and Creativity
    • MGMT-825 - Seminar: Emergent Topics in Management

Graduate Electives

• Please discuss with your advisor about which electives aligns with the focus area
• BANA-780 - Advanced Business Analytics
• MGIS-725 - Data Management and Analytics
• MGIS-735 - Design and Information Systems
• MGIS-745 - Information Systems Development
• MGIS-760 - Integrated Business Systems
• MGIS-811 - Qualitative Research Methods
• MKTG-763 - Buyer Behavior
• MKTG-768 - Marketing Analytics
• MKTG-772 - Internet Marketing: Strategy and Tactics
• MKTG-776 - Product and Brand Management
• MKTG-778 - Commercialization and Marketing of New Products
• MKTG-825 - Multivariate Methods and Analyses
• MKTG-830 - Structural Equation Modeling
• SCB Graduate Courses 700 level or higher with advisor approval

Admissions and Financial Aid

• This program is available on-campus only.
• Offered - Full-time
• Admit Term(s) - Fall
• Application Deadline - January 15 priority deadline, rolling thereafter
• STEM Designated - No

Application Details

• To be considered for admission to the Business Administration Ph.D. program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
  • Learn tips to apply for a doctoral program and then complete a graduate application.
  • Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
  • Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
  • Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
  • Submit a statement of purpose for research which will allow the Admissions Committee to learn the most about you as a prospective researcher.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation.
  • Entrance exam requirements: GMAT or GRE required. No minimum score requirement.
  • Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required.

English Language Test Scores

• International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.
• TOEFL - 94
• IELTS - 7.0
• PTE Academic - 66

Cost and Financial Aid

• An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Ph.D. students typically receive full tuition and an RIT Graduate Assistantship that will consist of a research assistantship (stipend) or a teaching assistantship (salary).