Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Department of Information Systems offers a computer information systems concentration within the Doctor of Philosophy in business administration. This full-time program prepares scholars for careers at leading research-focused educational institutions.

Program Description

The program allows doctoral students to participate in ongoing research projects in conjunction with faculty members in the department. Research topics include:

• Business analytics and big data
• Health care IT
• IT-enabled services and process innovation
• Information economics and strategy
• Security and privacy
• Social media, e-commerce, and mobile platforms

Business faculty and doctoral students present their research at leading national and international conferences and publish their research in academic journals. In addition to publishing in top information systems journals, doctoral students are often published in leading journals in other disciplines, including accounting, economics, finance, health care management, marketing, managerial decision-making, operations management, and strategic management.

At a Glance

• College/school: W. P. Carey School of Business
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree Requirements

The doctoral program consists of a minimum of 84 credit hours of graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor's degree. A minimum of 42 credit hours of doctoral coursework and 12 credit hours of dissertation are required to be taken at Arizona State University's Tempe campus. At the department's discretion, students may apply up to 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree toward their doctoral plan of study.

Plan of Study

Students work with their program committees to determine an appropriate plan of study. Common areas of specialization for doctoral studies include:

• Business analytics and big data
• Health care information technology
• Information economics and strategy
• IT-enabled services and process innovation
• Security and privacy
• Social media, e-commerce, and mobile platforms

Comprehensive Examinations

Upon completion of all necessary coursework on a student's approved plan of study, the academic unit may initiate the scheduling and administering of a student's comprehensive examination. At minimum, the comprehensive examination consists of a minimum of a written exam, and an oral exam may also be required by the academic unit.

Candidacy

Doctoral students are notified of achieving candidacy status by receipt of a letter from the dean of the Graduate College upon passing the comprehensive examinations and successfully defending the dissertation prospectus.

Dissertation Requirements

Students are required to present a dissertation to satisfy the research requirement for the doctoral degree. The dissertation is defended in an oral examination commonly known as the dissertation defense.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the W. P. Carey School of Business.
• Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
• All applicants must submit:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • GMAT score
  • Proof of English proficiency
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

• Spring: Session A/C, In Person, Deadline: 01/15, Type: Final

Career Opportunities

Graduates are prepared for a career at leading research universities. Career opportunity positions include:

• Data scientist
• Professor
• Research professor

Additional Information

• A master's degree or MBA is recommended (30 credit hours may count toward the minimum total of 84 hours of coursework in the doctoral program).
• At least two years of full-time related work experience is recommended.
• Doctoral students admitted to the W. P. Carey School of Business must have demonstrated competency in mathematics, strong quantitative ability, competency in the use of computer technology for analytical purposes, and an undergraduate degree in a related field from an accredited university.
• Applications are reviewed by the department's faculty committee using a portfolio approach. The committee reviews each individual application and examines all parts equally.