Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy program in business administration with a concentration in supply chain management is a full-time residential program for students whose career goals are full-time university research and teaching. The curriculum guides students in conducting high-quality research and teaching at the university level.

Program Description

Supply chain management incorporates the core areas of logistics management, operations management, and supply management. Students are trained to develop the ability to recognize problems related to supply chain management and frame these problems into research questions, which are then addressed in a scholarly way. They are required to review, analyze, conduct, and publish research.

At a Glance

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

Degree Requirements

The doctoral program requires the completion of coursework, the completion of academic papers for submission to journals, a comprehensive exam, and a dissertation. The program is generally viewed as a five-year process. Most students serve in research assistantships for all five years.

Coursework

The program consists of a minimum of 84 credit hours of approved graduate coursework beyond the bachelor's degree. The department requires doctoral students to take 48 credit hours of graduate coursework in residence at ASU during their first two years. The specific classes must be approved by faculty in the student's area of excellence. Students are also required to take 12 hours of research and 12 hours of dissertation credit. A maximum of 12 credit hours can be transferred from previous graduate coursework.

Academic Papers

Students are expected to work on academic papers for submission to journals during their doctoral program. Summer months are intended for manuscript writing for those students who have not yet successfully defended their dissertation proposals. At the end of each summer, all doctoral students are required to have at least one new manuscript ready for submission to a journal for publication.

Comprehensive Examinations

After the student has completed all necessary coursework on their approved plan of study, the academic unit may initiate the scheduling and administering of the student's comprehensive examinations. These consist of a minimum of a written exam; an oral exam also may be required at the discretion of the academic unit.

Candidacy

Doctoral students are notified that they have achieved candidacy status by a letter from the dean of the Graduate College after 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 doctorate. 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 have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 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 a 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 or GRE scores
  • Prior academic performance records
  • Letters of recommendation
  • A personal statement
  • Proof of English proficiency

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 of the doctoral program in business administration are fully prepared for careers in research and academia. Career opportunities include:

• Assistant professor
• Professor
• Researcher

Program Structure

The program is designed to be completed within five years. Students are expected to actively participate in required courses as well as in seminars and presentations from colleagues, department faculty, and visiting scholars. Students also have the opportunity to teach courses during their doctoral program. Teaching assistantships typically are made available during the last two years of the program.