Program Overview

Business Administration/Operations and Supply Chain Management PhD

The PhD in Business Administration program, with a concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management, prepares individuals for advanced research and scholarship. The primary emphasis of the program is to prepare future faculty members for successful academic careers.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

• The time limit for degree completion is 7 years.
• Campus Location: Main
• Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Full-time study is required.
• Accreditation: The PhD in Business Administration program, with a concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management, is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

Job Prospects

• The program is primarily dedicated to producing well-trained researchers who will work in academic positions.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy

• Non-matriculated students are not permitted to take doctoral courses.

Financing Opportunities

• Typically, all PhD students receive financial assistantship in the form of full tuition remission and a stipend in return for offering services as a Research Assistant (RA) or Teaching Assistant (TA).
• The level of support is based on the concentration, the applicant's qualifications, and other competitive considerations.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline

• Fall: Applications must be submitted and complete by Dec. 5 to be considered.
• Applications received after this deadline are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and dependent on availability.

Letters of Reference

• Number Required: 2
• From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from evaluators, typically college/university faculty or an immediate work supervisor, who can provide insight into your abilities and talents, as well as comment on your aptitude for graduate study.

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline

• A master's degree is not required, but preferred.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline

• The equivalent of a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college is required.
• For three-year degrees, an evaluation of mark sheets may be required by WES or another NACES organization.

Statement of Goals

• Essay prompts can be found in the online application portal for Business Administration PhD applicants.

Standardized Test Scores

• GMAT/GRE: Required. GMAT scores are preferred. Test results cannot be more than five years old.
• Although the applicant's test score is an important factor in the admissions process, other factors, such as the ability to conduct research as demonstrated by academic research publications and whether your indicated research interests match with those of our faculty, are also taken into consideration.
• Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution outside of the United States must report scores for standardized test of English that meet the minimums below. Exceptions are made for applicants who have subsequently earned a baccalaureate or masters degree from the approved list of countries provided by the Graduate School.
  • TOEFL iBT: 90
  • IELTS Academic: 7.0
  • Duolingo: 110
  • PTE Academic: 68

Resume

• Current resume or CV required.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements

• Number of Credits Required to Earn the Degree: 48
• Required Courses:
  • Core Operations and Supply Chain Management Seminars
  • Math Preparation (August) non-credit: 0
  • MSOM 9101: Continuous and Nonlinear Optimization Methods: 3
  • MSOM 9102: Linear and Discrete Optimization: 3
  • Theory and Research Methods Courses
    • BA 9103: Econ Theory of Choice: 3
    • BA 9105: Business Econometrics I: 3
    • BA 9106: Business Econometrics II: 3
    • STAT 8101: Stochastic Processes: 3
    • STAT 8112: Statistical Methods for Business Research I: 3
    • STAT 8113: Statistical Methods for Business Research II: 3
  • Electives: Select six from the following: 18
    • BA 9001: Organizations and Management Theory
    • BA 9104: Game Theory
    • BA 9202: Qualitative Research Methods
    • BA 9205: Information Economics
    • BA 9207: Behavioral Research Methods for Business
    • BA 9208: Advanced Quantitative Research Methods for Business
    • BA 9209: Business Econometrics III
    • MIS 9004: Adv Research Methods-IS
    • MIS 9011: Proseminar in Management Information Systems
    • MKTG 9003: Sem-Quant Research-Mktg
    • MKTG 9005: Seminar in Judgment and Decision Making
    • MKTG 9080: Special Topics in Quantitative Marketing
    • MSOM 9105: Fundamentals of Supply Chain and Operations Management Theory
    • MSOM 9106: Dynamic Programming: Theory and Its Applications
  • Research Courses: 6
    • BA 9994: Preliminary Examination Preparation
    • BA 9998: Pre-Dissertation Research
    • BA 9999: Dissertation Research
• Total Credit Hours: 48

Additional Requirements

• A screening examination is required after completion of the first year of coursework.
• Two research papers are required:
  1. The first research paper is written at the end of the first year of study.
  2. The second research paper is prepared following completion of the second year of study.

Culminating Events

Comprehensive Examination

• The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to demonstrate critical and interpretive knowledge of current research.
• The subject areas are determined, in advance, by the faculty of the department.
• The comprehensive exam should be completed no more than one term after the student completes the coursework component of the program.

Dissertation Proposal

• The dissertation proposal demonstrates the student's knowledge of and ability to conduct the proposed research.
• The proposal should consist of the context and background surrounding a particular research problem, an exhaustive survey and review of literature related to the problem, and a detailed methodological plan for investigating the problem.

Doctoral Dissertation

• The doctoral dissertation is an original empirical study that makes a significant contribution to the field.
• It should expand the existing knowledge and demonstrate the student's knowledge of both research methods and a mastery of their primary area of interest.
• Dissertations should be rigorously investigated; uphold the ethics and standard of the field; demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the primary area of interest and the broader field of business; and be prepared for publication in an academic journal.

Dissertation Examining Committee

• The Doctoral Advisory Committee is formed to oversee the student's doctoral research and is comprised of at least three Graduate Faculty members.
• The Chair is responsible for overseeing and guiding the student's progress, coordinating the responses of the committee members, and informing the student of their academic progress.
• The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and oral defense, including the student's ability to express verbally their research question, methodological approach, primary findings and implications.
• The Dissertation Examining Committee votes to pass or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public presentation.