Description

The Ph.D. in Business Administration prepares doctoral students to conduct high-quality, scholarly research and teach effectively in the field of business. The degree's purpose is to develop the intellectual potential of the student through emphasis on specific areas of concentration within the framework of the general field of business administration. Academic objectives are accomplished through close student-faculty working relationships. The program provides the flexibility to allow for a considerable degree of individual design, based upon the career needs and objectives of the student.

The Business Administration major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Accounting concentration prepares highly qualified candidates for faculty positions in colleges and universities. In addition to completing doctoral-level coursework and a dissertation, students conduct scholarly research and become effective teachers.
• The Finance concentration prepares students for finance faculty positions in colleges and universities. Students complete courses in business and finance, learn how to conduct high-quality, scholarly research and become effective teachers.
• The Information Systems concentration creates a strong grounding in areas of behavioral, strategic and economic aspects of global IS decision-making. Students are trained to become renowned scholars and exceptional teachers.
• The Management concentration prepares students for academic positions in the field of management. The program is flexible and interdisciplinary with students being able to specialize in general management, strategic management or human resource management. Students are trained to be outstanding researchers and teachers.
• The Marketing concentration prepares highly qualified candidates for positions of professional responsibility in university teaching and research, or administrative and research careers in governmental and private organizations. The program offers a solid balance of teaching experience and preparation for conducting scientific research.
• The Supply Chain Management concentration prepares students to address our technology-powered economy by information and driven by knowledge. The concentration educates students in the latest thinking, theory and empirical research in order to address the supply and value chain management challenges facing organizations today.

In addition to declaring a concentration, students select a doctoral minor (Accounting, Applied Statistics, Economics, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Management Systems or Marketing), or they may tailor a 12-credit hour research focus with coordinator approval.

Fully Offered At:

• Kent Campus

Accreditation

AACSB, International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university for unconditional admission
• Minimum 3.000 GPA on a 4.000 point scale for unconditional admission
• Official transcript(s)
• GMAT or GRE scores (GMAT only for the Accounting concentration)
• Résumé
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 600 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
  • Minimum 100 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
  • Minimum 85 MELAB score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 68 PTE score

Admission to the Ph.D. degree is in the fall semester only. For more information about graduate admissions, please visit the Graduate Studies admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Ph.D. program will be able to:

1. Master the core knowledge and research tools in their area of specialization (knowledge).
2. Demonstrate the capacity to produce research that
   1. constitutes a significant contribution to their field of study; and
   2. is publishable in high-quality, peer-reviewed academic journals (quality research).
3. Effectively teach undergraduate and graduate students in the curriculum of research-focused universities (teaching).
4. Be placed at schools with strong graduate programs in business (placement).