Business Administration, Ph.D.

Shared Core Requirements (5 Credit Hours)

The core courses are designed to develop the student’s research skills. These courses are required of all students in the major. The College will waive a course only if the student has passed the same or equivalent course with a grade of “B” or better within the preceding five years.

• QMB 7557 Research and Writing Skills for Doctoral Students Credit Hours: 2
• QMB 7565 Introduction to Research Methods Credit Hours: 3

Breadth, Research, Electives requirement (28 Credit Hours)

This requirement is designed to develop an appreciation of the institution of business and to help students see how their areas of specialization fit into this general picture.  With the approval of the doctoral programs committee, a student may satisfy these requirements in the following ways before graduation:

1. With an undergraduate or graduate degree in any business field from an AACSB (or equivalent) accredited institution in the last 10 years, plus completion of 28 cedit hours of graduate research or elective coursework selected with the advisor.
2. By successfully completing (or having completed within the last 10 years) a graduate course in at least three of the functional areas outside of their concentration from an AACSB (or equivalent) accredited institution (9 Credit hours), plus completion of 19 credit hours of graduate research or eletive coursework selected with the advisor:
   • Accounting
   • Finance
   • Information Systems
   • Management, Marketing, and Economics

Research Methods (12 credit hours)

The research methods courses are meant to provide a strong background in quantitative and statistical research skills. These courses are to be determined by the Ph.D. Coordinator in the student’s concentration, considering the student’s research interests and avoiding needless duplication.  A four-course series is required.  An appropriate sequence should be chosen from the following:

• ECO 6424 Econometrics I Credit Hours: 3
• ECO 6425 Econometrics II Credit Hours: 3
• ECO 7426 Econometrics III Credit Hours: 3
• ECO 7427 Econometrics IV Credit Hours: 3
• EDF 7412 Application of Structural Equation Modeling in Education Credit Hours: 3
• EDF 7474 Applied Multilevel Modeling in Education Credit Hours: 3
• MAR 7629 Applied Experimental Methods in Behavioral Science Credit Hours: 3
• PSY 6208 Experimental Design and Analysis of Variance Credit Hours: 3
• QMB 6375 Applied Linear Statistical Models Credit Hours: 3
• QMB 7566 Applied Multivariate Statistical Methods Credit Hours: 3

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  Any substitution of appropriate mathematics, statistical and quantitative coursework must be approved by the Doctoral Program Committee at the earliest convenience.

Concentration Requirements (15 Credit Hours Minimum)

Students select from the following concentrations: Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or Marketing

All students will take at least five (5) courses at the 6000 or 7000 graduate level in an area designated as the student’s Concentration. Students are encouraged to identify courses in the concentration field that will provide experience in applying current research techniques to problems in that field. To accomplish this, the student may propose a combination of formal classroom courses and independent directed-research courses. This combination may include a year-long research seminar in which the groundwork is laid for the student’s dissertation. The specific agenda of courses will be determined by the student’s program committee.

The following fields are offered: Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, and Marketing. Courses taken as part of the Foundation or Core sections may not be counted as part of the hours required for a concentration field.

Support Field (9 Credit Hours)

The support area will consist of a minimum of three graduate level courses (9 hours) from one or more of the fields listed under the concentration field, or elsewhere in the university.  The support field and the concentration field cannot be taken in the same department.  Courses within the support field can be selected to complement the concentration field and in special cases may include courses outside the Muma College of Business.    The nature and number of the support area courses will be determined by the Student’s Program Committee in consultation with the Ph.D. coordinator of the support field department. Courses taken as part of the Foundation or Core courses may not be counted as part of the 9 hours required for support fields.

Grade Requirement:
Should a student earn a grade of “C” or lower in a course, the case will be brought before the Doctoral Committee for review.  After reviewing the case, the Committee will take one of the following steps:

a)    Require the student to pass an examination that covers the material relevant to the subject.  A student who fails the exam on the first attempt may retake it within one year.  A student who fails the exam on the second attempt will be subject to dismissal.

b)    Require the student to retake the course.  If the student retakes the course and fails to receive a grade of “B” or better, the student is subject to dismissal.
 

Comprehensive Qualifying Examinations:

Upon completion of all coursework, students must pass the equivalent of a comprehensive examination in the concentration area. This comprehensive examination may take the form of a written exam or a completed research paper in the student’s area of concentration, depending on the MCOB school’s policy.  

Dissertation (21 Credit Hours Minimum)

• ACG 7980 Dissertation in Accounting Credit Hours: 2-21
• FIN 7980 Dissertation Credit Hours: 2-12 (Finance)
• ISM 7980 Dissertation Credit Hours: 2-12 (Information Systems)
• MAR 7980 Dissertation Credit Hours: 2-12 (Marketing)

Residency Requirement: