Kelley School of Business

Departmental E-mail: ksbdoc [at] indiana [dot] edu

Departmental URL: http://www.kelley.iu.edu/doctoral/

(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin.)

Curriculum

Curriculum
Faculty

Degrees Offered

Doctor of Philosophy.  In addition, the Kelley School of Business offers the Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Finance, and other graduate degrees. For details, see the Kelley School of Business Bulletin, Graduate Programs.

Special School Requirements

(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)

Kelley School of Business doctoral candidates must defend their final dissertation defense within four years of successfully passing their qualifying exam.

Admission

To apply for admission to the doctoral programs in business, the applicant must do the following:

1. For domestic and international applications: apply online here.
2. Arrange for the submission of at least three letters of recommendation through the online application system from persons qualified to judge the academic potential of the applicant before the application deadline.
3. Prior to application, arrange to take either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. These tests are offered at numerous locations throughout the United States approximately four times each year and at less frequent intervals in many foreign countries. Official GMAT or GRE test scores must be no older than five years from the date of application and must be submitted directly from the exam administering organization.
4. For domestic applications: submit official transcripts of all college work taken and other support material directly to the attention of the Assistant Director of the Doctoral Programs, Kelley School of Business, 1309 E. Tenth Street, 7 t Floor, HH 7303, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-1701.
5. For international applications: submit official transcripts of all college work taken and other support material directly to the Office of International Admissions, Indiana University, 400 E. Seventh Street, Poplars 221, Bloomington, IN 47405.
6. International applicants must submit a TOEFL exam score if your native language is not English. This requirement includes international students who have been or currently are in a US educational institution. TOEFL scores cannot be older than two years from the date of application. We do not accept IELTS scores. We do not consider TOEFL waivers any applicants who have not received their undergraduate or high school education in the U.S.

Detailed information on admission and financial aid as well as additional program data may be obtained from the doctoral programs office website:  https://kelley.iu.edu/programs/phd/admissions/index.cshtml

The application deadline for August admission is the preceding December 15 th, this is the priority consideration date.  The early submittal of complete application materials is beneficial to the applicant.  Late applications will be honored only if space is available.

Early applications are strongly recommended since admission spaces within some departments may be filled sooner than others.  Admission to the doctoral program in business is based on payment and submission of a complete application, as well as an individual’s qualifications as evidenced by their application, personal statement, official transcripts, GMAT or GRE exam scores, TOEFL exam scores (for international applicants), three letters of reference and, if possible, a personal interview. Prospective students’ applications for admission and supporting documentation are reviewed by the Assistant Director of Doctoral Programs and by faculty in the proposed major department.

While it is unusual, highly qualified students with career objectives clearly in mind may enter the doctoral programs in business directly from a baccalaureate program with the intention of working toward a doctoral degree. Most, however, will begin work toward the doctorate after obtaining the master’s degree.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Business is granted to those students attaining the highest level of competence in business research.  The objective of the Doctoral Program is to train researchers and scholars in various fields of business.  The program attempts to attract outstanding students who desire to make a contribution to advanced business research and instruction.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Business Program Requirements

The requirements for the Ph.D. program in business are fulfilled in three basic phases of study. Although these phases may overlap, the program requires a logical sequence of course work, qualifying examinations, and dissertation research.

Phase I

The Phase I requirements entail no minimum number of credit hours but focus instead on proficiency in business operations and the basic disciplines. The credit hours required for proficiency may be met either by exemption (through the acceptance of previous course work) or by taking courses or independent study after entering the program. Individual departments determine the appropriate requirements for their majors.  Students go through counseling prior to registration for their first year in the program with their department representatives.

Phase II

The Phase II program of study is the central part of the student’s doctoral-level course work. Therefore, it is critical that the courses be selected to achieve the student’s educational objectives.  The student must submit an approved course plan to the program office before the beginning of their second year in the program.  This serves as a valuable plan for the student’s coursework and ensures that the student will meet all of the major, minor and methods and analysis requirements early in the program.  The student’s course plan of study must be approved by advisors from both their major and minor areas of study.  The Chairperson of Doctoral Programs reviews the course plan and approves the methods and analysis plan of study.

Major Field

The program of study for the student’s major is planned in consultation with the student’s major-field advisor and consists of a minimum of 18 credit hours of advanced graduate work. Major fields include: Accounting, Business Economics and Public Policy, Decision Sciences, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Operations and Supply Chain Management, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, Strategic Management and Organizational Theory. An overall GPA of at least 3.5 in the major courses is required. Students who have not attained this standard must have an additional course to meet the requirement in this area.

Minor Field

Each student selects one minor field, which requires a minimum of 9 credit hours. Minors are available in each of the major business fields, Accounting, Business Economics & Public Policy, Decision Sciences, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management (Strategic Management and Organizational Theory), Information Systems, International Business, Marketing, Organizational Behavior and Operations Management.  Minors may also be obtained in the following fields, but are not limited to:  Economics, Political Science, Informatics, History, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology, Statistics, and Law. The doctoral business minor provides the opportunity for the integration of other disciplines into the major area(s) of students majoring in the Kelley School of Business; it requires a minimum of 9 credit hours from a field outside the student’s major field. The minor requirements for fields outside of the Kelley School of Business are determined by the department in which the minor is offered. For a minor concentration in one of the business fields, an overall GPA of at least 3.4 in the minor courses is required.

Methodology and Analysis (M & A) Requirement

All doctoral candidates must demonstrate competency in the areas of research methodology and statistical analysis. The minimum standard for M&A requirements is 9 credit hours with a 3.3 grade point average or higher, with no grade less than B-. Students who have not attained this standard must have a fourth M&A course to meet the requirement in this area. This course work will help provide the foundation and special proficiency in research design and analysis necessary for candidates to conduct their research programs.

Teaching Development Program

In the belief that all students in the Doctoral Program will need to effectively communicate the results of their research, the Kelley School of Business has a required teaching development component in the Doctoral Program, X630, which is a 1.5 credit hour course. This course is required either before or during the semester in which the student assumes his or her Associate Instructor duties.  Exemptions from this requirement are rare.  The Chairperson of Doctoral Programs may exempt students who have substantially identical academic experiences as offered in this course.

Dual Concentration

Rather than follow the major, minor, and M&A sequence, a doctoral student may elect to have two areas of concentration. The dual concentration candidate has the option of (1) two concentrations, each with 18 credit hours, or (2) a first concentration with 21 credit hours plus a second concentration of at least 15 credit hours. There are two issues that a student electing a dual concentration should consider. First, the student must pass the qualifying examination in both concentrations. Second, it is highly unlikely that any dual concentration would be approved unless it can be demonstrated that a portion of the overall course work provides competency in M&A. No doctoral student may not unilaterally elect to pursue a dual concentration; the student’s petition for a dual concentration must be approved by both departments as well as by the Chairperson of Doctoral Programs.

Grades

Course grades below C+ (2.3) are not counted toward degree requirements but will be included in the computation of the student’s grade point average. An overall GPA of at least 3.5 in the major courses is required. At least a 3.4 grade point average with no grade below B– (2.7) is required in those courses taken as part of the minor field. Students must achieve an overall grade point average of at least 3.3 and earn no less than a B– (2.7) in those courses taken as part of the methodology area.

Qualifying Examinations

Evidence of the student’s competence in all major fields must be demonstrated by examination. This may be a formal exam and/or the completion of research paper(s). Examinations may also be required in some minor fields. The qualifying examinations are designed as exercises in creative and critical thinking, not merely in recollecting facts and familiar analyses.

Admission to Candidacy

Upon successful completion of all Phase II requirements (including all qualifying examinations), the student may be nominated into Ph.D. candidacy.

Awarding of the Masters in Business Degree

Upon successful completion of all qualifying exams, students become eligible for the Masters in Business degree from the Kelley School of Business. The student’s declared major field will determine the major field for the Masters in Business.

Dissertation Proposal

Students are required to successfully defend a dissertation proposal within the first 10 semesters, following entry to the doctoral program (that is, by the end of the summer term of the fifth year). Students who do not do so will be required to leave the program.   In addition to the research dissertation committee, an examination committee is appointed to supervise each candidate’s proposal examination. A formal oral examination, to which other doctoral students and faculty members are invited, is held on the proposal. Upon passing the examination, the candidate moves into the third phase of the program.

Phase III

Dissertation

Integrated with an important early part of the dissertation experience is the advanced course work through the research seminars. A minimum of 24 credit hours of dissertation credit is required, but 3 hours of credit in research seminars within the major area may count toward this requirement. Since the dissertation represents a major research project, a year or more of full-time work in close cooperation with the candidate’s committee is normally required to complete Phase III. We strongly urge candidates in the business doctoral program to remain in residence until all degree requirements have been met.

Defense of the Dissertation

Phase III concludes with the defense of the dissertation. The objective of the defense is to provide students with a forum for formal presentation of the results of their dissertation research. The purpose of the presentation, questioning, and discussion is to enable students to demonstrate that they have successfully completed what they set out to do, as stated at the time of the proposal defense. The dissertation defense gives the research committee a final opportunity to bring the candidate’s research methods, findings, and conclusions under critical review. Candidates are expected to defend all aspects of the inquiry satisfactorily.

Ph.D. in Business with an emphasis in Accounting

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework that the student must complete in the Accounting major.  Additionally, students are required to take a minimum of 9-12 credit hours in an approved minor/supporting field.  Finally, each student must have a minimum of 9 credit hours of Methodology and Analysis courses.  For students with an emphasis in Accounting, this prescribed coursework covers research that addresses research questions in financial accounting, auditing, managerial accounting, and tax accounting. The accounting curriculum offers tracks based primarily on archival or experimental research methods. Accounting doctoral students pursuing the archival track normally establish a minor in finance, and students pursuing the experimental track normally establish a minor in psychology. The faculty advisory committee helps the student select appropriate coursework for a minor area and a research methods area. Selection of the prescribed course plan is to prepare the student to design and conduct research and prepare a dissertation yielding advancements in the field of Accounting.

Ph.D. in Business with an emphasis in Business Economics and Public Policy

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework that the student must complete in the Business Economics and Public Policy major.  Additionally, students are required to take a minimum of 9-12 credit hours in an approved minor/supporting field.  Finally, each student must have a minimum of 9 credit hours of Methodology and Analysis courses.  For students with an emphasis in Business Economics and Public Policy, prescribed coursework is focused on economic modeling, game theory, agency theory, information economics, and econometrics. In addition, the faculty advisory committee helps the student select appropriate coursework for a minor area and a research methods area. Selection of the prescribed course plan is to prepare the student to design and conduct research and prepare a dissertation yielding advancements in the field of Business Economics and Public Policy.

Ph.D. in Business with an emphasis in Decision Sciences

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework that the student must complete in the Decision Sciences major.  Additionally, students are required to take a minimum of 9-12 credit hours in an approved minor/supporting field.  Finally, each student must have a minimum of 9 credit hours of Methodology and Analysis courses.  For students with an emphasis in Decision Sciences, this prescribed coursework is focused on preparing students for research careers in management science and/or operations management.  Emphasizing the use of mathematical models and analytical reasoning, students analyze problems in such areas as operations management, information technology, marketing, finance, management, and economics.  The mathematical problem-solving techniques used include mathematical (linear, integer, nonlinear) programming, computer simulation, decision analysis, statistics, applied probability, game theory and artificial intelligence. In addition, the faculty advisory committee helps the student select appropriate coursework for a minor area and a research methods area. Selection of the prescribed course plan is to prepare the student to design and conduct research and prepare a dissertation yielding advancements in the field of Decision Sciences.

Ph.D. in Business with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework that the student must complete in the Entrepreneurship major.  Additionally, students are required to take a minimum of 9-12 credit hours in an approved minor/supporting field.  Finally, each student must have a minimum of 9 credit hours of Methodology and Analysis courses.  For students with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship, this prescribed coursework is focused on the discovery and recognition of opportunities to bring into existence future products and services. In addition, the faculty advisory committee helps the student select appropriate coursework for a minor area and a research methods area. Selection of the prescribed course plan is to prepare the student to design and conduct research and prepare a dissertation yielding advancements in the field of Entrepreneurship.

Ph.D. in Business with an emphasis in Finance

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework that the student must complete in the Finance major.  Additionally, students are required to take a minimum of 9-12 credit hours in an approved minor/supporting field.  Finally, each student must have a minimum of 9 credit hours of Methodology and Analysis courses.  For students with an emphasis in Finance, this prescribed coursework is focused on fundamental research in major areas of finance and analytical methodologies. In addition, the faculty advisory committee helps the student select appropriate coursework for a minor area and a research methods area. Selection of the prescribed course plan is to prepare the student to design and conduct research and prepare a dissertation yielding advancements in the field of Finance.

Ph.D. in Business with an emphasis in Management Information Systems

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework that the student must complete in the Management Information Systems major. Additionally, students are required to take a minimum of 9-12 credit hours in an approved minor/supporting field.  Finally, each student must have a minimum of 9 credit hours of Methodology and Analysis courses.  For students with an emphasis in Management Information Systems, this prescribed coursework is focused on topics that include:  Foundations of IS, Team Collaboration, IS Theory Building, and Systems Analysis and Design. These courses are augmented with tools courses such as Statistics and Structural Equation Modeling. In addition, the faculty advisory committee helps the student select appropriate coursework for a minor area and a research methods area. Selection of the prescribed course plan is to prepare the student to design and conduct research and prepare a dissertation yielding advancements in the field of Management Information Systems.

Ph.D. in Business with an emphasis in Marketing

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework that the student must complete in the Marketing major. Additionally, students are required to take a minimum of 9-12 credit hours in an approved minor/supporting field.   Finally, each student must have a minimum of 9 credit hours of Methodology and Analysis courses. For students with an emphasis in Marketing, this prescribed coursework is focused around the three central domains within the marketing field: consumer behavior, marketing strategy, and marketing models. In addition, the faculty advisory committee helps the student select appropriate coursework for a minor area and a research methods area. Selection of the prescribed course plan is to prepare the student to design and conduct research and prepare a dissertation yielding advancements in the field of Marketing.

Ph.D. in Business with an emphasis in Operations and Supply Chain Management

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework that the student must complete in the Operations and Supply Chain Management major.  Additionally, students are required to take a minimum of 9-12 credit hours in an approved minor/supporting field.  Finally, each student must have a minimum of 9 credit hours of Methodology and Analysis courses.  For students with an emphasis in Operations and Supply Chain Management, this prescribed coursework is focused on ways to address the strategic and tactical problems faced by practicing managers overseeing the systems that transform resources (labor, capital, energy, and materials) into goods and services, from originating locations to their destination in the marketplace.  Good operations and supply chain management improves the use of resources through the development and implementation of effective operating systems to aid in the design, planning, and control of productive activities for both goods and services (such as Healthcare). In addition, the faculty advisory committee helps the student select appropriate coursework for a minor area and a research methods area. Selection of the prescribed course plan is to prepare the student to design and conduct research and prepare a dissertation yielding advancements in the field of Operations and Supply Chain Management.

Ph.D. in Business with an emphasis in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework that the student must complete in the Organizational Behavior major.  Additionally, students are required to take a minimum of 9-12 credit hours in an approved minor/supporting field.  Finally, each student must have a minimum of 9 credit hours of Methodology and Analysis courses.  For students with an emphasis in Organizational Behavior, this prescribed coursework is focused on human behavior in work settings, human capital acquisition, development, and deployment with an emphasis on explaining, predicting and influencing behavior in organizations. In addition, the faculty advisory committee helps the student select appropriate coursework for a minor area and a research methods area. Selection of the prescribed course plan is to prepare the student to design and conduct research and prepare a dissertation yielding advancements in the field of Organizational Behavior.

Ph.D. in Business with an emphasis in Strategic Management and Organization Theory

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework that the student must complete in the Strategic Management major.  Additionally, students are required to take a minimum of 9-12 credit hours in an approved minor/supporting field.  Finally, each student must have a minimum of 9 credit hours of Methodology and Analysis courses.  For students with an emphasis in Strategic Management, this prescribed coursework is focused on the management of the total enterprise at the strategic level, alignment of its unique characteristics and competencies with its external environment, and contextual variables that influence an organization's choice of structure.  In addition, the faculty advisory committee helps the student select appropriate coursework for a minor area and a research methods area.  Selection of the prescribed course plan is to prepare the student to design and conduct research and prepare a dissertation yielding advancements in the field of Strategic Management.

Minor in Accounting

Doctoral students who wish to minor in Accounting will need an appropriate background in Accounting and will be required to take a minimum of 9 credit hours of coursework from the courses listed below.  The objective of the Accounting minor course plan is to support and add to the student’s major field of study.

Prerequisites

Phase I requirements and an appropriate background in Accounting.

Coursework

A601A / A601B – Capital Markets-Based Research in Financial Accounting – 3 credit hours each

Introduction to archival research in accounting. Both seminars focus on research that examines the role of accounting information in capital markets. Specific topics include the assessment of the information content of accounting earnings, earnings components, and nonearnings disclosures; voluntary disclosure; information processing by analysts and investors; and financial reporting policy.

A602A / A602B – Experimental Research in Accounting – 3 credit hours each

Introduction to experimental research in accounting. A602A focuses on financial accounting issues, while A602B focuses on managerial accounting issues.

A603A / A603B – Special Research Topics in Accounting– 3 credit hours each

These seminars cover special topics in accounting research. A603A focuses primarily on tax accounting issues, while A603B covers a variety of accounting topics.

Qualifying Exams

Qualifying exams are waived for students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 in minor coursework, with no grade below B-. Students who fail to meet the grade requirement are required to include an examination of the minor as the qualifying exam.

Minor in Business Economics and Public Policy

The Department of Business Economics and Public Policy trains doctoral students in the anticipation of microeconomic and econometric analysis to business strategy and economic and public policy issues.

Prerequisites

The objective of the Business Economics and Public Policy minor is typically to support and complement the candidate’s major field of study.  Accordingly, students pursuing a minor in Business Economics and Public Policy should first consult with their major advisor and the Business Economics minor advisor.

Coursework

Doctoral students who minor in Business Economics and Public Policy are required to complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of coursework.  These 9 credit hours are to be selected in consultation with the student’s major advisor and the Business Economics minor advisor.  Students select from G651, G652, G750, G751 and G752.

G651 – Econometrics I – 3 credit hours

Multiple regression models, generalized least squares, and distributed lag models. Discusses various models, estimations, and inference problems. Use of a computer and application to economics and business problems.

G652 – Economics II – 3 credit hours

The goal of this course is to teach students how to process, critique, communicate and execute econometric methods in the context of economic applications with causal implications.  Throughout the term, students will read, assess, and discuss a wide range of leading empirical papers in the industrial organization (IO) literature, spanning across major IO subgroups. In addition, students will execute data analyses that are comparable to some of the highlighted papers, and provide a full critique of one paper.  The econometric methods we will emphasize include:  OLS, 2SLS, GMM, ML, RD, Diff-in-diff, and matching.  We will conclude with a brief discussion placing these methods in context of other analytical methods, including Bayesian statistics and machine learning.

G750 – Economic Modeling – 3 credit hours

This course introduces researchers in business-related disciplines to the basic toolkit and modeling techniques of modern economics.  We begin with an introduction to optimization methods followed by the economic theory of the consumer and the competitive firm.  We then cover imperfectly competitive markets.  Appropriate game theoretic concepts are developed, as needed.

G751 – Game Theory – 1.5 credit hours

Game Theory is the study of multi-person decision problems in which players consider that their actions affect each other.  This course provides an introduction to graduate level game theory.  Throughout the course, we use applications from different business fields.

G752 - Information Economics – 1.5 credit hours

Asymmetric information is a fundamental problem in almost all business transactions, from uncertainty over the quality of a product or the value of a firm, to doubts over the intentions or capabilities of a business partner.  This course uses game theory to analyze how individuals and firms credibly convey information.

Qualifying Exams

Qualifying exams are waived for students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 in minor coursework, with no grade below B-. Students who fail to meet the grade requirement are required to include an examination of the minor as the qualifying exam.

Minor in Decision Science

Business students who minor in Decision Science (DS) are required to complete 9 credit hours of coursework with the approval of the DS Department advisor.   The objective of the minor area course plan in DS is to supplement the student’s major course plan.   The needs and goals of the student are a major consideration when designing the minor area coursework.  As a result, the typical course load for the DS minor consists of courses which fit into a single area or which show some logical correlation.

Prerequisites

All entering Decision Sciences doctoral students are expected to have an acceptable background in mathematics.  If they are lacking this knowledge, they will be required to take the appropriate course(s) from the Mathematics Department.

Coursework

K601 – Linear Optimization – 1.5 credit hours

This course covers linear optimization. In particular, it focuses on theory, solution methods, and formulations for linear optimization problems.  Topics include linear programming, including the simplex and interior point methods, duality, and network flow problems.

K602 – Integer and Nonlinear Optimization – 1.5 credit hours

This course covers integer and nonlinear optimization. It focuses on theory, solution methods, and formulations for these problems.  Topics include integer programming, non-linear programming (unconstrained and constrained), and stochastic programming.

K603 – Probability Models for Operations Research – 1.5 credit hours

The course focuses on establishing a solid understanding on probability and on how to use it to build applied models. It includes topics such as conditional probability and expectation, transforms, stochastic orders, counting processes, renewal theory, regenerative processes (including the M/G/1 queue), and semi-Markov processes.  Students will apply these models to inspection and reward problems, open and closed queueing networks, and optimization problems.  This course will also cover the basics of discrete-event simulation.

K604 – Stochastic Process for Operations Research – 1.5 credit hours

The course introduces the fundamental knowledge in stochastic processes. Topics include the Poisson processes, discrete- and continuous-time Markov chains, birth-and-death processes. Applications include phase-type distributions and Markovian queues. Students will represent Markov chains in matrix form and solve for transient and steady-state distributions using MATLAB, Python, or similar software. This course will also cover the basics of random variate generation and Monte Carlo simulation.

K605 – Dynamic Programming – 1.5 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to the formulation and analysis of dynamic optimization problems. Topics include, convexity and concavity, K-convexity, stochastic dominance, dimensionality reduction in dynamic programs, and Lippman’s transformation.

K635 – Special Topics in Decision Science – 1.5 credit hours

The topics included in this course varies at the time of the offering.  Usually, a sub-field such as applications of decision sciences to humanitarian logistics, health care OM, contracts in supply chain management, sustainable operations and so forth, is explored in depth.

Qualifying Exams

Qualifying exams are waived for students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 in minor coursework, with no grade below B-. Students who fail to meet the grade requirement are required to include an examination of the minor as the qualifying exam.           

Minor in Entrepreneurship

Doctoral students who wish to minor in Entrepreneurship are required to take 9 credit hours of coursework. Required courses are W610 and J602.  The additional 3 credit hours may be fulfilled by taking D620, J601, W601, Z601 or Z798.  Authorization is required to register for doctoral seminars, and you may wish to contact the professor in advance to learn more about the course and obtain a copy of the syllabus prior to requesting instructor enrollment permission.  The objective of the Entrepreneurship minor course plan is to support and add to the student’s major field of study.

Prerequisites

See Phase I requirements.  This requirement is usually met by graduating from an AACSB-accredited MBA program. Students entering without an MBA, exposure to Economics, Finance, and General Management or in cases where the faculty advisor and the student jointly identify a Phase I-type deficiency, a course of action to remedy it will be agreed upon between the faculty advisor and the student.

Coursework

W610 – Theoretical Foundations of Entrepreneurship – 3 credit hours

This course is designed as a broad survey of major topics in the field of entrepreneurship. Its objective is to familiarize the students with some of the primary theoretical underpinnings of the field as well as some of the common and/or promising methodological approaches to the study of entrepreneurial phenomena. Topics covered in the course include:  a theoretical overview of entrepreneurship and research agendas, entrepreneurship motivation and opportunity, entrepreneurial attention and information processing, learning and knowledge related to opportunity, entrepreneurial decision making and biases, entrepreneurs’ human and social capital, strategic orientation and corporate entrepreneurship, new ventures (strategy, growth and performance), entrepreneurial failure, and international entrepreneurship. Indirectly the course will also cover a dissertation in entrepreneurship, the journal review process, research methods, and presenting research papers. Class sessions will be devoted to reviewing and critiquing the readings associated with each of the aforementioned topics and generating research opportunities.

J602 – Theoretical Foundations of Strategy II – 3 credit hours

This course is designed as a survey of recent topics in the field of strategic management. Its objective is to familiarize the students with some of the primary theoretical underpinnings of the field as well as some of the common and/or promising methodological approaches to the study of strategy phenomena. Topics covered in the course include:  the resource-based view of strategy, perspectives on firm growth, the knowledge and attentions based views of the firm, the role of the environment in strategic decisions, new venture and entry strategies, dynamic capabilities, slack, network and strategy at the population level of analysis. Class sessions will be devoted to reviewing and critiquing the readings associated with each of the aforementioned topics and generating research opportunities.

D620 – Doctoral Seminar in International Business – 3 credit hours

Not only for specialists in International Business. Its orientation is basically to review both the classic literature in the field of international business especially the theory of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and business networks, as well as some of the more recent problems and issues that are at the forefront of academic research in the IB area. A “multiple perspectives” approach is followed, using insights from relevant functional fields and cognate disciplines, to throw light on the management issues affecting MNE and networks. Required critical readings and detailed seminar paper.

J601 -Seminar in Strategic Management I – 3 credit hours

This course is designed as a broad survey of major and foundational topics in the field of strategic management. Its objectives are (1) to familiarize students with some of the primary theoretical underpinnings and core concepts of the strategic management field, (2) to review decision areas and challenges involving research methods within the domain of strategic management, and (3) to provide a forum in which students can further develop the writing skills they will need as strategic management scholars. Topics covered in the course include: an historical and theoretical overview of strategic management, core concepts in strategic management, selected theoretical lenses of strategic management, the drivers and consequences of firm performance, corporate governance and general management, strategy content, strategic processes, industry and environmental considerations in strategic management, and organizational considerations in strategic management. Class sessions are devoted to (1) reviewing and critiquing readings associated with the aforementioned topics, (2) developing, refining, and presenting research ideas, and (3) explaining the research and publication processes.

W601 –Organization Theory - 3 credit hours

W601 is a survey course intended to introduce basic concepts of organization theory (OT). OT focuses on organization structure, as both a dependent variable—predicted by a number of independent variables—and as a predictor of organization effectiveness. We will begin with classic readings so that you will gain an appreciation for the roots of current research in OT and strategic management, and then discuss more recent theoretical and empirical work building on this earlier foundation.

Z601 – Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Behavior – 3 credit hours

This seminar examines current paradigms of theory and research in the field of organizational behavior and organizational psychology.  The materials we shall examine provide a sort of "operational definition" of the field; in other words, what one reads in the journals and hears at the professional meetings in recent years.   Focus is on the kinds of problems posed, issues addressed, conflicts joined, prototypical research strategies and tactics employed (although here we do not emphasize "methods" and analytic techniques as such), and the individuals who are being read and listened to.   Major topics include:  The historical roots of OB, models of satisfaction and performance, modes of attachment of individuals to organizations, comparative effects of dispositions and work environments, leadership, and the role of culture in shaping behavior in organizations.

Z798 – Seminar in Research Methods – 3 credit hours

The primary purpose of this seminar is to prepare doctoral candidates to conduct research in the organizational and behavioral sciences. The emphasis of this course is on exploring: (a) the logic of research designs, (b) different types of research methodologies, and (c) the advantages and disadvantages of using different research methods. Special attention will be paid to the topics of construct development and validation, how to control for method biases, and the identification of the necessary conditions for establishing causal relationships.  Although the discussion of various analytical procedures will be unavoidable, the major focus of the seminar will be on methodological (as opposed) to analytical issues.

Qualifying Exams

Qualifying exams are waived for students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 in minor coursework, with no grade below B-. Students who fail to meet the grade requirement are required to include an examination of the minor as the qualifying exam.

Minor in Finance

Doctoral students who minor in Finance will need to fulfill certain pre-requisites and a minimum of 9 credit hours of coursework.  The objective of the coursework for the Finance minor is to provide the student with a basic understanding of financial theory.

Prerequisites

G651, G604 and M413 or an equivalent background in probability/statistics, microeconomics and mathematics.

Coursework

Students who minor in Finance are required to complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of coursework with the approval of the Finance Department advisor.   All Finance minors must take F600.   Finance minor coursework may be completed by taking any two of the four remaining doctoral-level seminars offered by the Finance Department (i.e., F605, F625, F635, F644, and F798 if offered).

F600 – Asset Pricing Theory – 3 credit hours

This is a course for the first-year doctoral students in finance. The course introduces the basic theory of asset pricing and focuses on the topics that are regarded as fundamental or that are widely useful for applications. The class discussions and assignments prepare students for reading academic papers that deal with theoretical economic issues on the prices in security markets. The topics cover both static and dynamic asset pricing theories. The course builds a coherent foundation for both intuitive economic ideas and rigorous analytical skills in asset pricing theory. These ideas and skills are necessary for students who plan to pursue either theoretical or empirical research in financial economics.

F605 – Corporate Finance – 3 credit hours

The course introduces basic theoretical models concerning selected topics in corporate finance. The class is intended to provide students with an in-depth analysis of several of the main theoretical papers that have influenced corporate finance. The goal of the class is to enable students to develop the basic technical skills needed to read and understand theory papers. In each session we will go through several articles in detail.

F625 – Empirical Asset Pricing – 3 credit hours

This course covers the foundations of empirical work in asset pricing. Empirical work must of course be grounded in theory, so we begin with an overview of the main building blocks of modern asset pricing theory. The bulk of the course is spent studying the seminal papers that develop tests of asset pricing models, although time is also spent on important contemporary working papers.

F635 – Market Microstructure – 3 credit hours

Theory and empirical analysis of trading and market making on security exchanges. Examines both trader strategy and market maker strategy. Provides basic theoretical and empirical building blocks. Analyzes a wide variety of applications including trading mechanisms, security design, and market design. Compares security exchange liquidity, informativeness, transparency, and volatility.

F644 –Topics In Finance – 1.5 to 3 credit hours

The first topic will cover theoretical and empirical issues related to financial intermediation. Class sessions in this topic will be a combination of lecture presentations and student presentations of selected papers. The second topic will be empirical corporate finance. Class sessions in this topic will consist of reading, presenting, and discussing articles. The students will have to present and turn in an original empirical corporate finance paper.   

F798 – Research Seminar in Finance – 3 credit hours

Analysis of the weekly outside speaker paper.

Qualifying Exams

Qualifying exams are waived for students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 in minor coursework, with no grade below B-. Students who fail to meet the grade requirement are required to include an examination of the minor as the qualifying exam.

Minor in International Business

Doctoral students who wish to minor in International Business are required to take 9 credit hours of coursework.  A required course is D620.  The additional 6 credit hours may be fulfilled by taking J601, J602, D669, W601, W610, Z601, Z615 or Z798. Authorization is required to register for doctoral seminars, and you may wish to contact the professor in advance to learn more about the course and obtain a copy of the syllabus prior to requesting instructor enrollment permission. The objective of the International Business minor course plan is to support and add to the student’s major field of study.

Prerequisites

Phase I requirements for Strategic Management & Organization Theory majors.

Coursework

D620 – Doctoral Seminar in International Business – 3 credit hours

Not only for specialists in International Business. Its orientation is basically to review both the classic literature in the field of international business especially the theory of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and business networks, as well as some of the more recent problems and issues that are at the forefront of academic research in the IB area. A “multiple perspectives” approach is followed, using insights from relevant functional fields and cognate disciplines, to throw light on the management issues affecting MNE and networks. Required critical readings and detailed seminar paper.

J601 - Seminar in Strategic Management – 3 credit hours

This course is designed as a broad survey of major and foundational topics in the field of strategic management. Its objectives are (1) to familiarize students with some of the primary theoretical underpinnings and core concepts of the strategic management field, (2) to review decision areas and challenges involving research methods within the domain of strategic management, and (3) to provide a forum in which students can further develop the writing skills they will need as strategic management scholars. Topics covered in the course include: an historical and theoretical overview of strategic management, core concepts in strategic management, selected theoretical lenses of strategic management, the drivers and consequences of firm performance, corporate governance and general management, strategy content, strategic processes, industry and environmental considerations in strategic management, and organizational considerations in strategic management. Class sessions are devoted to (1) reviewing and critiquing readings associated with the aforementioned topics, (2) developing, refining, and presenting research ideas, and (3) explaining the research and publication processes.

J602 – Theoretical Foundations of Strategy II – 3 credit hours

This course is designed as a survey of recent topics in the field of strategic management. Its objective is to familiarize the students with some of the primary theoretical underpinnings of the field as well as some of the common and/or promising methodological approaches to the study of strategy phenomena. Topics covered in the course include: the resource-based view of strategy, perspectives on firm growth, the knowledge and attentions based views of the firm, the role of the environment in strategic decisions, new venture and entry strategies, dynamic capabilities, slack, network and strategy at the population level of analysis. Class sessions will be devoted to reviewing and critiquing the readings associated with each of the aforementioned topics and generating research opportunities.

D669 – Economic Development, Globalization and Entrepreneurship - 3 credit hours

The seminar examines the link between globalization, entrepreneurship, and regional economic development.  It utilizes state-of-the art methodologies and theories to focus advanced graduate students on research topics in economic development policies.

W601 –Organization Theory - 3 credit hours

W601 is a survey course intended to introduce basic concepts of organization theory (OT). OT focuses on organization structure, as both a dependent variable—predicted by a number of independent variables—and as a predictor of organization effectiveness. We will begin with classic readings so that you will gain an appreciation for the roots of current research in OT and strategic management, and then discuss more recent theoretical and empirical work building on this earlier foundation.

W610 – Theoretical Foundations of Entrepreneurship – 3 credit hours

This course is designed as a broad survey of major topics in the field of entrepreneurship. Its objective is to familiarize the students with some of the primary theoretical underpinnings of the field as well as some of the common and/or promising methodological approaches to the study of entrepreneurial phenomena. Topics covered in the course include:  a theoretical overview of entrepreneurship and research agendas, entrepreneurship motivation and opportunity, entrepreneurial attention and information processing, learning and knowledge related to opportunity, entrepreneurial decision making and biases, entrepreneurs’ human and social capital, strategic orientation and corporate entrepreneurship, new ventures (strategy, growth and performance), entrepreneurial failure, and international entrepreneurship. Indirectly the course will also cover a dissertation in entrepreneurship, the journal review process, research methods, and presenting research papers. Class sessions will be devoted to reviewing and critiquing the readings associated with each of the aforementioned topics and generating research opportunities.

Z601 – Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Behavior – 3 credit hours

This seminar examines current paradigms of theory and research in the field of organizational behavior and organizational psychology. The materials we shall examine provide a sort of "operational definition" of the field; in other words, what one reads in the journals and hears at the professional meetings in recent years.  Focus is on the kinds of problems posed, issues addressed, conflicts joined, prototypical research strategies and tactics employed (although here we do not emphasize "methods" and analytic techniques as such), and the individuals who are being read and listened to.  Major topics include:  The historical roots of OB, models of satisfaction and performance, modes of attachment of individuals to organizations, comparative effects of dispositions and work environments, leadership, and the role of culture in shaping behavior in organizations.

Z615 - Seminar in Human Resource (HR) Management – 3 credit hours

This seminar addresses the research domains associated with both Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Functional Human Resource Management (FHRM). SHRM is concerned with the emerging literature on aligning business and HR strategy, while FHRM is more about the traditional functions of HR (staffing, reward, and development systems). Special attention will be paid to the similarities and distinctions between SHRM and FHRM and the field of Organizational Behavior. The focus will be on reviewing (describing and critiquing) representative research studies as published in top academic journals and generating new research ideas in the form of original research proposals.

Z798 – Seminar in Research Methods – 3 credit hours

The primary purpose of this seminar is to prepare doctoral candidates to conduct research in the organizational and behavioral sciences. The emphasis of this course is on exploring: (a) the logic of research designs, (b) different types of research methodologies, and (c) the advantages and disadvantages of using different research methods. Special attention will be paid to the topics of construct development and validation, how to control for method biases, and the identification of the necessary conditions for establishing causal relationships. Although the discussion of various analytical procedures will be unavoidable, the major focus of the seminar will be on methodological (as opposed) to analytical issues.

Qualifying Exams

Qualifying exams are waived for students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 in minor coursework, with no grade below B-. Students who fail to meet the grade requirement are required to include an examination of the minor as the qualifying exam.

Minor in Management Information Systems

Doctoral students who minor in Information Systems (IS) are required to complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of course work.  The program requires that the student take S6xx courses or alternate courses approved by the IS doctoral student advisor.  The minor field in IS is intended to provide students majoring in other fields with some research experience in the IS field as well as to provide the student with a background sufficient to allow the student to teach introductory IS courses.

Prerequisites

S500 or an equivalent background in MIS.

Coursework

S601 – Technical Issues in Information Systems – 1.5 credit hours

The science of design is fundamental to analysis, design, and development of blueprints and creation of information systems artifacts.  This seminar examines current research issues in information systems analysis and design as well as those in design science.

S602 – Individual Issues in Information Systems Research – 1.5 credit hours

The goal of this course is to provide an introduction to the individual-level research in information systems. This seminar covers different research streams, such as roles of individuals in systems development and implementation, technology adoption and use, impacts of technology on individual outcomes, and emerging topics related to individual issues. 

S605 – Collaboration Technology Research – 1.5 credit hours

Collaboration technologies enable groups to work together and collaborate more effectively, whether they work in the same room at the same time or in different places at different times.  This course will examine our current state of knowledge of collaboration tools and research on the effects of their use.

S606 – Information Systems Strategy and Management Research – 1.5 credit hours

The focus of this course is organizational-level research in information systems with a particular emphasis on strategic and management issues related to the role of information technology (IT) in organizations. Topics include IT strategy; business value of IT; interorganizational systems and processes; IT adoption, assimilation and impacts; IT service management and governance; and emerging issues in organizational use of IT.

S635 – Special Topics in Information Systems – 1.5 credit hours

The topics included in this course varies at the time of the offering. Usually, a topic of interest, such as social media data mining, personalization, and advanced methodological/analytical issues, is explored in depth.

S798 – Theory Development – 1.5 credit hours

Theory development is the essence of research. Students will bring a research idea to the course and will develop the idea into a research proposal or the front end of an empirical paper as they go through the course.

Qualifying Exams

Qualifying exams  are waived for students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 in minor coursework, with no grade below B-. Students who fail to meet the grade requirement are required to include an examination of the minor as the qualifying exam.

Minor in Marketing

Doctoral student who wish to minor in Marketing are required to complete 9 credit hours of coursework with the approval of the Marketing Department advisor.   The objective of the Marketing minor area course plan is to strengthen and support the student’s major area of study as well as to provide the background needed to enable the student to teach in the marketing area.

Prerequisites

All students must have at least an elementary understanding of the business enterprise as viewed by senior management (especially in the areas of accounting, finance, and marketing management), and basic statistics.  Since all accredited MBA programs provide this training, students entering the doctoral program with an MBA degree from an accredited program are assumed to have satisfied all Phase I requirements.  Students entering without an MBA degree may be required to take coursework in these areas as part of their Phase I program.  The academic records of these students will be reviewed by program advisors to determine which, if any, Phase I courses are required to provide the fundamental understanding of the business enterprise and basic statistics required by Phase II of the program.

Coursework

Of the 9 required credit hours, six of these credit hours must consist of two of the three Marketing research seminars:  M650, M651, and M653.  The last three credit hours can be another of the above research seminars, M652, M798, an X680 readings course focusing on some aspect of Marketing, or possibly a 500 level Marketing course which appears particularly relevant to the candidate’s program (for all 500 level Marketing courses, it is required that the doctoral candidate do work beyond that normally expected of MBAs for the course to count toward his or her minor).

M650 – Research Methods in Marketing – 3 credit hours

The general purpose of this course is to assist doctoral students in acquiring a basic understanding of the research process and knowledge of the research tools that they will need to design and execute scientific research on behavioral and organizational issues in business. As such, this course is concerned with the total research process from the generation of research ideas through the publication of the research manuscript. A major impediment to scientific research that will be addressed by this course is the failure on the part of researchers to properly meld together the theoretical and empirical domains in their model structures. Theoretically-oriented researchers have a tendency to emphasize the conceptual aspects of their research, but often at the expense of measurement issues; and methodologically-oriented researchers have a tendency to focus more on statistical techniques than on theory development. Consequently, a fundamental objective of this course will be to provide students with an understanding of the basic principles of latent variable structural equation modeling and how this method helps to bridge the gap between these two traditions by clarifying the different types of relationships that researchers must take into account when constructing theories, and emphasizing the importance of the linkages between the conceptual and the empirical.

M651 –Behavior in Markets– 3 credit hours

The main objective of this course is to provide you with a strong foundation for critical thinking in the area of consumer decision making. This will entail familiarity with a fairly extensive body of literature pertaining to consumer behavior. But it also will require you to gain insight into certain basic disciplines. As a field of inquiry, consumer behavior is heavily influenced by both cognitive psychology/information processing and social psychology, and also by behavioral theory and sociology. To study consumer decision-making, therefore, you will need to know something of these areas too. But the primary focus of the course goes well beyond the assimilation of relevant literature to analytical thought regarding your reading of consumer research. As such, you should develop skills that allow you to critically evaluate the various perspectives, theories, and methodologies that form the field.

M652 – Marketing Models – 3 credit hours

This course examines useful quantitative models and methods applied in marketing areas.  Topics include measurement of multi-attribute preference structures, choice models, dynamic structural models, consideration set, brand and customer equity, hierarchical Bayesian models, market structuring and new product diffusion.

M653 – Managerial Research in Marketing – 3 credit hours

The purpose of this course is to provide a survey of the various areas of marketing strategy research, concentrating on theories, concepts, models and paradigms that collectively form the foundation of marketing strategy research – from classic articles to current literature. Topics covered include, for example, competitive advantage; marketing capabilities; cross-functional knowledge integration; product development and management; advertising, pricing and promotion strategies; and customer relationship management. The meetings of M653 are conducted as an open seminar, where each member is expected to participate in the discussion of all papers so that as many perspectives and opinions as possible are voiced. While convergence on a single interpretation is not a goal, a key objective is to offer a more clearly defined understanding of the literature. It is also expected that students’ skills in critiquing marketing strategy research papers will be enhanced in the process.

M798 – Special Topics in Marketing - 3 credit hours

This course focuses on current topics of relevance to research in the field of marketing.  Typically, the emphasis is on covering a narrow topic area in depth, rather than on surveying a broad area.  Topics will vary from year to year.

X680 – Supervised Readings in Business – variable 1-6 credit hours

Qualifying Exams

Qualifying exams are waived for students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 in minor coursework, with no grade below B-. Students who fail to meet the grade requirement are required to include an examination of the minor as the qualifying exam.

Minor in Operations/Supply Chain Management

Doctoral students who minor in Operations/Supply Chain Management are required to complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of course work.  These nine hours consist of P601, P602, P603, P604, and other P- and K-courses at the doctoral level (600-level) chosen by the student with the approval of the Departmental Advisor.  The objective of the Operations Management minor program is to broaden student’s research background as well as to provide the background to enable the student to teach in the Operations and Supply Chain Management field.

Prerequisites

All entering Operations/Supply Chain Management doctoral students are expected to have an acceptable background in business and its operations. If they are lacking this knowledge, they will be required to take appropriate course(s) recommended by the departmental advisor.

Coursework

P601 – Supply Chain Management and Distribution– 1.5 credit hours

This course provides a survey of key research themes in the area of supply chain management and distribution.  Topics include multi-echelon inventory (stochastic and guaranteed service level models), risk pooling, postponement, transshipments, supply chain disruption, yield uncertainty, process flexibility, the bullwhip effect, and supply chain contracts.

P602 – Inventory Theory – 1.5 credit hours

This course provides an overview of quantitative models and techniques of inventory management that support the management of production and distribution.  Topics include forecasting, the EOQ model and its variations (quantity discounts, power-of-two policies, planned backorders), the Wagner-Within algorithm, and stochastic inventory models (continuous review (r,Q) policies, periodic review base-stock policies, and (s,S) policies).

P603 – Operations, Planning and Scheduling – 1.5 credit hours

This course provides a survey of operations planning & scheduling topics drawn from the current literature.

P604 - Service Operations and Process Design – 1.5 credit hours

This course focuses on service management and process design, emphasizing operations management issues and decision-making methods.  Topics include service management frameworks, service design and process selection, service quality, service operations and the behavioral sciences, labor scheduling and flexibility, capacity planning, and revenue management.

P635 - Special Topic in Operations Management – 1.5 credit hour

The topics included in this course varies at the time of the offering.  Usually, a sub-field such as humanitarian logistics, health care OM, contracts in supply chain management, sustainable operations, and so forth, is explored in depth.

K601 – Linear Optimization – 1.5 credit hours

This course covers linear optimization. In particular, it focuses on theory, solution methods, and formulations for linear optimization problems.  Topics include linear programming, including the simplex and interior point methods, duality, and network flow problems.

K602 – Integer and Nonlinear Optimization – 1.5 credit hours

This course covers integer and nonlinear optimization. It focuses on theory, solution methods, and formulations for these problems.  Topics include integer programming, non-linear programming (unconstrained and constrained), and stochastic programming.

K603 – Probability Models for Operations Research – 1.5 credit hours

The course focuses on establishing a solid understanding on probability and on how to use it to build applied models. It includes topics such as conditional probability and expectation, transforms, stochastic orders, counting processes, renewal theory, regenerative processes (including the M/G/1 queue), and semi-Markov processes. Students will apply these models to inspection and reward problems, open and closed queueing networks, and optimization problems. This course will also cover the basics of discrete-event simulation.

K604 – Stochastic Process for Operations Research – 1.5 credit hours

The course introduces the fundamental knowledge in stochastic processes. It includes topics such as Poisson processes, discrete- and continuous-time Markov chains, and birth-and-death processes. Applications include phase-type distributions and Markovian queues. Students will represent Markov chains in matrix form and solve for transient and steady-state distributions using MATLAB, Python, or similar software. This course will also cover the basics of random variate generation and Monte Carlo simulation.

K605 – Dynamic Programming – 1.5 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to the formulation and analysis of dynamic optimization problems. Topics include, convexity and concavity, K-convexity, stochastic dominance, dimensionality reduction in dynamic programs, and Lippman’s transformation.

K635 – Special Topic in Decision Science – 1.5 credit hours

The topics included in this course varies at the time of the offering.  Usually, a sub-field such as applications of decision sciences to humanitarian logistics, health care OM, contracts in supply chain management, sustainable operations, and so forth, is explored in depth.

Qualifying Exams

Qualifying exams are waived for students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 in minor coursework, with no grade below B-.  Students who fail to meet the grade requirement are required to include an examination of the minor as the qualifying exam.

Minor in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

Doctoral students who minor in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management are required to take 9 credit hours of coursework.  Z601 and Z615 are required courses.  The additional 3 credit hours may be fulfilled by taking D620, J601, J602, W601, or Z798. Authorization is required to register for doctoral seminars, and you may wish to contact the professor in advance to learn more about the course and obtain a copy of the syllabus prior to requesting instructor enrollment permission. The objective of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management minor course plan is to support and add to the student’s major field of study.

Prerequisites

See Phase I requirements. This requirement is usually met by graduating from an AACSB-accredited MBA program. For students entering without an MBA, exposure to Economics and General Management, or in cases where the faculty advisor and the student jointly identify a Phase I-type deficiency, a course of action to remedy it will be agreed to between the faculty advisor and the student.

Coursework

Z601 – Seminar in Organizational Behavior- 3 credit hours

This seminar examines current paradigms of theory and research in the field of organizational behavior and organizational psychology. The materials we shall examine provide a sort of "operational definition" of the field; in other words, what one reads in the journals and hears at the professional meetings in recent years.  Focus is on the kinds of problems posed, issues addressed, conflicts joined, prototypical research strategies and tactics employed (although here we do not emphasize "methods" and analytic techniques as such), and the individuals who are being read and listened to.  Major topics include:  The historical roots of OB, models of satisfaction and performance, modes of attachment of individuals to organizations, comparative effects of dispositions and work environments, leadership, and the role of culture in shaping behavior in organizations.

Z615 – Seminar in Human Resource Management – 3 credit hours

This seminar addresses the research domains associated with both Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Functional Human Resource Management (FHRM). SHRM is concerned with the emerging literature on aligning business and HR strategy, while FHRM is more about the traditional functions of HR (staffing, reward, and development systems). Special attention will be paid to the similarities and distinctions between SHRM and FHRM and the field of Organizational Behavior. The focus will be on reviewing (describing and critiquing) representative research studies as published in top academic journals and generating new research ideas in the form of original research proposals.

D620 – Doctoral Seminar in International Business – 3 credit hours

Not only for specialists in International Business. Its orientation is basically to review both the classic literature in the field of international business especially the theory of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and business networks, as well as some of the more recent problems and issues that are at the forefront of academic research in the IB area. A “multiple perspectives” approach is followed, using insights from relevant functional fields and cognate disciplines, to throw light on the management issues affecting MNE and networks. Required critical readings and detailed seminar paper.

J601 – Seminar in Strategic Management I – 3 credit hours

This course is designed as a broad survey of major and foundational topics in the field of strategic management. Its objectives are (1) to familiarize students with some of the primary theoretical underpinnings and core concepts of the strategic management field, (2) to review decision areas and challenges involving research methods within the domain of strategic management, and (3) to provide a forum in which students can further develop the writing skills they will need as strategic management scholars. Topics covered in the course include: an historical and theoretical overview of strategic management, core concepts in strategic management, selected theoretical lenses of strategic management, the drivers and consequences of firm performance, corporate governance and general management, strategy content, strategic processes, industry and environmental considerations in strategic management, and organizational considerations in strategic management. Class sessions are devoted to (1) reviewing and critiquing readings associated with the aforementioned topics, (2) developing, refining, and presenting research ideas, and (3) explaining the research and publication processes.

J602 – Theoretical Foundations of Strategy II – 3 credit hours

This course is designed as a survey of recent topics in the field of strategic management. Its objective is to familiarize the students with some of the primary theoretical underpinnings of the field as well as some of the common and/or promising methodological approaches to the study of strategy phenomena. Topics covered in the course include: the resource-based view of strategy, perspectives on firm growth, the knowledge and attentions based views of the firm, the role of the environment in strategic decisions, new venture and entry strategies, dynamic capabilities, slack, network and strategy at the population level of analysis. Class sessions will be devoted to reviewing and critiquing the readings associated with each of the aforementioned topics and generating research opportunities.

W601 –Organization Theory – 3 credit hours

W601 is a survey course intended to introduce basic concepts of organization theory (OT). OT focuses on organization structure, as both a dependent variable—predicted by a number of independent variables—and as a predictor of organization effectiveness. We’ll begin with classic readings so that you will gain an appreciation for the roots of current research in OT and strategic management, and then discuss more recent theoretical and empirical work building on this earlier foundation.Z798 – Seminar in Research Methods – 3 credit hours

The primary purpose of this seminar is to prepare doctoral candidates to conduct research in the organizational and behavioral sciences. The emphasis of this course is on exploring: (a) the logic of research designs, (b) different types of research methodologies, and (c) the advantages and disadvantages of using different research methods. Special attention will be paid to the topics of construct development and validation, how to control for method biases, and the identification of the necessary conditions for establishing causal relationships. Although the discussion of various analytical procedures will be unavoidable, the major focus of the seminar will be on methodological (as opposed) to analytical issues.

Qualifying Exams

Qualifying exams are waived for students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 in minor coursework, with no grade below B-. Students who fail to meet the grade requirement are required to

include an examination of the minor as the qualifying exam.

Minor in Strategic Management and Organization Theory (Management)

Doctoral students who minor in Strategic Management and Organization Theory are required to take 9 credit hours of coursework.  J601 and J602 are required courses.  The additional 3 credit hours may be fulfilled by taking D620, W601, or W610. Authorization is required to register for doctoral seminars, and you may wish to contact the professor in advance to learn more about the course and obtain a copy of the syllabus prior to requesting instructor enrollment permission. The objective of the Strategic Management and Organization Theory minor course plan is to support and add to the student’s major field of study.

Prerequisites

See Phase I requirements.  This requirement is usually met by graduating from an AACSB-accredited MBA program.  For students entering without an MBA, exposure to Economics, Finance, and General Management or in cases where the faculty advisor and the student jointly identify a Phase I-type deficiency, a course of action to remedy it will be agreed to between the faculty advisor and the student.

Coursework

J601 – Seminar in Strategic Management I – 3 credit hours

This course is designed as a broad survey of major and foundational topics in the field of strategic management. Its objectives are (1) to familiarize students with some of the primary theoretical underpinnings and core concepts of the strategic management field, (2) to review decision areas and challenges involving research methods within the domain of strategic management, and (3) to provide a forum in which students can further develop the writing skills they will need as strategic management scholars.  Topics covered in the course include: an historical and theoretical overview of strategic management, core concepts in strategic management, selected theoretical lenses of strategic management, the drivers and consequences of firm performance, corporate governance and general management, strategy content, strategic processes, industry and environmental considerations in strategic management, and organizational considerations in strategic management.  Class sessions are devoted to (1) reviewing and critiquing readings associated with the aforementioned topics, (2) developing, refining, and presenting research ideas, and (3) explaining the research and publication processes.

J602 – Theoretical Foundations of Strategy II – 3 credit hours

This course is designed as a survey of recent topics in the field of strategic management.  Its objective is to familiarize the students with some of the primary theoretical underpinnings of the field as well as some of the common and/or promising methodological approaches to the study of strategy phenomena.  Topics covered in the course include: the resource-based view of strategy, perspectives on firm growth, the knowledge and attentions based views of the firm, the role of the environment in strategic decisions, new venture and entry strategies, dynamic capabilities, slack, network and strategy at the population level of analysis. Class sessions will be devoted to reviewing and critiquing the readings associated with each of the aforementioned topics and generating research opportunities.

D620 – Seminar in International Business – 3 credit hours

Not only for specialists in International Business.  Its orientation is basically to review both the classic literature in the field of international business especially the theory of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and business networks, as well as some of the more recent problems and issues that are at the forefront of academic research in the IB area. A “multiple perspectives” approach is followed, using insights from relevant functional fields and cognate disciplines, to throw light on the management issues affecting MNE and networks. Required critical readings and detailed seminar paper.

W601 – Organization Theory – 3 credit hours

W601 is a survey course intended to introduce basic concepts of organization theory (OT). OT focuses on organization structure, as both a dependent variable—predicted by a number of independent variables—and as a predictor of organization effectiveness. We’ll begin with classic readings so that you will gain an appreciation for the roots of current research in OT and strategic management, and then discuss more recent theoretical and empirical work building on this earlier foundation.

W610 – Theoretical Foundations of Entrepreneurship – 3 credit hours

This course is designed as a broad survey of major topics in the field of entrepreneurship.  Its objective is to familiarize the students with some of the primary theoretical underpinnings of the field as well as some of the common and/or promising methodological approaches to the study of entrepreneurial phenomena.  Topics covered in the course include:  a theoretical overview of entrepreneurship and research agendas, entrepreneurship motivation and opportunity, entrepreneurial attention and information processing, learning and knowledge related to opportunity, entrepreneurial decision making and biases, entrepreneurs’ human and social capital, strategic orientation and corporate entrepreneurship, new ventures (strategy, growth and performance), entrepreneurial failure, and international entrepreneurship.  Indirectly the course will also cover a dissertation in entrepreneurship, the journal review process, research methods, and presenting research papers. Class sessions will be devoted to reviewing and critiquing the readings associated with each of the aforementioned topics and generating research opportunities.

Qualifying Exams

Qualifying exams are waived for students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 in minor coursework, with no grade below B-. Students who fail to meet the grade requirement are required to include an examination of the minor as the qualifying exam.