Typical Ph.D Program Timetable

In the Management PhD program, the focus is on learning what it means to be an organizational scholar, especially the research aspects of scholarship (although the teaching aspects become important later in the program).  Students start broadly by taking a wide variety of theory-based and methodological classes and working with several faculty members on a diverse set of research projects (typically no more that 3 at a time).  Over time, the student's focus begins to narrow in scope, until he/she has developed a clear research agenda that provides the wherewithal to complete a dissertation and compete for Assistant Professor positions at other Research I Universities.

For a Management PhD, the ideal timeline spans 5 years, although some students have completed the program in 4 years.  The following example, however, is based on a typical 5-year program.

Year 1

• Completes a full roster of required and elective courses:
  • 3 core courses within the department - 2 theory-based seminars and 1 Methods seminar
  • 2 Statistics courses outside the department
  • 1 elective outside the department
• Student is supported as a Research Assistant (working with 2 professors) - the primary purpose of the research assistantship is to develop mentoring relationships and to guide students toward doing publishable research
• Summer of year 1:
  • continues working on in-process research projects
  • completes first-year Research paper

Aim: by end of year 1, each student should have initial exposure to doing management research (both Organizational Behavior and Strategy) and have gained the building blocks to a solid foundation of theoretical and methodological knowledge within the Management field

Year 2

• Completes a full roster of required and elective classes
  • 1 core Methods seminar within the department
  • 4-6 elective seminars (5 weeks each) within the department
  • 1 Behavioral Science/Economics course from outside the department
  • 1-2 electives from outside the department
• Student is again supported as a Research Assistant (working with 2 professors)
• Summer of year 2:
  • continues working on in-process research projects
  • completes second-year Research paper
  • takes written comprehensive exams (if failed, retake in Spring of year 3 - if failed again, then leave the program)

Aim: by end of year 2, each student has had significant research exposure and should have a solid foundation of theoretical and methodological knowledge within the Management field

Year 3

• Student continues to be a Research Assistant (working with 1 professor)
• Student also begins learning the craft of teaching by serving as a Teaching Assistant for 1 core MBA class
• Should be firmly involved in conducting research not only with assigned RA professors, but also beginning to develop independent research ideas and relationships
• Begins thinking about dissertation topic/idea and putting together a dissertation committee

Year 4

• Student continues to be a Research Assistant for 1 professor
• Student also continues learning the craft of teaching by taking responsibility for teaching two undergraduate classes
• Dissertation proposal submitted and defended by end of year 4
• Continues to work on non-dissertation research projects
• Starts to consider options for post-graduation career and prepares to be on the job market

Year 5

• Student continues to be a Research Assistant for 1 professor
• Student continues teaching two undergraduate classes
• Works toward completion of dissertation project by end of year 5
• Continues to work on non-dissertation research project
• Applies for Assistant Professor positions and engages in on-campus interviews for open positions