Business Administration, PhD

for the Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration

This program offers an in-depth education in teaching and research in selected areas of business and administration. Doctoral students can specialize in marketing, organizational behavior/theory, management science/process management, information systems, and strategic management. The program is intensive, flexible, and adapted to individual needs.

Each student's program entails sufficient study and preparation to achieve the following:

competence in a common core covering substantive and research methods courses, which are formulated by the faculty in each area;
in-depth expertise in a major area;
expertise in at least one area in addition to the chosen major area, with this minor area selected from within or outside the department;
teaching experience; and
research or problem-solving competence.

Competency is determined by comprehensive written and/or oral examinations. Following successful completion of all coursework and comprehensive examinations in major and minor areas, students must propose and gain approval of a thesis topic at a public colloquium. The final program requirement is the successful oral defense of the thesis. Applicants should contact the department for current requirements and program design.

The program usually is completed in five years. Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.

Admission

Admission to the Ph.D. program requires an undergraduate degree with a scholastic average of at least B for the last 60 hours, acceptable scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Records Examination (GRE), three letters of recommendation, and a statement of career goals including research interests.

Applicants whose native language is not English are also required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS. Ph.D. candidates must achieve the University minimum scores on these examinations.

The Ph.D. program allows Fall admission only. Please check the Departmental listing for current requirements and program information.

Faculty Research Interests
Faculty research interests are in the areas of marketing, organizational behavior, organization theory, decision sciences, information systems, strategic management, risk analysis, judgment under uncertainty, international business, production and operations management, accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, and finance. The Gies College of Business houses computer facilities, a behavioral science laboratory, and a separate library. The college maintains contacts with industry and government through its Survey Research Laboratory, Illinois Business Consulting, the Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership and several professional and scholarly journals edited by its faculty.

Financial Aid
Most Ph.D. students receive some form of financial assistance. This assistance is likely to be in the form of a teaching or research assistantships, which includes a waiver of tuition and some fees, and/or the award of a merit-based fellowship.

for the Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration

For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Programs of Study and the Graduate College Handbook.

Entering with approved M.S./M.A. degree

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Business Administration core requirement		4
Concentration area courses (12 min)		12
Minor area courses (12 min)		12
3 courses in research methodology (12 min)		12
Students are required to attend pro-seminars in their respective areas		0-4
BADM 599	Dissertation Research (min/max applied toward degree)	32
Total Hours		64

Other Requirements¹

Grad Other Degree Requirements
Requirement	Description
Other requirements may overlap
Ph.D. candidates must maintain continuous registration through the approval of a dissertation proposal, unless a leave has been approved by the department.
Qualifying Exam Required	No
Preliminary Exam Required	Yes
Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required	Yes
Dissertation Deposit Required	Yes
Minimum GPA:	2.75

¹: For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Programs of Study and the Graduate College Handbook.

Entering with approved B.S./B.A. degree

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Business Administration core requirement		4
Concentration area courses (12 min)		12
Minor area courses (12 min)		12
3 courses in research methodology (12 min)		12
Students are required to attend pro-seminars in their respective areas		0-4
BADM 599	Dissertation Research (min/max applied toward degree)	32
Total Hours		96

Other Requirements¹

Grad Other Degree Requirements
Requirement	Description
Other requirements may overlap
Ph.D. candidates must maintain continuous registration through the approval of a dissertation proposal, unless a leave has been approved by the department.
Qualifying Exam Required	No
Preliminary Exam Required	Yes
Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required	Yes
Dissertation Deposit Required	Yes
Minimum GPA:	2.75