PH.D. in Business Administration

Degree Plan

The doctoral degree is a minimum 66-hour degree program. The precise number of hours depends on the program designed by the student and his or her Program Advisory Committee and by the length of time required to complete the dissertation. In general, the 66 hours include:

In addition, each student must demonstrate fluency in a foreign language. Obtaining the language skills necessary for graduation is the responsibility of the student and must be secured in addition to the hours required for the degree. Students may offer evidence of proficiency in a number of ways including: (a) providing scores on standardized tests in the language to the 70th percentile or greater, (b) providing transcripts showing a minimum of 18 hours of college coursework in the language, (c) showing evidence of completing intensive language institutes at the intermediate level, (d) demonstrating proficiency through performance, or (e) providing evidence that one's native language is other than English.

All students are required to take a written preliminary examination upon completion of the foundation courses (generally in the July between their first and second year). All students must also take written and oral comprehensive examinations in their major fields at the end of the coursework stage of study. Successful completion of the exams is required before the student may enroll in dissertation hours.

Course Scheduling and Residency Requirement Doctoral courses are generally scheduled in the afternoons on a one-day-a-week schedule. This schedule permits students on assistantships to teach courses in the mornings or in the evenings.

Each student must complete a residency as a full-time student consisting of a minimum of two consecutive long sessions with a minimum of 9 hours in each semester. Hours of dissertation credit may not be used to fulfill this requirement.