Department of Management and Human Resources PhD Program The primary goal of the PhD program is to develop top-class researchers in the field of management, with specializations in the areas of entrepreneurship, human resource management, international business, organizational behavior and strategic management. We train and mentor students of exceptional promise for successful academic careers in research universities. Our program strives to provide students the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to conduct high-quality rigorous, creative, and insightful research. Our goal is to place students at top research universities around the world and prepare students to contribute meaningfully in those positions through the development of new knowledge and the dissemination of knowledge to students, the academic community, and business practice. Our globally recognized faculty members are committed to training Ph.D. students. The size and diversity of our faculty provide students with a stimulating environment and a wide array of expertise. Our faculty has successfully published their work in top-tier journals including the Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of International Business and Organizational Science, among others. Faculty members regularly present at professional association annual meetings, hold or have held leadership positions in those associations, and serve or have served as editors and editorial review board members of the most prestigious journals in the field. Successful graduates of our program will have a comprehensive grasp of the assumptions and theories of the field of management as well their area of specialization, a thorough understanding of the statistical techniques and research methods used in empirical research, and the ability to engage in and publish innovative research. The program provides students with breadth as well as depth, and is flexible enough for a student to design a program of study that meets his/her interests. To accomplish this, students will participate in coursework as well as a variety of research and teaching related activities throughout their study. Courses are taught in a seminar format in which theoretical, practical, and methodological issues are discussed to expand students' knowledge of the field and research competencies. Doctoral students also work closely with faculty members on research throughout their program, joining faculty research initially, and then developing their own research projects. The program requires a full-time in-residence commitment from the student.
Specialization in Human Resource Management The specialization in Human Resources (HR) is dedicated to understanding how work organizations can perform more effectively by better management of their human resources. That is, we are interested in understanding, identifying, and improving the effectiveness of HR practices (whether in the U.S. or in other countries) in the various functions and activities carried out as part of HR, and determining the optimal fit between these practices and organizational strategies, cultures, and performance. Important research areas include recruiting, employee selection, performance management, learning, training and development, total rewards (compensation and benefits), and strategic human resource management. Our faculty studies HR from theoretical perspectives based in economics, psychology, sociology, and management using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Typically, our faculty s research investigates issues that contribute to the academic discipline as well as inform practice. The emphasis is on studies at the individual, team or group, organizational, and crosslevels of analysis. Our faculty also examines topics that can be considered to be in the realm of organizational behavior including work-family balance, job and work design, and teams. Also, our HR research is not limited to any one type of industry. We study practices within industries such as the middle markets, call centers, the military, restaurants, and hospitals as well as non-profits such as fire departments. Specialization in International Business The specialization in International Business (IB) is designed to help students (1) understand the theoretical underpinnings of the discipline of IB, (2) understand how the body of work in this discipline has developed over time, and (3) create a strong foundation for continued scholarly research on IB. More than other areas of business, IB is highly multidisciplinary and draws upon principles of economics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, political science, among others. Students of IB will benefit significantly from broadening their exposure to these principles. Nonetheless, the field of IB is motivated by its own set of questions, approaches and domains, which differ from those of these disciplines. Generally speaking, the field of IB is interested in understanding both how and why the conduct of business activity differs across national contexts and the effects of these differences for both multinational and domestic firms. To address these questions, our faculty conducts research on such diverse topics as the effects of cultural variations on the conduct of business, multinational firm-host government relations and political risk, globalization of business and global strategies, international strategic alliances, corporate governance, networks and knowledge management within the multinational firm. These topics are examined in the context of a variety of emerging markets and developed economies. The College has been federally designated as a Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), which facilitates such research. Potential areas of study include the effects of crossnational differences (cultural dimensions, institutions, etc.) on the conduct of business, the effects of globalization on industries and firms, multinational firm strategies and structures, entry modes, international strategic alliances including international joint
ventures, managing knowledge within the multinational firm and across national contexts. Specialization in Organizational Behavior The specialization in Organizational Behavior (OB) is devoted to understanding individuals and groups within an organizational context. OB focuses on attributes, processes, behaviors, and outcomes within and between individual, interpersonal, group, and organizational levels of analysis. Major topics include: Individual characteristics and processes (e.g., personality, motivation, emotions); Interpersonal processes (e.g., trust, social exchange, networks); Group/team characteristics and processes (e.g., diversity, cohesion, conflict); Organizational processes and practices (e.g., leadership, work design, socialization); Contextual influences (e.g., culture, climate); and the influence of all of the above on individual, interpersonal, group, and organizational outcomes (e.g., performance, creativity, stress, turnover). Specialization in Strategy and Entrepreneurship The specialization in Strategy and Entrepreneurship is essentially about learning to conduct excellent academic research in both of these areas. The main goal of Strategy research is to understand why some firms perform better than others based on sound theory and research methods. The essential issue in entrepreneurship is to understand the environmental conditions and capabilities that influence new knowledge creation and entrepreneurship, as well as how entrepreneurial firms create and appropriate value. The range of research topics investigated by students is broad, and includes fundamental questions related to business strategy and entrepreneurship, including the nature of firms competitive advantage, corporate and global scope, knowledge creation and transfer within firms and corporate growth with mergers, acquisitions and inter-firm alliances. Overall Structure of the PhD Program It is important to recognize that the educational experience of our doctoral program is unlike any other educational experience at the university. While undergraduate and master s degree programs challenge students to understand and apply ideas, theories and concepts developed by others, the Ph.D. program requires students to learn how to develop useful ideas, theories and concepts on their own, and contribute important new insights to current knowledge in the field. The training for creating such capabilities puts unusual demands on Ph.D. students time and mental resources. For this reason, we look for applicants that exhibit a superior educational background, an aptitude for research, and high motivation for completing the rigorous requirements of the program. Coursework and Requirements The program involves rigorous coursework not only within the MHR department, but also includes courses in other departments of Fisher College as well as statistics,
economics, psychology and other disciplines within the university. The coursework helps to provide knowledge on essential theories of the field, advanced research methods and approaches to empirical research. Students complete all required and elective courses during their first two years. The total required credit hours to complete the PhD program is 80, broken down as follows: Required seminars within department: 21 Required statistics courses: 12 Breadth courses from outside Fisher: 12 Other elective courses: 20 Dissertation credits: 15 In addition to the above, other requirements of the program include: First-year requirements: Year-long assistantship which includes work on research. Substantial progress on the second-year paper. Successful completion of the first-year exam. Second-year requirements: Year-long assistantship which includes work on research. Completion of the second-year paper. Successful completion of the comprehensive exam. Third-year requirements: Substantial progress on the dissertation, including the formation of a dissertation committee. Successful defense of the dissertation proposal. Independent teaching of one course. Paper(s) submitted to major conferences/journals. Preparation for the job market by July, including a job market paper from the dissertation. Fourth-year requirements: Completion of the dissertation. Paper(s) submitted to major conferences/journals. Independent teaching of one course. Successful completion of the oral dissertation defense. First Year Exam After completing the introductory required and elective seminars in non-major specializations, students will take an exam on these topics in the month of May prior to beginning their second year. The exam tests the student s understanding of the important theories and empirical approaches used in micro and macro research in
management as well as those pertaining to specific specializations. Students must pass the exam to continue in the program. Comprehensive Exam After completing the formal course requirements at the end of the second academic year, students will take the Graduate School qualifying exam for their chosen area of specialization during the month of May prior to beginning their third year. The exam tests the student's detailed knowledge of the literature, including the important theories, models and empirical approaches used in this research. The exam is written by the student's Faculty Advisor, in cooperation with other members of the Exam Advisory Committee. Students will answer a set of analytical questions related to his/her major field. Students will need to demonstrate their understanding of the research questions dominating the literature as well as be able to provide new insights. In this regard, the exam is designed to test the ability of the student to integrate and make creative contributions to the literature, not just memorize it. The comprehensive exam consists of two parts--written and oral. Passing the comprehensive exam reflects the student's readiness to undertake dissertation research. Students must pass the exam to continue in the program. Second Year Paper Requirement In the first year of the program, the student will begin working on a research paper that will be completed during the second year of the program. The student will take primary responsibility for this project, but will also form a committee of two faculty members which will guide the student in developing a reasonable research question, theoretically derived model and hypotheses, as well as appropriate tests. By December of the second year, the paper must be completed to the satisfaction of the committee members. After this, the paper must be submitted to a major national conference, such as Academy of Management, Academy of International Business, or Strategic Management Society. The submission deadlines for these conferences are typically in January and February. Acceptance of the paper into one of these conferences will reflect positively on the student s progress. In addition, the student will be expected to present the completed paper to MHR faculty members and other Ph.D. students during a departmental forum such as a seminar or brown bag series. Dissertation The student officially enters the dissertation phase of the doctoral program after passing the Comprehensive Exam. This phase of the program typically lasts for two years and is concluded with the final Oral Dissertation Defense. The dissertation is a scholarly contribution to knowledge in the student's area of specialization. By researching and writing a dissertation, the student is expected to
demonstrate a high level of knowledge and the capacity to function as an independent scholar. The dissertation is directed by a Faculty Advisor and Dissertation Committee chosen by the student. Working with his/her Advisor and Committee, the student is expected to develop and defend a dissertation proposal, complete the research with guidance from faculty, present the research in a departmental forum in preparation for a job talk, and complete the Graduate School Oral Exam to defend the dissertation research in front of the Dissertation Committee. Expectations for Student Performance Students must be prepared to contribute to our intellectual community, work hard, attend to program requirements, participate in research, be committed to scholarship, and support others. We expect our students to: Take the initiative to identify topics of research interest relatively early in the program and communicate with faculty about pursuing those interests and assisting with their research. Remain in residence to work on research during the summer months. This is a full-time, year-round program. Perform at a high level when completing program requirements. Students will be evaluated regularly by faculty and must receive positive reviews in order to continue in the program. Students must also successfully complete the program requirements. Failing to do so will mean that the student will not be allowed to continue in the program. Be good citizens. This is a training partnership among the students and the faculty. Students must be willing to foster a positive culture and community. Financial Support Entering doctoral students can receive a Graduate Assistant (GA) Fellowship that covers tuition, insurance and a monthly stipend. Students continuing in the doctoral program are eligible for reappointment based upon funding availability and the most recent annual and periodic student performance evaluations. It is normally expected that students who exhibit acceptable progress in the program will be given such support for a period of four academic years. Duties and Responsibilities Students year-long GA Fellowship involves a mix of research assistance (RA), teaching assistance (TA), and independent teaching later in the program. During this apprenticeship period, students work closely with one or more faculty members on jointly developed research, as well as assisting in the teaching of courses.
When students serve as a teaching assistant to a faculty member teaching a large class for one semester, they are expected to use this opportunity to learn about teaching approaches and techniques. Activities in this regard include help with grading, roster maintenance and other classroom needs. Stipend Levels The yearly level of financial support is determined by the Department Chair each year. The stipend levels are based upon University minimums, previous year's levels, College guidelines, levels of stipends offered by competing universities, level of responsibility, and experience. Common Questions and Answers about the PhD Program Do you have a part-time PhD program? Can I continue to work while attending the PhD program? Can I commute from a different city to the program? NO. It is not possible to work outside of the program, as this will reduce your focus and effectiveness in the program. Courses are not offered in a manner that can accommodate diverse schedules or competing demands on your time. We require complete commitment to the program. Do you have a distance PhD program? NO. You have to be on campus for all activities related to the PhD program. My goal is to become a full-time consultant or work in private companies. Is this right program for me? NO. Our program is designed to develop students ability to conduct top-class and highly publishable research. Thus, the goal of our program is to train students for academic positions in universities. What qualifications are you looking for in applicants to the PhD program? In general, we are looking for students who are capable of understanding the deep knowledge of the field and who can ultimately conduct and publish high-quality research
in top academic journals that adds important new insights to the field. Thus, we consider prior academic performance, GMAT or GRE scores, as well as analytical capability. Each component of the application aids us in making judgments about the applicant s suitability for our program. Can the GRE or GMAT scores be waived if I already have a masters degree? NO. We never waive these scores, as we consider them to be a vital component of the application. If you have taken either the GRE or GMAT exam more than five years earlier, you will need to retake it. Can any other part of the application be waived under certain conditions? In order to be considered for the PhD program, you must submit all required components of the application. However, the TOEFL exam score may be waived if you can prove that you have been educated in an English-speaking country. Is there a minimum GRE or GMAT score that is required for admission into the program? We do not specify a minimum score. Even so, do remember that the admission process into the PhD program is a competitive process. Scores representing higher percentiles will be more desirable in deciding admission. Is it necessary to have a masters degree before entering the program? No, although desirable, it is not necessary to have a masters degree. If admitted, what is the likelihood of students receiving financial support? We typically provide a full fellowship to admitted students that covers both tuition and living expenses.