Ph.D. Frequently
Asked Questions
What
majors are offered in the Ph.D. Program at MSU?
What
are the main requirements of the Ph.D. program in Business Administration?
How
long does it take to complete the formal coursework in the Ph.D. program?
As
a new Ph.D. student, who will advise me?
Does
the Ph.D. program emphasize teaching or research?
How
do the assistantships work? What will I be doing?
Is
it possible to get the Ph.D. degree on a part-time basis?
After
receiving the Ph.D. degree, how do I find a job?
What majors are offered in the Ph.D. Program at MSU?
We admit
students into specialized programs in Accounting, Finance, Marketing,
Management and Information Systems. We also offer a Ph.D. in Applied
Economics. Information on each of these areas is available on
this website.
What are the main requirements of the Ph.D. program in
Business Administration?
Students are required to take 24 hours of coursework
in their major area, 9 hours in the support area, and 18 hours of research
and teaching tools. In addition, students must demonstrate competency
in these areas by passing three exams: 1) a Qualifying Examination
over quantitative tools in their first year; 2) a written preliminary
examination over all coursework in their major field; and 3) an oral
comprehensive exam taken upon completion of all formal coursework.
A student formally enters "candidacy" by successfully defending
a dissertation proposal. The degree is awarded when the dissertation
is completed and successfully defended before one's dissertation committee.
How long does it take to complete the formal coursework
in the Ph.D. program?
For most doctoral
students, approximately two years of full time formal course work is
necessary. For students with an MBA or other master's degree relevant
to their field of specialization, the number of courses can be reduced
through transfer credit. Note, however, that graduate credit may be
transferred only from graduate schools in accredited institutions; such
transfer is not automatic and must be specifically approved by your
advisor, the Director of the Ph.D. program and the Director of the Graduate
Studies in Business.
As a new Ph.D. student, who will advise me?
When
you arrive at MSU, you will be assigned a faculty member in your discipline
who will serve as the chair of your program committee. You will
work with this person to select four other members of your program committee.
These faculty members will be your initial advisors in the program,
along with Dr. Spencer who heads up the Ph.D. program for the College.
You will also find other faculty members to be very helpful throughout
your stay at MSU. Upon completion of your coursework, and the
passing of your oral comprehensive exam, the work of your program committee
comes to a close. At this time, you select a new advisor to serve
as the chair of your dissertation committee. This choice is yours
to make based on the research interests you have developed and availability
of faculty with similar interests and appropriate skills.
Does the Ph.D. program emphasize teaching or research?
The Ph.D. program in the College of Business & Industry
at MSU attempts to balance research and teaching skills in order to
prepare you for future careers in academia. Although we anticipate
that our graduates will seek positions in organizations where academic
research is highly valued, we believe that effective teaching is important
at any institution and we strive to prepare our students to be good
teachers as well as good researchers. As part of your program of studies,
you will be required to take a course on university-level teaching skills,
as well as 15 hours of statistics and research design courses.
The College will supplement these formal courses by offering in-house
doctoral teaching and research workshops each semester. These
will alternate between various teaching and research related topics.
In addition, the College offers several annual awards to doctoral students
including Outstanding Doctoral Teaching Award, Outstanding Doctoral
Student Research Award, and Outstanding Doctoral Student-Faculty collaboration
award. We hope that all students will become excellent teachers
and will have several publications by the time they earn their degree.
To compete successfully on the academic job market, students should
treat the development of a research agenda yielding tangible outcomes
(meeting papers, publications) as a high priority throughout the program.
How do the assistantships work? What will I be doing?
Doctoral assistantships require 20 hours of work per
week. Students will either be assigned as a research assistant
to a faculty member or will teach up to two classes a semester.
We try to ensure that you get both experiences as you go through the
program.
Is it possible to get the Ph.D. degree on a part-time basis?
Part-time involvement in the Ph.D. program is extremely
difficult. The Ph.D. degree involves intensive academic
study and collaborative research, which can seldom be accomplished on
a part-time basis. We have had a few part-time students who live
and work locally, or who work on campus, but we do not recommend this
strategy.
After receiving the Ph.D. degree, how do I find a job?
Academic positions
at quality institutions are filled on the basis of the applicant's academic
performance, published research, and teaching skills and interests.
The active support of your dissertation chairperson and/or other faculty
members can also help in establishing contacts and securing interviews.
Involvement in appropriate academic organizations is also important.
During your program, you should make an effort to join appropriate organizations
and attend their conferences. In addition to presenting your work
at these conferences, you can apply for faculty positions through their
placement areas. The College will provide some funding for your
conference trips whenever you are presenting a paper or attending a
doctoral consortium. |
