Ph.D. in Business Administration

Mission • Admission • Prerequisite Common Body of Knowledge • Graduate Committees
Graduate Program • Doctoral Examinations • Doctoral Review • Important Forms

Mission

The mission of the Ph.D. program at Mississippi State University is to prepare students for successful careers at the university level in teaching and research in the field of business. Thus, we attempt to provide our students with the following:

1. A curriculum that offers in-depth study of a specialized field.
2. The preparation that will enable them to recognize, conceptualize, and implement independent research that is both grounded in theory and supported by appropriate research methodologies.
3. An environment in which they can experience and develop effective teaching skills.

The Ph. D. in Business Administration program at Mississippi State University is a broad program. To better help students reach their goals, the program is broken up into five major fields of study. Those fields of study are Accounting, Business Information Systems, Finance, Management, and Marketing.

Curriculum Objectives

To provide in-depth study in a specialized area by requiring that all students take 24 hours of appropriate graduate courses in their major field, as well as 9 hours in support of the major field.

Teaching Objectives

To develop the students' teaching skills by:

• Exposing them to a variety of teaching styles and methods
• Mentoring them in the classroom
• Requiring them to take a 3-hour course on university level teaching skills
• Providing them with classes or workshops in which they can practice new teaching skills
• Being good teachers ourselves.

Research Objectives

To develop the students' ability to conduct independent research by:

• Exposing them to a variety of current research methods used in their areas of specialization throughout their coursework
• Requiring them to take 15 hours of statistics/research methods courses
• Requiring them to work with a faculty member on research for at least two semesters
• Requiring them to complete a dissertation in which research skills are successfully demonstrated.

College of Business and Industry

Policies and Procedures