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Business Administration - Ph.D.



	Description

	Degrees Offered

	Admission

	Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration

		Accounting Track

		Finance Track

		Management Information Systems Track

		Management Track

		Marketing Track

	Contact Info

Description

The objective of the doctoral programs in Business Administration is to prepare students for academic careers in higher education and management careers in profit and nonprofit organizations. Success in the program is judged by the student’s understanding of the issues and methodologies essential to the advancement of knowledge.

Degrees Offered

Accounting Track
Finance Track
Management Information Systems Track
Management Track
Marketing Track

Admission

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).

In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants to this program must provide:

Official score of at least 550 on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
Official prior transcripts, including GPAs, of previous undergraduate and graduate programs.
Three letters of recommendation.
Goal Statement.
Resume.
For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 230 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required. An evaluation of all foreign transcripts is also required.

Additional Notes on Admissions

Admission decisions are made on the recommendation of the faculty of the appropriate department or school. Admissions will generally be made only for fall semester, every other year; however, exceptions may be made in some cases. All interested students should contact the program director for their track for information about applying to this program. The college strongly encourages applications from minority and diverse populations. Race, national origin, and gender are not used in the evaluation of students for admission into graduate and professional programs.

Application Due Dates

All students applying for fellowships or assistantships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.

U.S. Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration

Accounting Track Feb 1 Apr 15

Finance Track Feb 1 Apr 15

Management Information Systems Track Feb 1 Apr 15

Management Track Feb 1 Apr 15

Marketing Track Feb 1 Apr 15

International Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration

Accounting Track Jan 15 Jan 15

Finance Track Jan 15 Jan 15

Management Information Systems Track Jan 15 Jan 15

Management Track Jan 15 Jan 15

Marketing Track Jan 15 Jan 15

International Transfer Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration

Accounting Track Feb 1 Mar 1

Finance Track Feb 1 Mar 1

Management Information Systems Track Feb 1 Mar 1

Management Track Feb 1 Mar 1

Marketing Track Feb 1 Mar 1

Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration

Total Semester Hours Required—84-96 hours

Doctoral work is based on the achievement of academic and research competencies, rather than a specific number of courses. A student who participates in a doctoral program of study is expected to strive for the knowledge and skills necessary to develop excellence in teaching and to conduct quality research, and should at all times maintain the highest ideals of academic integrity and scholarship.

Upon admission to the doctoral program, the student will be assigned an advisory committee. The student, with the approval of the student’s advisory committee, will complete a program of study including the following:

General Preparation and Course Work

MBA degree or equivalent —30 hours: Each track may specify different requirements for this category. Consult the doctoral graduate program coordinator for a specific major.
Major—12-21 hours
Minor/Support Area—6-9 hours
Research Tools —12-15 hours: All doctoral students are required to take two applied statistics courses. Other research tool courses will be specified by the track.
Teaching—0-3 credit hours: Each track will require some education related to teaching. It may take the form of classes, noncredit seminars, mentoring, or a teaching requirement. Consult the doctoral graduate program coordinator for a specific major.
Candidacy Examination: The student must successfully complete a comprehensive candidacy examination. This exam has written and oral parts, and covers the candidate’s program of study. Students are admitted to candidacy after satisfying all general degree requirements, passing the comprehensive exam, and fulfilling the residency requirement.
Dissertation—24 hours: The student must successfully defend a written dissertation proposal in an oral examination conducted by the student’s advisory/dissertation committee. The final defense of the successful dissertation will require an oral examination that concentrates on, but is not limited to, the student’s dissertation defense.

The general expectations for each track follow. Each program is tailored to the needs of the individual student and may require work that is not included in the following descriptions.

Accounting Track

Minimum Hours Required for Ph.D.—93 Credit Hours

Foundation Body of Knowledge—30 Credit Hours

In Accounting, the foundation body of knowledge may be satisfied with a master’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Taxation, or its equivalent from an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited school that includes certain accounting courses deemed essential by the accounting Ph.D. coordinator. Alternatively, this requirement may be satisfied by courses deemed essential by the School of Accounting’s doctoral advisory committee.

Accounting Major Concentration—21 Credit Hours Minimum

Required Courses—18 Credit Hours

ACG 7157 Seminar in Archival Research in Accounting (3 credit hours)
ACG 7399 Seminar in Behavioral Accounting Research (3 credit hours)
ACG 7826 Seminar in the Social and Organizational Context of Accounting (3 credit hours)
ACG 7885 Research Foundations in Accounting (3 credit hours)
ACG 7887 Accounting Research Forum (6 credit hours) (Workshop, 1 credit hour per semester)

Elective Courses—3 Credit Hours—Select one course.

ACG 7888 Seminar in Critical Accounting and AIS (3 credit hours)
ACG 7917 Advanced Research Methods in Accounting and Accounting Information Systems Research (3 credit hours)
Other accounting electives as they are developed for the program

Minor/Support Area—6 Credit Hours

Students must select a minimum of six credit hours in a unified area approved by the students doctoral study advisory committee. Each student’s program of study is individually tailored to accommodate student interests whenever possible, and this course work may be developed from offerings in the following areas with the advice and consent of the respective departments and advisory committee:

Management Information Systems
Marketing
Economics
Political Science
Psychology
Gender Studies
Management
Sociology
Environmental Studies
Communication
Philosophy
Public Affairs

Research Tools—12 Credit Hours

ECO 7423 Applied Models I (3 credit hours, required course)
Additional 9 credit hours of research tools courses, approved by the student’s advisory committee. Examples of courses that will satisfy this requirement include GEB 7910, STA 5205, PSY 6216, PSY 6217, PSY 6308, ECO 6424, ECO 7425, and ISM 7029.

Teaching Requirement

The requirements for the teaching component of the doctoral degree will be developed with the doctoral program coordinator based on the student’s experience. Normally, this requirement will be satisfied through teaching a minimum of 3 credit hours of class instruction under the direct supervision of a faculty member. As appropriate, students will also be required to attend teaching development workshops and seminars.

Candidacy Examination and Dissertation (24 Credit Hours)

As described in General Preparation and Course Work (above).

Finance Track

Minimum Hours Required for Ph.D.—84 Credit Hours

Foundation Body of Knowledge—30 Credit Hours

In finance, the foundation body of knowledge includes (a) the common body of knowledge in an M.B.A. degree or its equivalent, and (b) graduate credit hours (6 credit hours total) in macro and microeconomic theory, and (c) graduate courses in financial management, investments, financial institutions, and international finance.

Finance Major Concentration—12 Credit Hours

FIN 7807 Corporate Finance Theory (3 credit hours)
FIN 7811 Seminar in Financial Markets and Institutions (3 credit hours)
FIN 7816 Investment Theory (3 credit hours)
FIN 7930 Seminar in Finance (3 credit hours)

Minor/Support Area—6 Credit Hours

ECO 7116 Microeconomic Theory (3 credit hours)
ECO 7205 Macroeconomic Theory (3 credit hours)

Research Tools—12 Credit Hours

ECO 6424 Econometrics (3 credit hours)
ECO 7423 Applied Models I (3 credit hours)
ECO 7425 Applied Models II (3 credit hours)
ECO 7428 Time Series (3 credit hours)

Teaching Requirement—0-3 Credit Hours

The requirements for the teaching component of the doctoral degree will be developed with the doctoral graduate program coordinator based on the student’s experience.

Candidacy Examination and Dissertation (24 Credit Hours)

As described in General Preparation and Course Work (above).

Management Track

Minimum Hours Required for Ph.D.—90 Credit Hours

Foundation Body of Knowledge—30 Credit Hours

In the UCF Management Ph.D. track, the foundation body of knowledge includes the common body of knowledge in an M.B.A. degree or its equivalent from an AACSB-accredited or comparable school.

Management Major Concentration—18 Credit Hours

MAN 7275 Organizational Behavior (3 credit hours)
MAN 7207 Organization Theory (3 credit hours)
MAN 7306 Seminar in Human Resources Management (3 credit hours)
MAN 7777 Corporate-level Strategic Management (3 credit hours)
MAN 7075 Foundations of the Management Discipline (3 credit hours)
MAN 7900 Directed Readings in Management (3 credit hours)

Minor/Support Area—6 Credit Hours

Students may select a minimum of six hours, typically within a unified area, approved by the student’s doctoral study advisory committee. Each student’s program of study is individually tailored to accommodate student interests whenever possible, and this course work may be developed from offerings in the following or other disciplines with the advice and consent of the respective departments and advisory committee: accounting, communication, economics, finance, marketing, psychology, sociology, and statistics.

Research Tools—12 Credit Hours

The research tools requirement is intended to ensure a thorough exposure to research methods. All candidates are expected to demonstrate knowledge of statistical methods as well as usage of statistical packages. This includes design, analysis and interpretation of results. ECO 7423, Applied Models I, is required. An additional nine hours of research courses must be approved by the student’s advisory committee. Examples of courses that will satisfy this requirement include ECO 7425, GEB 7910, STA 5205, PSY 6216, PSY 6217, PSY 6308, and ECO 6424.

Teaching Requirement

Students are required to have a minimum of three credit hours of class instruction under the direct supervision of a faculty member. As appropriate, students will also be required to attend teaching development workshops and seminars.

Candidacy Examination and Dissertation (24 Credit Hours)

For Information regarding program characteristics and requirements, please visit the UCF Management Ph.D. Track website.

Management Information Systems Track

Minimum Hours Required for Ph.D.—91 Credit Hours

Foundation Body of Knowledge—30 Credit Hours

For management information systems (MIS) the foundation body of knowledge includes the common body of knowledge in an M.S. / M.I.S. degree or its equivalent from an AACSB-accredited school. This incorporates the common body of knowledge in an M.B.A. program, plus the technical courses such as programming languages (e.g., Java, VB, C, C++), database technology (e.g., ISM 6938 Advanced Database Administration), and systems development (e.g., ISM 6121 Advanced Systems Analysis and Design).

Management Information Systems Concentration—21 Credit Hours

The following courses are required as part of the MIS concentration.

ISM 7909 Comprehensive Research Project (4-6 credit hours)*
ISM 7938 Theoretical Foundations for Information Systems Research (3 credit hours)
ISM 7926 Management Information Systems Research Forum (6 credit hours) (workshop, 1 hour per semester)*

The student must choose four of the following seminars:

ISM 7029 Organizational Impacts of Information Technology (3 credit hours)
ISM 7936 Seminar on Technical Information Systems Research (3 credit hours)
ISM 7916 Seminar on Behavioral Information Systems Research (3 credit hours)
ISM 7027 Systems Support of Organizational Decision Making (3 credit hours)
ISM 7317 Information Systems Project Implementation & Management (3 credit hours)

Minor/Support Area—6-12 Credit Hours

A minimum of six hours of course work is required in a minor/support area. The course work, typically in a unified area, is intended to accommodate and support the student’s individual research interests whenever possible and will be developed with the advice and consent of the MIS Department’s doctoral advisory committee. Typical support disciplines include any area in the College of Business Administration, psychology, computer science, and electrical engineering. Students will normally have a faculty member from their support area on their dissertation committee.

Research Tools—12-18 Credit Hours

Doctoral students majoring in MIS are required to take a minimum of 12 credit hours of research tools. The courses must include ECO 7423 Applied Models I, MAR 7626 Multivariate Analysis for Business Research, and GEB 7XXX Structural Equations Modeling. It is assumed that the research tools classes will be taken early in the program. The MIS department’s doctoral advisory committee will determine the additional research tool courses.

Teaching Requirement

The requirements for the teaching component of the doctoral degree will be developed with the doctoral graduate program coordinator based on the student’s experience.

Comprehensive Examination

The student must successfully complete a comprehensive candidacy examination. This examination has written and oral parts and covers the candidate’s program of study.

Admission to Candidacy and Dissertation—24 Credit Hours

Students are admitted to candidacy after satisfying all general degree requirements, passing the comprehensive examination, fulfilling the residency requirement, and successfully defending a written dissertation proposal in an oral examination conducted by the student’s advisory/dissertation committee. The student will select a dissertation chairperson and in conjunction with the chair will select a committee consistent with the College of Business Administration and UCF doctoral program policies. A dissertation proposal includes an introduction, overview, and justification of a viable research topic and a comprehensive review of the theoretical and empirical research relevant to the topic. The student will present the dissertation topic to the doctoral program committee for approval in an oral defense.

Final Defense

The successful completion of a final oral examination is required. This examination concentrates on the student’s dissertation but may include other topics. The final defense is open to the entire university community.

Marketing Track

Minimum Hours Required for Ph.D.—93 Credit Hours

Foundation Body of Knowledge—30 Credit Hours

In marketing, this requirement may be satisfied with a master’s degree in marketing, business administration, or its equivalent from an AACSB-accredited school. Alternatively, this requirement may be satisfied by courses deemed essential by the department’s doctoral advisory committee.

Marketing Major Concentration—18 Credit Hours

MAR 7575 Seminar in Consumer Behavior (3 credit hours)
MAR 7638 Seminar in Marketing Theory, Scaling, and Measurement (3 credit hours)
MAR 7666 Seminar in Marketing Models (3 credit hours)
MAR 7807 Seminar in Marketing Strategy (3 credit hours)
MAR 7919 Special Topics: Comprehensive Research Project (6 credit hours)

Minor/Support Area—9 Credit Hours

A minimum of nine hours of course work is required in a minor/support area. This course work, typically in a unified area, is intended to accommodate and support the student’s individual research interests whenever possible and will be developed with the advice and consent of the department’s doctoral advisory committee.

Research Tools—12 Credit Hours

Doctoral students majoring in marketing are required to take a minimum of 12 credit hours of research tools. The courses required include ECO 7423 Applied Models I (3 credit hours), and MAR 7626 Multivariate Analysis for Business Research (3 credit hours). The department’s doctoral advisory committee will determine the additional research tools courses.

Teaching Requirement

The department’s doctoral advisory committee, based on the student’s experience, will develop the requirements for the teaching component of the doctoral degree.

Candidacy Examination and Dissertation (24 Credit Hours)

As described in General Preparation and Course Work (above).

Financial Support

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Key points about financial support:

If you’re interested in financial assistance, you’re strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. University graduate fellowships are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application). For university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program director of your major.

Contact Info