PDF reflects print versionDoctor of Philosophy
The Doctor of Philosophy program in business administration is designed to produce research-oriented graduates who, from positions in academia, can advance the state-of-the-art of business practice and enhance the contributions that business can make to the larger community. These goals can be advanced through research contributions in theory, concepts, methods and practices, and contributions to the education of the next generation of business leaders.
All students admitted to the Marshall Ph.D. degree program are supported by graduate assistantships that require a full-time commitment to the program. No part-time or evening programs are available. Ph.D. students begin their program in early August. The program includes summers. Until the time the student is granted permission to take the qualifying examination, successful completion of at least six units per successive semester is required.
This degree is awarded under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Students should also refer to the Graduate School section of this catalogue. All courses applied toward the degree must be courses accepted by the Graduate School and relevant to the student's program of study. In most cases, the Ph.D. degree takes five years to complete.
Admission
The Ph.D. program in Business Administration welcomes applications from students with high intellectual aptitude who plan to pursue academic careers in research and teaching. Students with strong backgrounds in mathematics, the social sciences, engineering, computer science and the other sciences are encouraged to apply for admission. A master's degree or M.B.A. is not a requirement for entry into the Ph.D. program; students may enter with only a bachelor's degree. Prior academic research experience is desirable.Students who wish to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program should visit the Web site at www.marshall.usc.edu/phd where additional information about the Ph.D. program and an online application can be obtained. Only online applications are accepted. (Rare exceptions to the online application process may be granted.) Students with additional questions that are not covered on the Web site may contact the Marshall School Ph.D. Program office located in Hoffman Hall 400C, (213) 740-0676, phd@marshall.usc.edu.
Applicants should secure at least three letters of recommendation. The Ph.D. committee prefers that all recommendations be written by academics who are familiar with the applicant's scholastic and research capabilities. An applicant who has been away from an academic environment for a significant period of time may substitute references from non-academics. Applicants also provide transcripts, GRE or GMAT scores, TOEFL scores (if appropriate), a statement of purpose and a resume.
Consideration is given to the rigor of the undergraduate and master's curricula, academic performance, scores on the GRE or GMAT, the quality of the applicant's statement of purpose, their fit with the department, the applicant's oral and written communication skills and letters of recommendation. One year of college calculus is a prerequisite for admission; matrix algebra, introductory mathematical statistics and intermediate economic theory are desirable. Applicants whose qualifications are otherwise exceptionally strong can remedy deficiencies by enrolling in courses prior to their first semester. Current TOEFL scores are required for applicants whose bachelor's degrees were awarded by universities outside the United States in countries whose primary language is not English. TOEFL test scores are valid for two years. The final application deadline is December 15.
Campus interviews for top applicants will be initiated by the departments. In cases where in-person interviews cannot be arranged, telephone interviews will be substituted.
Graduate Assistantships
Admitted students receive a 50% graduate assistantship stipend, tuition of up to 12 units per semester, health and dental insurance and payment of mandatory student fees. In exchange for the assistantship, students work for eight semesters as a research apprentice with a faculty mentor, learning skills necessary to conduct independent research. Typically, students work 10-15 hours per week with an additional 5-10 hours devoted to their own research (a maximum of 20 hours per week). Students spend one additional semester working as a Teaching Assistant (TA) under the guidance of a faculty member and one semester teaching a class of their own. Students will gain teaching experience that will prepare them for teaching after they graduate. The TA and teaching experiences are conducted after the student has passed the qualifying examination (described below).Degree Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in business administration is based on a program of study and research culminating in the completion of a dissertation in the major field of study. A minimum of 60 units of course work beyond the baccalaureate is required for the Ph.D. degree, including research courses and a minimum of 4 units and a maximum of 8 units of 794 Doctoral Dissertation. For students who already possess a master's degree, a minimum of 36 semester units of course work beyond that degree is required exclusive of 794 Doctoral Dissertation. Doctoral students will be subject to disqualification at any time if the Marshall School of Business determines that they are deficient in academic achievement. All students must maintain a 3.0 average GPA.
Screening Procedure
In addition to the papers and examinations assigned in first-year courses, a screening process will occur in May. This process will include a review of each student's grades, an analysis of competence in written communications and reports from faculty members who have had in-class or other responsibility for the student. In most departments, a screening exam is required. The nature of the exam varies by department. Based upon this review, the Ph.D. committee will determine whether the student should continue in the Ph.D. program. Students who have not performed satisfactorily will be dropped from the program. The review shall normally be completed and results communicated to students by July 1, although the date may vary by department. In some cases a first-year summer project may be taken into account in determining whether a student should continue in the program.
Advisor and Guidance Committee
An advisor from the Ph.D. faculty is appointed at the beginning of the student's first academic year. The guidance committee is established after the student has passed the screening procedure. The guidance committee comprises a committee chair who must be a tenure-track faculty member in the student's home department and four additional faculty members. One member of the guidance committee must be from outside the student's department. The guidance committee advises the student on courses during the second year and oversees and grades the qualifying examination.
Course Requirements
Each student must successfully complete one course in microeconomics or behavioral sciences, one course in statistics and one course in research design plus the core courses in his or her field of specialization. Advanced course work is specified by the student's guidance committee in preparation for the qualifying examinations in the area of specialization. The areas are: accounting, information and operations management, finance and business economics, management and organization, and marketing.
Qualifying Examinations
The examinations qualifying a student for candidacy may be comprehensive in nature. It is designed to determine the student's competence in the area of specialization.The qualifying examination consists of a written and an oral examination. The written examination is prepared and graded by the guidance comittee and other faculty members whose expertise is sought in grading. The written exam must be passed before an oral examination can be administered by the student's guidance committee.
Dissertation
The final phase of the program is the completion of a dissertation. The dissertation must be based on an original investigation that makes a substantive contribution to knowledge and demonstrates the student's capacity for independent, scholarly research. The quality of the dissertation should meet the standards for publication in leading academic journals in the field.Typically, research in business administration involves studies that advance the body of knowledge concerned with issues and solution of problems confronting managers and administrators. As a result, a dissertation will (1) develop or extend theories, techniques or models relevant to managerial problems; (2) demonstrate original applications or adaptations of existing theories, techniques or models to managerial problems in a specific area; (3) develop innovative formulations and analyses of complex managerial problems and propose creative approaches to their solution; and/or (4) employ scientific research methodology to test empirically the validity of existing theories, techniques or models and their application to specific types of managerial problems.
A dissertation committee chair shall be requested by the student and appointed by the dean of the Ph.D. program within 90 days after the student has passed the oral qualifying examination. The remaining faculty on the dissertation committee shall be appointed within six months after the student has passed the qualifying exam.
The dissertation committee must consist of at least three tenure-track faculty, one of whom is outside the student's department in the Marshall School of Business. Students may add additional faculty to the committee, especially those who might provide valuable expertise that improves the dissertation. It is important that the student select faculty members who are committed and interested in serving on the committee, since a quality dissertation requires extensive interaction with and a sizable time commitment from individual faculty members.
Format for Dissertation
All dissertations submitted in fulfillment of requirements for graduate degrees at USC must conform to certain university regulations with regard to format and method of preparation. These requirements are explained in detail in Guidelines for the Format and Presentation of Theses and Dissertations, available at www.usc.edu/schools/GraduateSchool/current_thesis_dissert.html or from the Graduate School, Grace Ford Salvatori Hall 315. Further information on procedures is contained in the Graduate School section of this catalogue.