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Ph.D. Program in Business

The newly revised program enables students to complete their doctoral coursework in two years. Students can begin specializing in a chosen area as early as the first year of study. Specializations are available in seven areas: accounting, decision sciences, economics, finance, management information systems, marketing, and organization and strategy.

Ph.D. students complete a minimum of 60 quarter credits beyond the master's degree. Students who enter the program without a master's degree must complete 90 credits beyond the bachelor's degree. The degree requirements describes the basic structure of the Ph.D. in Business curriculum.

Time Requirements for Program Completion
Time requirements are placed on graduate programs of study to ensure that students receive instruction in, and graduate with, the most up-to-date, current knowledge available in their discipline. It is expected that all graduate students will be able to complete their degrees within the stated time requirements.

University policy provides that students who enter the Ph.D. program without a master's degree must complete their studies for their Ph.D. within seven years after initial graduate registration. Those who enter the Ph.D. program with a master's degree in hand are permitted five years after initial registration to complete the Ph.D. degree.

Students who find that these time requirements are inadequate due to special circumstances must discuss this with their specialization coordinator and the director of the Ph.D. program. Together they may request an extension prior to the end of the student's stated time limit (either seven or five years). All formal extension requests must give a reasonable time for completion with an accompanying revised plan of study. Should an extension be required, please be aware that all courses will be reviewed for timeliness; some earlier coursework may have to be repeated.

Extension requests must be forwarded, after approval by the specialization coordinator and the LeBow Ph.D. Director, to the Graduate Studies Office, which will make the final decision. The extension request for doctoral students must consist of a new plan of study and a letter of request, signed by the student, the specialization coordinator and the LeBow Ph.D. Director.

Full-time Status
The Ph.D. Program in Business expects all Ph.D. students to maintain full-time status during their course of study. Ph.D. students are considered to be full-time if they meet any of the following criteria:

• Registered for nine or more credits.
• Serve as a teaching, graduate or research assistant and are registered for at least three credits.
• Hold a fellowship, traineeship or scholarship and are registered for at least three credits.
• A Ph.D. candidate registering for at least three credits.
• A Ph.D. candidate in absentia registering for two credits.

Registration Requirements
University policy requires that doctoral students register for at least three credits in the term in which they take their candidacy exam. Those who successfully pass their candidacy exam and become Ph.D. candidates must register for at least three credits every term until completion of the degree. Students nearing the completion of their work usually register for research or dissertation credits.

If Ph.D. candidates are not working on campus, taking courses or otherwise using campus facilities during the summer, students may petition to take the summer off by completing the summer registration release form. This form is available in the Graduate Studies Office. With the support of the supervising professor and graduate adviser and final approval granted by the Graduate Studies Office, a doctoral student may be released from the registration requirement for summer term only.

In Absentia Status
Ph.D. candidates who have completed all coursework and residency requirements, who will not be using campus facilities, but may occasionally consult with their supervising professor, may request in absentia status. Such requests take the form of a letter from the student, with the supported of the supervising professor and graduate advisor indicated by their signatures or accompanying letters. The Graduate Studies Office grants final approval. Doctoral candidates in absentia must register for two credits each term they are in this status. Doctoral candidates may not be considered in absentia during the term in which they defend their dissertation.

Leave Of Absence
Doctoral students may take time off from their studies for family or medical emergency, military service or other extenuating cause. The time clock does not stop except for military service. Students will be expected to finish the degree in the normal time allotted.

For additional information about the program visit the Ph.D. Program in Business web site.