Doctoral Curriculum
Doctoral Curriculum
Seminar in Organizational Behavior
Examines theory and research focusing on individual and small group behavior within organizations. Topics include: cognition processes, power and conflict, leadership, motivation, teams, diversity, organizational justice and fairness, decision making, personality, and affect in organizations.
Seminar in Strategic Management
Examines theory and research focusing on the interrelationships among strategy, structure, and performance at the organizational and industry levels. Topics include: business strategy, corporate strategy, corporate governance, performance, environmental and industry forces, resource-based view of the firm, and strategic decision making.
Seminar in Organization Theory
Examines the various theoretical perspectives that are used to understand organizations and their behaviors. Topics include: population ecology, neo-institutional theory, network theory, agency theory, transaction cost economics, contingency theory, organizational demography, resource dependence theory, administrative theory, bureaucratic theory, neo-Marxism, the political school, and the human relations school.
Research Methods
Each candidate must develop a broad understanding of the scientific research process as well as in-depth competence in the methods of management research. Candidates take a minimum of three graduate-level courses, one of which must include the philosophy of science course taught in the College. The Management and Organization Department offers two research methods courses: Qualitative Research Methods and Advanced Analytical Skills. Additional research methods courses may be taken on the recommendation of the candidate's doctoral committee.
Supporting Field
Candidates must select a supporting field of study from business administration or a related area. The requirement consists of a minimum of four courses in a field outside the primary field. Although there are over 130 programs recognized by the Graduate School, most Ph.D. candidates in the Management and Organization Department choose Psychology, Sociology, or Economics as their supporting field.
Breadth Requirement
All Ph.D. candidates are required to have a broad understanding of the functional areas of a business firm. Candidates must demonstrate competence by completing a minimum of 12 credits of graduate-level courses in Business Administration and/or Economics in a minimum of two fields outside or separate from a candidate's primary, support, and research methods field. An MBA degree substitutes for the breadth requirement.
