Detailed Milestone Requirements

Ph.D. Milestones.PDF

First year summer paper

At the end of the first year in the program, each student writes an original research paper that is due by the end of the second summer session. The paper is formally evaluated by the student’s adviser and one other faculty member and presented to the entire faculty.

Annual evaluation

Every August each doctoral student will submit a progress report and plan to the Graduate Advisor. This annual report and plan will serve in part as the basis of an evaluation by the Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC). The evaluation will also take into account performance in all formal coursework, the first year summer paper and/or Comprehensive Examination, as well as satisfactory involvement in seminars and research activities. The evaluation will be based in part on input from the student's area committee.

Comprehensive Examination

Students take a comprehensive exam in their Area of Specialization in the second year. Most students elect to take the exam at the end of the academic year in August; however some students elect to take it early in January. This examination, which will be prepared, administered, and evaluated by the DAC (Doctoral Advisory Committee), in conjunction with a student’s area committee, is eight hours in length. The examination is designed to test a student’s knowledge of marketing and related disciplines as they pertain to his or her area of specialization.

Admission to degree candidacy

To be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree, the student must:

• Fulfill the core course requirements in marketing and research methods.
• Complete and pass a first year summer paper requirement.
• Complete course requirements in their area of specialization.
• Pass a written comprehensive exam by the end of the second year in the program.
• Select a dissertation topic and dissertation committee.

Dissertation and oral defense

To fulfill requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Business Administration, students must conduct appropriate research and present an acceptable dissertation under the supervision of a Dissertation committee. Independent and original research that makes a contribution to marketing knowledge is required for an acceptable dissertation.