The doctoral program in business administration seeks to prepare students for careers in research and teaching in management and related areas at leading business schools and universities. This is accomplished by fostering a learning environment in which students can achieve intellectual growth and fulfillment. Successful completion of the doctoral program therefore entails much more than the satisfaction of a set of formal requirements. Doctoral students are expected to assess their knowledge and skills in regular consultation with the faculty and to develop a set of educational experiences that will fulfill their needs and facilitate the pursuit of personal goals.

Contact Information

University of Pittsburgh

Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business

Doctoral Program

Director

282 Mervis Hall

412-648-1522

www.katz.pitt.edu

Application Procedures

All application materials must be submitted by February 1 of the year of expected entry into the program. The basic prerequisite for admission to the doctoral program is the equivalent of an American bachelor's degree. Many applicants also have advanced degrees and professional experience. Scores on the GMAT (as well as on the TOEFL for international students) are required, along with recommendation letters and transcripts.

Financial Aid

Most financial aid for doctoral students is in the form of an assistantship that requires research and some teaching. The assistantship provides a stipend, tuition remission, and health insurance. Assistantships are available to domestic as well as international students. Funds associated with specific research projects are sometimes available to students, and faculty often help students obtain funding for dissertation research.

Sequence of Study

Progress to the PhD consists of, in order: the seminar phase, comprehensive examinations, and the dissertation. Students complete course work in the seminar phase. This is the time during which the student sets scholarly standards and goals. Every student prepares a written statement called the Field Statement upon declaring the student's areas of study. This is also the time to form relationships with faculty members and begin developing research skills.

Most doctoral courses involve research projects and the majority of students, including all those with assistantships, work on faculty research from an early stage. A minimum of 72 postbaccalaureate credits is required for the PhD degree.

Formal requirements in the seminar phase are:

• Work to ensure a basic level of competence in the disciplines and functions relevant to management. Students choose 6 credits of MBA course work in areas significantly different from their major. Some or all of these requirements may be exempted in special cases depending on educational background and doctoral course objectives.
• Twenty-four doctoral credits in the major area of study and nine in the minor area of study (see section on the respective program for details)
• A 6-credit teaching requirement
• At least 12 credits in research methodology
• A preliminary evaluation

Comprehensive examinations are written and oral examinations in both the major and minor area of study. Each student's exams are designed individually, focusing on the area(s) of study. The student is expected to demonstrate comprehensive ability, meaning the ability to synthesize and build on all that the student has learned.

Dissertation

Doctoral students are required to demonstrate their capacity to engage in a sustained research effort by completing a doctoral dissertation. The dissertation entails an independent investigation of a problem of acknowledged significance and size in a management-related area. Only if the dissertation is judged to demonstrate such competence, after a formal defense in a final oral examination, does the department recommend the awarding of a degree.

For more details on requirements of doctoral students, see Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Degrees in the front section of this bulletin.

Timeline to Graduation

Most students earn the PhD in four years. The seminar phase typically lasts two years, while the comprehensive exams and the dissertation together require an additional two years to complete.

Placement

The Katz School's goal is to place PhD graduates in universities that consistently produce high-quality business research, and a successful record has been established in this regard.

Individual Curriculum Design

The school offers structured doctoral programs in the following areas of study:

• Accounting
• Artificial Intelligence
• Business Environment, Ethics, and Public Policy
• Finance
• Management of Information Systems
• Marketing
• Operations Management
• Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management
• Strategy

Within the framework of these nine standard areas, every PhD student plans a unique, individual area of study. A student may choose any of the areas as a primary (major) area of study or as a secondary (minor) area of study. Each of the areas of study provides additional choices to meet student interests and developmental needs. All have subspecialties; all explore a range of current topics. In addition, to expand the option in the core areas, students are invited to draw on courses and research opportunities at the Katz School, as well as other parts of the University, and other institutions.

Two goals must be balanced in planning an individual program. One is to acquire a sound body of knowledge in recognized disciplines and methods. The other is to choose a mix of courses, mentors, and research topics geared to the student's own interests and talents. Ideally, this will lead to a truly original dissertation, followed by a career of meaningful research.

Degree requirements for each of the areas of study are outlined below:

Accounting

The doctoral program in accounting, including specializations such as managerial, financial, tax, and auditing, deals with the acquisition and use of financial information for external reporting and managerial decision-making. These topics are studies using models from economics and the behavioral sciences.

Students are expected to have completed BACC 2402 Financial Reporting and Control and BACC 2528 prior to entering the doctoral program. However, promising students without the full background are sometimes admitted conditionally based on their completing the necessary course work at Katz.

Accounting Curriculum

The accounting area includes two levels of requirements: core courses and electives. The accounting focus consists of eight courses, including the following five required accounting doctoral seminars: BACC 3011  Management Control Systems, BACC 3012 Survey of Financial Accounting Research, BACC 3014 Experimental Research in Accounting, BACC 3015 Analytical Empirical Research Accounting, and BACC 3017 Accounting Workshop. The two additional elective courses required should be chosen to enhance students' expertise in their intended areas of research. Students may take these additional courses in other departments of the University or at other universities in the city.

The secondary area of study (for doctoral students focusing in other areas) offers the opportunity to acquire expertise across the various accounting functions. The secondary course of study in accounting requires a basic knowledge of the two accounting courses noted above as well as BACC 3011 Management Control Systems and BACC 3012 Survey of Financial Accounting Research. Students pursuing the secondary course of study in accounting should also take one other doctoral seminar identified by the student and the student's advisors.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) focuses on those problems and methodologies that inhabit the interface between management science and artificial intelligence including planning, scheduling, and control of stochastic systems. Common methodologies include search and other heuristics for combinatorial problems, exploratory and computational statistical analysis, such as data mining, and complex modeling techniques, such as neural networks and simulation.

AI Curriculum

This area of study requires a minimum of eight courses, selected by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor, that cover the following core topics: (1) AI programming techniques, (2) mathematical optimization theory, (3) AI theory, (4) problem-solving and modeling techniques, (5) probability and statistics, and (6) networks and graph theory. Advanced seminars and electives should reflect the student's interests and intended area(s) of application. Students are encouraged to do research in areas of current faculty interest, for the opportunity to develop and use AI techniques in management.

The secondary area of study in artificial intelligence consists of a coherent set of four courses that cover the core topics in areas 1 through 4.

Business Environment, Ethics, and Public Policy

This area of study covers the complex ways in which business organizations interact with, respond to, and actively manage their environments, including the function of ethical and value systems in influencing that behavior.

Business Environment, Ethics, and Public Policy Curriculum

The course of study consists of core courses, advanced seminars, and electives. Core courses include BENV 3011 Core Reading: Business Environment/Public Policy, BENV 3013 Environmental Research, Methodology, BENV 3014 Advanced Topics Bus Environment/Public Policy: Corporate Leadership, Ethics and Social Performance. Advanced seminars are BENV 3012 Advanced Theory: Values and Ethics, BENV 3031 Government Regulation, BENV 3032 Managing Environments, BENV 3091 Independent Readings in Business Environment, Ethics, and Public Policy.

Students are expected to design a coherent concentration for their elective and advanced seminar courses. Elective courses may be taken outside the Katz School. Students may design their advanced seminar/elective concentration to focus on cross-cutting or interdisciplinary fields. Suggested elective courses include independent readings courses (BENV 3091/92).

The secondary area of study consists of BENV 3011 and 6 additional credits to be selected from the core courses or advanced seminars.

Finance

Finance emphasizes empirical corporate finance. Some areas of special focus include corporate governance, corporate control, securities markets, mergers and acquisitions, diversification, restructuring investment banking, and efficiency of financial markets. In addition, the finance program studies the valuation and use of derivative instruments and market microstructure.

Students focusing in finance are required to take the core courses, 3 to 6 credits of the advanced seminars, plus courses in microeconomics, economics, probability theory, and continuous-time mathematics, according to students' backgrounds and needs, as well as elective credits. Core courses include BFIN 3011 Theory of Finance 1, BFIN 3012 Theory of Finance 2, and BFIN 3013 Empirical Research in Finance. Advanced seminars are BFIN 3015 Valuation Models in Finance, BFIN 3016 Advanced Topics: Research in Capital Markets, BFIN 3016 Advanced Topics: Corporate Governance and the Structure of Enterprise, BFIN 3016 Advanced Topics: Recent Research in Finance, BFIN 3016 Advanced Topics: Research Methods in Finance, and BFIN 3018 Market Microstructure.

The secondary area of study requirements are BFIN 3011 Theory of Finance 1, BFIN 3012 Theory of Finance 2, and BFIN 3013 Empirical Research in Finance. In addition, it is recommended that students take at least one special readings course or an approved elective from the courses offered in the MBA program.

Management of Information Systems

The PhD program in management of information systems (MIS) focuses on the management and organizational uses of computerized information systems. The course of study consists of a set of IS prerequisites, core doctoral seminars in the IS area, and additional seminars leading to qualifying and comprehensive exams.

IS Prerequisites: In doctoral seminars, it is assumed students have completed these master's-level courses or their equivalents: BMIS 2410 Information Systems, BMIS 2589 Systems Analysis and Design, and BMIS 2588 Data Base Management.

IS Doctoral Seminars: Generally, at least six doctoral seminars are offered in each two-year period. Students are usually expected to enroll in all seminars that are offered in their first two years of study.

The core consists of:

BMIS 3011 Current Issues in Research

BMIS 3012 Foundations of Information Science Research

BMIS 3019 Human Computer Interaction

BMIS 3021 Knowledge Management

BMIS 3022 Economics and Information Systems

BMIS 3023 Information Systems Design, Development and Implementation

BMIS 3024 Communications: Structure, Behavior, Meaning and Technology

The secondary area of study in management of information systems may be fulfilled by completing BMIS 3011 and 3012, and one additional MIS seminar.

Marketing

The PhD program in marketing is intended to give students both the substantive knowledge and the practical research skills necessary to contribute to marketing thought and practice.

This course of study involves eight marketing-related courses offered by the program. Students may also petition to have specific MBA-level marketing courses in the Katz School or courses elsewhere in the University count for credit toward a marketing focus.

The secondary area of study requires three marketing-related courses (9 credits) of the student's choosing.

Operations Management

The operations management area of study provides students with the analytical skills to improve the productivity and quality of an organization. It addresses both the traditional manufacturing and service operational issues, and current concerns such as supply chain management and e-commerce.

PhD students must take three courses in the core plus 15 credits from the following advanced seminars or other approved electives. With the advisor's approval, students may substitute any of these courses with appropriate graduate-level courses from statistics, economics, or engineering disciplines.

Core Courses: BQOM 3011 Linear Programming, BQOM 3012 Nonlinear Programming, BQOM 3013 Stochastic Processes, BQOM 3020 Simulation

Advanced seminars: BQOM 3014 Networks, BQOM 3017 Advanced Topics in Operations Management, BQOM 3018 Decision Making in Complex Environments

The secondary area of study consists of BQOM 3011 and 3013, and one other approved PhD seminar from among those given above or from other approved electives.

Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management (OBHR)

This area of study focuses on the behavioral processes and strategies of organizations, the changing nature of the employment relationship, and the role of the human resource in creating competitive advantage.

Requirements consist of a set of core courses (BOAH 3002 Foundations of Organizational Behavior and BAOH 3003 Foundations of Human Resource Management) and electives.

Six additional BOAH doctoral-level courses, selected in consultation with the student’s academic advisor, are required to complete either area of study.

The secondary area of study consists of the two core courses and one additional OBHR seminar for a total of 9 credit hours.

Strategy

Students in strategy study the problems and issues facing general managers who must formulate and implement strategies for organizations in uncertain and ambiguous environments.

Strategy Curriculum

In addition to the courses and requirements noted in the general section of this document, the strategy area of study requires eight research seminars including the following core strategy seminars. The required seminars for the major area of study in strategy are BSPP 3022 Strategic Planning Systems, BSPP 3012 Research in Competitive Strategy, BSPP 3013 Foundations of Strategy Research, BSPP 3014 Research in Corporate Strategy, BSPP 3015 Strategic Planning and Policy Workshop, and BSPP 3018 Theory Development in Strategic Management.

The secondary area of study requires 9 credits as follows: BSPP 3013 Foundations of Strategy Research, as well as two of the following three courses: BSPP 3011 Strategic Planning Systems, BSPP 3012 Research in Competitive Strategy, BSPP 3014 Research in Corporate Strategy, and BSPP 3018 Theory Development.

Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business PhD Course Listing

Listed below are the doctoral courses offered by the Katz School. 

BACC	3011	Management Control Systems (cross-listed as BMGC 3011)
BACC	3012	Survey of Financial Accounting Research
BACC	3014	Experimental Research in Accounting
BACC	3015	Analytical Research in Accounting
BACC	3017	Accounting Workshop
BACC	3099	Readings in Accounting
BAIM	3099	Readings in Artificial Intelligence and Management
BENV	3011	Core Readings: Business Environment/Public Policy
BENV	3012	Advanced Theory: Values and Ethics
BENV	3013	Environmental Research Methodology
BENV	3014	Advanced Topics: Business Environment/Public Policy
BENV	3031	Government Regulation
BENV	3032	Managing Environments
BENV	3091	Independent Readings in Business Environment, Ethics and Public Policy
BFAE	3001	Microeconomics
BFIN	3011	Theory of Finance 1
BFIN	3012	Theory of Finance 2
BFIN	3013	Empirical Research in Finance
BFIN	3014	Seminar in Corporate Finance
BFIN	3015	Valuation Models in Finance
BFIN	3016	Advanced Topics in Finance
BFIN	3018	Market Microstructure
BFIN	3020	Corporate Governance and the Structure of Enterprise
BFIN	3023	Empirical Research in Finance 2
BFIN	3099	Readings in Finance
BMIS	3011	Current Issues in Research
BMIS	3012	Foundations of Research in Information Systems
BMIS	3019	Human Computer Interaction
BMIS	3021	Knowledge Management
BMIS	3022	Information Systems and Economics
BMIS	3023	Information Systems Design, Development and Implementation
BMIS	3024	Communication: Structure, Behavior, Meaning and Technology
BMIS	3099	Readings in Management of Information Systems
BMKT	3011	Current Research in Marketing
BMKT	3014	Marketing Strategy
BMKT	3015	Foundations of Consumer Behavior
BMKT	3017	Applications of Analytical Methods in Marketing
BMKT	3018	Special Topics in Marketing
BMKT	3099	Readings in Marketing
BOAH	3002	Foundations of Organizational Behavior
BOAH	3003	Foundations of Human Resource Management
BOAH	3021	Behavioral Systems and Management Thought
BOAH	3023	Research in Employee Relations and Public Policy
BOAH	3025	Theory and Methods in Human Resources Management
BOAH	3027	Research Methods in Organizational Behavior
BOAH	3029	Groups in Organizations
BOAH	3031	Advanced Topics in Organizational Behavior
BOAH	3033	Research Practicum
BOAH	3099	Readings in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management
BQOM	3011	Linear Programming
BQOM	3012	Nonlinear Programming
BQOM	3013	Stochastic Processes
BQOM	3014	Networks
BQOM	3017	Advanced Topics in Operations Research
BQOM	3018	Decision Making in Complex Environments
BQOM	3020	Simulation
BQOM	3099	Readings in Operations Research
BSPP	3011	Strategic Planning Systems
BSPP	3012	Research in Competitive Strategy
BSPP	3013	Foundations of Strategy Research
BSPP	3014	Research in Corporate Strategy
BSPP	3015	Workshop in Strategic Planning and Policy
BSPP	3018	Theory Development in Strategic Management
BSPP	3099	Readings in Strategic Planning and Policy
BUSADM	3001	Research Methodology 1
BUSADM	3006	Multivariate Analysis
BUSADM	3008	Research Design
BUSADM	3012	Structural Equation Modeling
BUSADM	3055	Introduction to the Theory of Games