Doctor of Philosophy in Business

The PhD in Business program combines interdisciplinary study and research. It is designed to prepare students for careers in academic research and teaching. Students follow specialized programs of study under the guidance of faculty experts. In addition, they have the opportunity to participate in cross-disciplinary training. The curriculum will also equip students with the skills and experience necessary for academic placement in the world’s top research universities. 

A minimum of 60 credit hours are required to earn the PhD in Business degree. The program requires year-round, full-time study in order to maximize interaction between faculty and students. Students are expected to interact and begin research projects with the faculty upon entering the program.

The requirements for the PhD in Business degree are the same as those listed in the general section.

Students may choose to concentrate their study in:

• Accounting

• Business Technology 

• Finance

• Management Science

• Marketing

• Operations Management

• Organizational Behavior

• Strategy/International Business

To obtain detailed program admission information, please reference the program brochure which can be requested by contacting the Office of Recruiting and Admissions at 305-284-2510 or by visiting the Miami Herbert Business School website.

Admission Requirements

The Doctoral Admissions Committee welcomes applications from individuals whose undergraduate or graduate degrees are from accredited colleges or universities. Acceptance is based upon an evaluation of all credentials presented by the applicant. Graduate degrees are not a requirement.

Applicants should read the instructions carefully before filling out the forms and should keep copies of all materials submitted during the application process. By submitting the online application, the applicant certifies the information provided in the application is complete and accurate.

Requirements for Admission

• Completed application for admission submitted through BusinessCAS
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
  • Official academic transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions must be submitted directly to BusinessCAS.
  • Academic transcripts from institutions outside of the United States must be verified by an approved international credentialing evaluation service such as World Education Services to confirm degree equivalency and GPA calculation.
• Write a personal statement (2-3 pages long, double spaced) on the following topics concerning you and your intended field of study: i) Your past work on relevant issues, ii) What excites you most about your chosen field of study, iii) Possible areas of research you might pursue, iv) Any research projects you have completed with faculty, and v) Any other information you would like to provide to the admissions committee.  We are particularly interested in any projects that you pursued with a faculty member who is writing a letter of reference for you.
• A current resume
• Three letters of recommendation (up to three allowed) may be submitted through the BusinessCAS portal by including recommender contacts within the Program Materials section of the application.
• GMAT or GRE score report – A valid test score (less than 5 years old) is required for the PhD in Business.
• TOEFL or IELTS score report – A valid score (less than 2 years old) is required as proof of English proficiency for international applicants who did not receive a degree in the United States or a foreign country where English is the primary language. The following minimum score is required for admission to a graduate business degree program.
  • TOEFL - 94 or above
  • IELTS - 7.0 or above

We encourage candidates to upload unofficial transcripts and test scores with their BusinessCAS application in order to expedite the review of their file while official documents are processed.

QUESTIONS?

Connect with Miami Herbert Business School’s graduate enrollment advisors at (305) 284-2510 or by email at mba@miami.edu, or visit the Miami Herbert Business School website.

Curriculum Requirements

In total, a minimum of 60 credit hours are required for receiving the Ph.D. degree in Business:

¹

These courses can be waived by consent of the appropriate department; waiver is granted by issuing transfer credit hours for similar courses taken at the advanced graduate level at accredited institutions.

²

These are to be decided by the student and faculty. 

³

Students in the Management Science concentration are required to complete at least 30 graduate credits in STEM courses.

⁴

12 credit hours are to be taken at a minimum—two semesters of 6-9 credit hours each. No transfer credit is given for dissertation or prior research.

To this total must be added any prerequisite courses (as outlined above), with transfer- credit hours being subtracted. In total, a minimum of 36 credit hours in concentration courses are to be taken, up to 15 of which may be satisfied by transfer-credit hours. Some Departments may require students to complete a minor field. If so, their major field must consist of a minimum of 24 credit hours (with at least 15 credit hours completed in doctoral program residence at the University of Miami). The minor field would then consist of 9-12 credit hours in an area outside of the major concentration (with a minimum of 9 credit hours taken in doctoral program residency at the University of Miami).

Sample Plan of Study

Under faculty guidance, doctoral students enroll in a combination of specific core and concentration courses during their first two years of study. Doctoral students follow specialized plan of study and participate in interdisciplinary coursework during the pre-dissertation stage. Students are to complete 12 core credits and 36 concentration courses prior to engaging in dissertation credits. Upon satisfying coursework and meeting comprehensive examinations, doctoral students are required to engage in at least 12 dissertation research credits and work closely with faculty advisors/committees to produce the final thesis. A minimum of 60 credit hours are required to earn the PhD in Business degree. The program requires year-round, full-time study in order to maximize interaction between faculty and students. Students are expected to interact and begin research projects with the faculty upon entering the program.

Mission

The mission of the PhD in Business program is to attract the best and brightest students and train them to become serious research scholars who are capable of being placed in faculty positions in leading business schools after they graduate.

Goals

• Understand the latest theories in their chosen field of study to create new knowledge.

• Demonstrate research methodology skills to conduct rigorous academic research.

• Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills to disseminate the knowledge.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate their understanding of the extant literature, theories, and concepts in their chosen field of study.
• Students will demonstrate their understanding of appropriate research methods to conduct appropriate empirical and/or theoretical research.
• Students will develop good communication skills to be able to present their research effectively to academic audiences, and write research articles that can be published in referred academic journals.