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Ph.D. Programs in the College of BusinessFlorida Atlantic University (FAU) is a multi-campus institution located in the heart of South Florida, one of the nation's most desirable destinations. The FAU campus in Boca Raton boasts an expansive 850-acre facility, about three miles from the Atlantic Ocean, between Palm Beach in the north and Miami to the south. Additional campuses are located in Dania, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach Gardens, and Port St. Lucie. More than 22,000 full-time and part-time students enjoy the subtropical setting while enrolled in a broad array of outstanding undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The University is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and individual programs are accredited by the appropriate accrediting bodies in the various disciplines. The College of Business programs are accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) Program BackgroundThe Ph.D. Program in Business administration at Florida Atlantic University's College of Business prepares candidates for research and teaching careers at universities and for careers within firms or government agencies requiring advanced research and analytical capabilities. The specific objectives of the Ph.D. program are to:
By ensuring that students receive specialized training in business at the highest level, FAU's Ph.D. Program in the College of Business provides proper preparation for students to pursue specialized careers that require advanced research and analytical capabilities. Program PhilosophyFAU's Ph.D. Program in Business Administration places major emphasis on independent inquiry, on the development of competence in research methodology, on the communication of research findings, and on excellence in teaching. Entrants into the program can expect to join a stimulating research environment where interactions with faculty members and fellow students play a vital role in creating research. Students are introduced at the beginning of the program to rigorous course work and to the research activities of the faculty and other students. The number of doctoral students in the program is relatively small, which allows the opportunity to work closely with faculty. Time CommitmentThe Ph.D. Program is strictly for full-time students. That is, Ph.D. students are expected to carry a course load of at least nine hours per semester (six hours during the Summer session.). The Ph.D. Program typically requires three to four years of full-time activity beyond the Master's degree. Course Offerings on Two CampusesThe typical full-time course load is three courses per semester. Many courses are offered one day a week for a period of 2 hours and 50 minutes. Courses for the Ph.D. program are offered at the Boca Raton campus and at the University Tower in Fort Lauderdale. The distance between the Fort Lauderdale campus and the Boca Raton campus is about 22 miles. Most Ph.D. students live in between these two campuses, and drive to the campuses to take courses and/or use computer and library facilities at both campuses. General Program ComponentsAn advisor in the student's area of concentration usually determines the student's specific program of study in accordance with each student's goals and interests. The program usually consists of two and a half years of formal course work beyond the master's level, followed by a comprehensive examination in the area of concentration and the development and presentation of a dissertation proposal to the faculty. The comprehensive exam is normally given near the end of course work, or shortly after course work has been completed. When students pass their comprehensive examination, they normally devote at least one year in residence to complete the research and writing for their dissertation. Admission RequirementsBecause of the sequential structure of the first-year curriculum and the benefits of students working together, new students are normally admitted in the Fall semester. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early such as in the period from November to January (when applying for the following Fall), since stipends may be reserved for prospective students with outstanding credentials who apply early. The application deadline is March 15. However, if there are openings for perspective Ph.D. students beyond the deadline date, the deadline to apply for the fall semester may be extended beyond March 15. Admission to the Ph.D. program is restricted to students who show exceptionally high promise for mastering conceptual and analytical tools in business. While the minimum requirements have been listed here, higher requirements may be used when there are numerous applicants with strong credentials. A limited number of Ph.D. students can be allowed in the program in any given year. There are also constraints on financial assistance, as in the number of stipends available. The following criteria are used when assessing applicants to the Ph.D. Program:
Previous Coursework - Performance and RigorThe previous coursework is assessed to determine whether applicants have the proper background to enter the Ph.D. Program. This can include an assessment of the rigor of the previous courses taken. It can also include the performance as measured by grades. Normally, the minimum acceptable grade point average is 3.0 in the undergraduate program and 3.5 in the masters program. The perceived quality of the previous programs where an applicant completed course work may also be considered. An MBA or related master's degree from an AACSB accredited institution is most desirable. Applicants whose master's degree is focused on a non-business discipline or is not accredited may be required to take additional courses to for ensure sufficient background on fundamental business subjects. Entering students are also expected to be proficient in computer skills, calculus and statistics. Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)Normally, the minimum score on the GMATexam is 600. The verbal and quantitative GMAT scores may be evaluated separately. However, some departments may weigh the components of the GMAT exam in different ways. For example, the quantitative score of the GMAT exam may be given more emphasis to applicants who wish to pursue a concentration in Finance, although the verbal skills are still viewed as important. Recommendation LettersThree letters of recommendation are required. At least two of the letters should be from professors who can offer insightful comments about your performance in one or more previous courses taken. Language RequirementsFor applicants whose native language is not English, minimum scores of 600 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and 250 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) are required. No application will be considered by the faculty for admission until these minimum requirements have been met. Additional measures of English writing and speaking skills may be required, such as (1) a face-to-face interview or an extended telephone interview, or (2) a video tape of an extended conversation between the applicant and a fluent speaker of English. Adequate English comprehension, writing, and speaking are necessary to perform well in course work and to perform the tasks such as research assistance and teaching. For example, papers required in courses must be grammatically correct, and it is the student's responsibility to ensure correct grammar. Students must be able to speak English clearly in order to retain an assistantship for teaching. Therefore, applicants who are accepted into the program are encouraged to meet with their respective departmental Ph.D. advisor before they start the program to determine if they should do any special preparation to ensure that they have sufficient English skills. Financial AssistancePh.D. students on an assistantship receive $18,000 over the fall and spring semesters ($9,000 per semester). They may also have an option to earn extra money by teaching a course in the summer if a course is available and if they are qualified to teach that course. Students on an assistantship are normally assigned to assist with faculty research and teaching for a maximum of their first two semesters. Most first-year Ph.D. students assist faculty with research and teaching for 20 hours per week. A significant part of their first year assignment will involve activities that prepare students for teaching skills, which can provide some quality control for their future teaching assignments. When students are assigned only teaching responsibilities, the normal assignment is a total of three (3) courses over the Fall and Springs semesters. Student teaching or research assistance may be assigned to either the Boca Raton or the Broward campuses. Assistantships are normally renewable for students making satisfactory progress on their work assignments and on their coursework. The maximum time period in which a student can receive an assistantship is four (4) years from the date at which they entered the Ph.D. program. If students are not using their allocated hours to perform the research assistance, the teaching development, or the teaching tasks adequately, their assistantship may be discontinued immediately. Other forms of financial assistance may be available; and all applicants are encouraged to contact local and national Scholarship, Grant, or Fellowship organizations. Local universities or municipal libraries should be able to assist in providing this information. Participation at Academic MeetingsThe Ph.D. students are encouraged to participate in academic meetings. The Ph.D. program will attempt to reimburse Ph.D. students who paid a registration fee for an academic meeting in their discipline that they attended, subject to availability of funding. There is 1 simple form that the students must complete and submit to request reimbursement. For a printable version of the form, click here. PlacementSome graduates of FAU's Ph.D. Program in the College of Business have taken faculty positions at universities including:
Other FAU graduates have taken positions in industry, at investment banks and marketing research firms such as Nielsen Media Research, and McKinsey & Company. Accomplishments of our GraduatesClick here for a list of the many accomplishments of our graduates as faculty members of other programs, including teaching awards, research grants, and publications.
FacultyAccounting FacultyThe accounting faculty of FAU has conducted research on topics such as: Earnings forecasts, Earnings response regression models, financial distress prediction models, incremental information contact of financial ratios and influence of contrary information and mitigating factor on audit opinion decisions on bankrupt companies.
Finance FacultyThe finance faculty of FAU has conducted research on topics such as: anti-takeover amendments, bank expense to interest rate risk, currency option pricing, distressed residential mortgages, dividend policy and corporate performance, insider trading, international debt offering, and international diversification.
Information Technology FacultyThe information technology faculty has had research published in prestigious journals such as: Organization Science, the Academy of Management Journal, the Journal of Management Information Systems, Organizational Behavior & Human Decision Processes, International Journal of Public Administration and the Journal of Forecasting.
Management, International Business & Entrepreneurship FacultyThe MIBE faculty members are actively engaged in ongoing research and have published in a number of leading academic journals. Faculty research interests include human resource management and development, leadership and influence tactics, mentoring, performance appraisal systems, small business and entrepreneurship, venture capital financing, the impact of culture on management, international decision-making, international acquisition performance, cross-cultural studies, expatriate staffing and selection, business and leadership ethics, organizational adaptation, competitive behavior and strategy, diversification and performance, and business and public policy.
Marketing FacultyThe marketing faculty has conducted research on topics such as: risk and competition in industrial markets, entrepreneurship, direct marketing attitudes, predictive validity of self-explicated, huber-hybrid, traditional conjoint, and hybrid conjoint models.
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Application ProcessApplicants must submit a total of seven documents, four of which should be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office, and three of which should be sent to the Ph.D. Program in the College of Business. Applicants should make certain that the following documents are mailed to: Graduate Admissions Office (1) The completed application and $30 processing fee. Be sure to indicate the specific area of concentration in the College of Business for which you are applying, i.e., Accounting Information Technology and Operations Management, Finance, Management, or Marketing. For a printable version of the the FAU Self-Managed Graduate School Admissions Application [click here]. (2) Officially certified transcripts covering all undergraduate and graduate courses, with a clear indication of degrees awarded. (3) An official report of performance on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) from the Educational Testing Service. Reported Examination results should be no older than five years. (4) International students whose native language is not English must also submit official reports of their score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE). In addition, the following three documents must be mailed directly to:
Ph.D. Program in Business Administration (5) A statement of intent by the applicant (not exceeding two double-spaced pages) describing the applicant's educational and career goals and how the Ph.D. degree will help achieve those goals. (6) A résumé of the applicant (7) Three completed letters of recommendation. The Applicant Evaluation forms are intended to assist the faculty in its assessment of the student's ability and potential for performing Ph.D. level work in this program. Thus, it is important that at least two of the references possess doctoral degrees from fully accredited institutions. For a printable version of the Applicant Evaluation form [click here]. (8) A completed application for a graduate assistantship, if desired. For a printable version of the Application for Graduate Assistantships form [click here]. For any additional Ph.D. Program information, please contact the Ph.D. Program Coordinator Judith Benson at (561) 297-1176 or via e-mail at benson@fau.edu Admission DecisionAdmission decisions are based on an appraisal of the applicant's qualifications with respect to all of the required criteria, which means that exceptions to the stated minimal requirements are occasionally made. Exceptions will only be granted if the faculty believes that the potential for successful completion of required courses and the dissertation is extremely high in spite of the borderline deficiency in meeting the admissions criteria. Once all information required for application has been submitted, the applicant's file is reviewed by an Advisory Committee in the applicant's desired area of concentration. This committee consists of the adviser for that area of concentration and at least two other faculty members in the department. A recommendation on admission will be communicated to the Ph.D. Program Director as soon as the advising faculty have reviewed the file. The Department Advisory Committee will also make a recommendation concerning financial assistance and prerequisites. The final decision on admission and financial aid will be made by the Advisory Committee, in consultation with the Ph.D. Program Director. General College Degree Requirements1. COURSE WORK: Students normally take between 2 and 3 years of course work beyond their Master's degree. They are required to take tool courses, such as Research Methods. They are required to take courses designed to prepare them for advanced research problems in their chosen area of concentration. A second set of courses may also be required for a "minor" area. Most of the courses to fulfill major or minor requirements are normally taken after the completion of tool courses. Students may transfer up to a maximum of nine hours if they have taken Ph.D. coursework at another university. The Advisory Committee in the department of concern will determine whether any of these courses serve as adequate substitutes for the course requirements in FAU's doctoral program. To remain in good standing, Ph.D. students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) on all courses taken for the doctoral program. If a student receives a grade below B for any course, the student's Advisory Committee determines whether any action (such as an assignment of remedial work, dismissal, etc.) should be taken. 2. COMPREHENSIVE EXAM: Students must pass a comprehensive examination administered within their area of concentration. The comprehensive examination will normally be taken once students have completed most or all of their coursework The examination may contain an oral component as well as a written component. 3. DISSERTATION: A minimum of 18 hours of dissertation credits must be taken. The completed dissertation, reflecting an original in-depth study by the student on a topic within the student's main area of concentration, must be successfully defended through an oral presentation. 4. TOTAL CREDITS: A minimum of 72 total credit hours is required (including dissertation hours). 5. MAXIMUM TIME LIMIT: The doctoral program must be completed by each student within seven years; thus, all requirements, including the defense of the dissertation, must be completed within the seven-year period. The Ph.D. advisor for each area of concentration may specify additional requirements for students pursuing that area that are not listed here. Important Information for All Ph.D. Students in the College of Business Ph.D. students can click here to learn how to conduct various tasks such as online registration, obtaining a parking decal, and accessing the computer network. This link also contains a useful checklist of deadlines each semester. Areas of Concentration ~ RequirementsPh.D. students select one of the following five areas of concentration: The coursework for each area of concentration includes a set of tool courses, along with other courses specific to that concentration. The typical courses required for each area of concentration are provided here for a student entering the Ph.D. Program with an MBA. However, the specific structure of each Ph.D. student's program is established by the Adviser for that area of concentration, after assessing the Ph.D. student's background and needs. Some departments may require that students establish a minor area of concentration to compliment their major area of concentration. The Ph.D. Program requirements within an area of concentration are intended to provide advanced specialized knowledge in that area. The course listings that follow are not necessarily all-inclusive and are simply intended to identify the types of courses that are commonly required for each area of concentration. The course requirements for the Ph.D. Program may be revised to keep up with the emphasis in business and academic trends. In this way, Ph.D. students are better prepared for their careers, and should therefore be more marketable. Prospective Ph.D. students can obtain additional information about course requirements from the Ph.D. Adviser in their specific area of concentration. Accounting ConcentrationImportant Note: See notes below regarding course approval. Prerequisites to program (may be taken before or after admission) Calculus
with Analytic Geometry I and II Foundation Courses (12 hours) ACG 6135
Accounting Theory Statistical and Quantitative (18 hours comprised of 9 hours in Core and another 9 hours in a track area) Core (9 hours):
QMB 7565 Research Methods I Accounting Seminars (12 hours) from these courses: ACG 7885 Seminar in Research Methodologies Supporting or Minor Area (12 hours) Qualifying project (3 hours) ACG 7980 Doctoral Dissertation (18 hours) Notes and clarifications.1. The Director of the SOA Doctoral Program must approve all courses and substitutions. 2. Only 6000 and 7000 level courses fulfill course requirements unless prior approval is obtained from the Director. 3. Required courses may change over time as the result of curriculum changes. Substitutions will be based on the needs and backgrounds of individual students. 4. Supporting area. The plan of study for the support area will be made in consultation with faculty and must be approved by the Director. 5. Required courses may change over time as the result of curriculum changes. Substitutions must be approved by the Director. Substitutions will be based on the needs and backgrounds of individual students. You can access the Ph.D. Accounting Policy Manual here. Finance ConcentrationThe Ph.D. in Finance requires 57 credit hours of course work earned in the program (beyond the typical credit hours earned during the master's degree) and an additional minimum of 18 credit hours for the dissertation. The Ph.D. in finance normally takes four years on a full-time basis. An extra tool course or finance course may be assigned in place of a finance course listed here that is not offered. The program is designed to allow for many opportunities for conducting research. For students who had any of the courses listed here, a substitute course may be allowed, as specified by the Ph.D. advisor. If a deficiency is detected in any course work, possible actions include dismissal, retaking courses, remedial work, loss of tuition waivers, and a loss of assistantship.
Tool Courses
Finance Courses
Electives Dissertation Topics in FinanceThe dissertation in Finance involves comprehensive research on a finance topic that is a significant contribution beyond the foundation of related research. Dissertations by FAU's Ph.D. students in Finance have been completed on topics such as initial public offerings (IPOs), mutual fund performance, international acquisitions, regulation of financial institutions, stock market bubbles and overreaction, the effects of the euro, and stock options. Details about the DissertationThe dissertation is a major part of the Ph.D. Program. It is sometimes perceived to be a very comprehensive term paper, commonly ranging between 150 and 300 pages for the Finance Ph.D. It is not meant to focus on research that has already been performed, but should represent original work that contributes to the foundation of research knowledge on the topic of concern. The length of time taken to complete a dissertation is dependent on (1) how long it takes the student to develop an acceptable idea, (2) perform the necessary tasks, and (3) write up the work, including the objective, review of literature, results of analyses, and implications. Finance Ph.D. students are normally expected to remain at FAU for one year after the completion of their Comprehensive Exam. In general the Finance faculty would not consider participating on the Dissertation Committee unless the student shows full commitment to completing the dissertation. Guide for Finance Ph. D. StudentsFor more detailed information about pursuing a Ph.D. in Finance, please see the Guide for Finance Ph.D. students, [click here]. Academic Market Info for Finance Ph.D. StudentsFor information about the academic job market for Ph.D. students [click here]. Information Technology ConcentrationThe information Technology and Operations Management program is a multidisciplinary field of study that focuses on the design, development, implementation, and use of information technology to solve organizational problems. The program stresses both theory and research. The courses required for the program may vary with the student's background. The courses normally required for the program are QMB
7565 Research Methods I Electives offered for a concentration Information Technology and Operations Management QMB 7607 Decision
Theory Management ConcentrationThe Ph.D. concentration in management reflects the particular strengths of the faculty in the Department of Management, International Business and Entrepreneurship. Faculty biographical sketches are provided in this web site. Doctoral students have been working with faculty on dissertations in the areas of human resources and organization development, international management and business, and domestic, entrepreneurial and international business strategy. At the time of writing, doctoral students are working in the areas of organizational knowledge development and transmission, business associations as facilitators of international business activities, employment discrimination, franchising, international business ethics, and organizational training and development. A partial list of doctoral courses that have been taught in prior years is provided below. Beyond a small number of required doctoral courses in research methods and the major areas of management, doctoral course are selected to follow the areas in which interests of students coincide with strengths of the faculty. For additional information about the concentration in management, please contact the Ph.D. Advisor in Management, Dr. Stephanie Castro at scastro@fau.edu or (954) 236-1350. QMB 7607 Decision Theory Marketing ConcentrationQMB 7565 Research Methods I |
